Board Meeting - November 12, 2024

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Dates: 
Friday, November 1, 2024 - 4:30pm

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024

 

MEETING AGENDA

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ  08840

 

  1. Call to Order

 

  1. Flag Salute

 

  1. Notice of Meeting

 

I hereby make this statement to indicate compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act known as Chapter 231 of the Public Laws of New Jersey, 1975, which became effective 90 days after enactment, January 19, 1976.

 

Notice of this meeting was given by providing the location, time and date of this meeting, and posting of the same on the front door of the Board of Education offices, by delivering copies to the Borough Hall and the Metuchen Public Library, The Home News and Tribune, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

 

  1. Roll Call

 

Mr. Bhatt

 

Ms. Killean

 

Ms. Cook

 

Mr. Lifton

 

Mr. Derflinger

 

Ms. Shrestha

 

Mr. Glassberg

 

Dr. Spigner

 

Dr. Johnson-Marcus

 

Mr. Suss

 

 

  1. Showcase of Success

❖ MHS Fall Play Preview

 

The MHS Footlighters will present the comedy Clue on Friday Nov 15th at 7pm and Saturday Nov 16th at both 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available at MHSFootlighters.com and at the door. Clue is based on the classic board game, and 1985 film of the same name, in which six anonymous guests are given aliases and invited to a dinner party. Once there, they must solve a comedic mystery similar to that of the board game: Who did it? With what? And in what room? Tonight, we will present an introductory skit, written by senior Zoe Soneyvtsky, and featuring seniors: Luke Krombholz, Meredith Inverso, Zoe Soneyvtsky, Juniors: Emily Grosso, Manali Weller, Saanvi Karthik, Ryan Stein, and Sophomore: Daniel Stone. The Footlighters can't wait to see everyone at the show!

 

  1. Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)

 

  1. Presentations 

    AP/SAT/ACT Presentation

 

 

  1. Reports

  • President’s Report 

  • Superintendent's Report 

  • Committee Reports

  • Student Board Member Report

 

  1. Old Business 

 

  1. New Business  

 

  1. Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meeting

 

October 15, 2024

  Board Meeting

 

  1. Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)

 

  1. Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools

(at this time the Board will take formal action on the following items – see attachments)

Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the Board of Education takes action with very little comment and in many cases a unanimous vote. Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public meeting, the administration has thoroughly reviewed the matter with the Superintendent of Schools. If the Superintendent is satisfied that the matter is ready to be presented to the Board of Education, it is then referred to the appropriate board committee. The members of the board committee work with administration and the Superintendent to assure that the members fully understand the matter. When the committee is satisfied with the matter, it is presented to the Board of Education for discussion before any final action is taken. Only then, is it placed on the agenda for action at a public meeting.

 

  1. PERSONNEL

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.    Mentor Teacher Revision

Move to rescind and approve the following mentor assignment for the 2024-2025 school year (Agenda 8/13/24, Section 13 A5):

 

Mentor

New Teacher/Leave Replacement

School

Payment: Formal Traditional Route $550 for 30 weeks; Formal Alternate Route $1000 for 30 weeks; Informal -$50/hour, not to exceed 6 hours

Rescind:

Lindsey Omark

 

Laura Petty

 

CES

Informal Mentor: $50/hour, not to exceed 6 hours

Approve:

Lindsey Omark

 

Laura Petty

 

CES

Formal mentor/traditional route: $550 for 30 weeks

 

2.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Marian Sharkaway, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, effective October 14, 2024 through approximately February 3, 2025.

 

3.    Retirement - Bus Aide

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Linda Rhodes, Bus Aide and Bus Driver for Metuchen Public Schools, effective November 1, 2024. 

 

4.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Laurie Walker, Leave Replacement for Eric Stein, Speech Therapist at Campbell School, effective October 30, 2024 through approximately December 6, 2024, at a rate of $311.76/day. 

 

5.    Appointment - Intermittent Leave Replacement 

Move to approve the appointment of Laurie Walker, Intermittent Leave Replacement for Eric Stein, Speech Therapist at Campbell School, to do per diem work as needed, throughout Mr. Stein's intermittent leave, at a rate of $311.76/day for the 2024-2025 school year.

 

6.    Paraprofessionals as Substitutes

    Move to approve the following Paraprofessionals to serve as substitutes, as needed and assigned, for an additional stipend of $50/day:

 

Tara Tay

Kelly Vissichelli

Michelle Duggan

 

7.    Paraprofessional Mentor - Additional

    Move to approve the following additional staff to serve as a Paraprofessional Mentor, for a stipend in the amount of $250 for the 2024-2025 school year (Agenda 8/13/24, Section 13, A20):

 

Tara Tay

 

8.    Home Instruction

    Move to approve the following to work Home Instruction for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed, at a rate of $61/hour: 

 

Eileen Kuchar

 

9.    Appointment - Bus Aide

    Move to approve the appointment of Sheri Kady, Bus Aide for Metuchen Schools District, for the 2024-2025 school year, effective November 11, 2024, at a rate of $16/hour. 

 

10.    Supplemental Instruction - Rescind and Approve

    Rescind and approve the following staff to provide Supplemental Instruction as needed for the 2024-2025 school year, IDEA Grant funded (Agenda 9/10/2024, Section 13, A9 Agenda 09/24/2024, Section 13, A2 Agenda 10/15/2024, Section 13, A3):

 

Name

Rate

Rescind:

Ann Leghorn-Orapallo

Lauren Thompson

Veronica Araneo

Beth McLaughlin

Julie Anderson

Vincent Signorile

Melissa Robbins

 

$50/hour

$50/hour

$50/hour

$50/hour

$50/hour

$50/hour

$50/hour

Approve:

Ann Leghorn-Orapallo

Lauren Thompson

Veronica Araneo

Beth McLaughlin

Julie Anderson

Vincent Signorile

Melissa Robbins

Tomasz Sobieniak

 

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

$61/hour

 

11.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2024-2025 school year as listed on the chart below, effective October 21, 2024, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance. 

 

2024-2025 Substitutes for Board Approval 11/12/24

Pay Rates - $105/day - Substitute with 30+ college credits

$110/day - Substitute with bachelor's degree (no teacher cert)

$115/day - NJ Teacher Certification

$16/hour - Paraprofessional Substitute

$16/hour - Secretary Substitute

$200/day - Nurse Substitute

Sub Name

Certification/Sub Category

Henry Busch

Substitute with college credits

Nathan Arnold

Substitute with college degree

Carolyn Herrera

Substitute with college degree

Sandra Davis

paraprofessional substitute

Kate Manchisi

Substitute with college degree

 

12.    Resignation - Supervisor

    Move to accept the resignation of Natalie Dougherty, Supervisor at the Metuchen School District, effective November 27, 2024.

 

----------------------------end of personnel section--------------------------

 

  1. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.    Professional Development

Move to approve the following professional development activities as shown on the following chart:

 

Start Date

End Date

Activity Title

Name

Building

Approved

Payment

FFPI Proposal #

10/22/

2024

10/22/

2024

NJSBA Conference

Azevedo, Suzy

Edgar

$20

Other

 

10/23/

2024

10/23/

2024

NJSBA Conference

Lemerich, Kathryn

Central Office

$127.50

Other

 

11/1/

2024

11/1/

2024

Beginning Conversational Spanish For Teachers

Robbins, Melissa

Edgar

$49.95

FFPI

25-064

11/13/

2024

11/13/

2024

The Intersection of Trauma and Neurodivergence

Benfatti, Nicole

MHS

$119

FFPI

25-065

11/18/

2024

11/18/

2024

Unconference

Robbins, Evan

MHS

$100

FFPI

25-066

11/22/

2024

11/22/

2024

NJCHE Annual Conference

Butler, Michael

Edgar

$220

FFPI

25-073

12/5/

2024

12/5/

2024

21st Annual Suicide Prevention Conference Enhancing Suicide Prevention Practices

Theiss, Christina

Edgar/ MHS

$145

FFPI

25-069

12/6/

2024

12/6/

2024

NJSELA

Lemerich, Kathryn

Central Office

$8.08

Other

 

12/10/

2024

12/10/

2024

NJPSA FEA Mentoring Workshop

Herzog, Tania

Central Office

$70

Other

 

12/10/

2024

12/10/

2024

Specialized Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Utilizing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and High Leverage Practices to Meeting Individual Needs in the Classroom (PSEL Standards 3,4,5)

Lewis, Patricia

Edgar

$0

No cost

 

12/10/

2024

6/3/

2025

Child Fatality and Near-Fatality Review Board Suicide Subcommittee meetings

Paredes, Susan

Edgar/ MHS

$0

No cost

 

12/13/

2024

12/13/

2024

NJ Association of School Psychologists

Theiss, Christina

Edgar/ MHS

$175

FFPI

25-067

12/13/

2024

12/13/

2024

NJASP Winter Conference 2024

Crawford, Courtney

Edgar

$125

FFPI

25-068

12/18/

2024

12/20/

2024

International Orchestra Conference

Gallagher, Jordyn

Edgar/ Moss

$1000

FFPI

25-071

12/18/

2024

12/21/

2024

National Band Conference

Messenger, John

MHS

$1000

FFPI

25-070

12/18/

2024

12/20/

2024

Orchestra Conference

McEwan, Christopher

MHS

$1000

FFPI

25-059

12/18/

2024

12/20/

2024

Band Conference

Flynn, John

Campbell

$1000

FFPI

25-072

1/24/

2025

1/24/

2025

New Jersey Math Supervisors' Meeting

Lemerich, Kathryn

Central Office

$29.23

Other

 

2/11/

2025

2/11/

2025

Mental Health Forum

Huff, Michelle

Edgar

$0

No cost

 

3/6/

2025

3/7/

2025

Navigating Tomorrow Together: Building Bridges with Today Youth

Palermo, Samantha

MHS

$0

No cost

 

 

2.    Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Move to approve the district's Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for the 2025-2026 school year.






 

3.    Nonpublic Security Aid - Rescind

    Move to rescind the  following nonpublic security aid for the 2024-2025 school year. These expenditures are required for the district to fulfill certain legal obligations under state legislation to administer federal or state funds provided to nonpublic schools within our jurisdiction (Agenda 09/10/2024, Section 13, B2):

 

School

QTY

Item #

Description

Price

Total

Canceled 

Rescind:

St. Francis Cathedral School

2

Select

 

SL57 CL HD X 83” WD/SDTF X CL- Hinge - Continuous

$236.72

$473.44

 

10/16/

2024

St. Francis Cathedral School

2

LCN

4040XP.RWPA.689 X 689 - Closer

$641.52

$1,283.04

10/16/

2024

St. Francis Cathedral School

16

Stock-LBR

Labor Rate State Contract T0675 - Journeyman

$128.29

$2,052.64

10/16/

2024

 

4.    Special Olympics Grant

    Move to accept the Special Olympics Grant Award of $3,500 for Metuchen High School for the 2024-2025 school year.

 

5.  Payment of Bills

a)  Board Secretary’s Certification

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:20-2A.10(d), the Board Secretary has certified that as of November 12, 2024 no budgetary line item accounts have obligations and payments which exceed the amount appropriated by the Board of Education.

 

         ________________________________________                  _______________

Michael A. Harvier, Board Secretary                         Date

 

b)  Approve the Following Items Submitted by the Board Secretary

Payment of bills and claims, as shown on the attached list(s) that have been certified by the Board of Education and filed in the Business Office.

 

----------------------------end of finance section--------------------------

 

  1. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

    

1.    Suspensions

    The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for October 14, 2024 - November 8, 2024.

 

2.    School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill Reports

    Move to accept the following reports on the completion of the School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills:

 

  • 10/17/2024 8:30 AM, Metuchen High School, student parking lot. Van 16. Supervised by Brian Stike 

 

  • 10/22/2024 8:00 AM – 2:15 PM, Edgar School, back bus circle. Full School Evacuation Practice during Physical Education & Health Classes, Busses 29 & 23 were used for all. Supervised by Neyda Evans. Teachers Leading the drill were John Butler, Rick Carter, Michelle Huff, Nicolette Jomo, and Drew Bandola

 

  • 10/22/2024 8:43 AM, Moss School, front school loop on Simpson Pl. Van 20. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Jen Asprocolas, and Billy Ortman

 

  • 10/22/2024 9:05 AM, Moss School, front school loop on Simpson Pl. Van 14, Van 24, and Van 16. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Jen Asprocolas

 

  • 10/22/2024 11:54 AM, Moss School, front school loop on Simpson Pl. Van 24. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Jen Asprocolas

 

  • 10/22/2024 9:30 – 11:00 AM, Campbell Elementary School, Location for the drill was Campbell driveway between Talmadge & Durham. Full school evacuation practice at assigned times. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Brooke Kirschner, Joe Fitzgibbon, and Billy Ortman

 

3.    First Reading of Policies and Regulations

    Move to approve the first reading of the following policies and regulations:

 

❖ P 0141        Board Member Number and Term  

❖ P 0164.6    Remote Public Board Meetings During a Declared Emergency (M)

(Abolished)

❖ P 2200         Curriculum Content (M)  

❖ P & R 3160    Physical Examination (M)  

❖ P & R 4160    Physical Examination (M)  

❖ R 5200         Attendance (M)  

❖ P 5337        Service Animals  

❖ P & R 5350    Student Suicide Prevention (M)  

❖ P 7231        Gifts From Vendors (M) (Abolished)

❖ P 8420        Emergency and Crisis Situations (M)  

❖ P & R 8467    Firearms and Weapons (M)  

❖ P 9181        Volunteer Athletic Coaches and Co-Curricular Activity
      Advisors/Assistants 

❖ R 2464    Gifted and Talented Students

 

4.    QSAC - Self Assessment Score

    Move to accept the QSAC report and the following scores:

 

QSAC Section

Score

Instruction & Program

100%

Fiscal Management

96%

Governance

100%

Operations

100%

Personnel

97%

 

----------------------------end of policy section--------------------------

 

  1. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.     Field Trips

Move to approve the following field trips for students in the Metuchen School District as shown: 

School

Destination

Class/Group/

Purpose

Teachers/

Advisors

Date(s)

No. Of Students

Board Cost- Transportation

Number of

Subs Needed. 

EMS

Bound Brook High School

Grade 7; This trip is for one of the Teams in the 7th grade G&T class to attend a robotics competition and demonstrate what they have learned.

Ed Ronk and Ashley Jaye

11/24/24

9

$375

no subs needed

CES

Target

Grades 1-4, 5 and 8; We will be working on shopping skills and locating items in the store. We will also work on finding items from a category. For example, they will be given "dairy" or "fruit" and they will have to think of something that matches that category. They will also be able to utilize this time to generalize social skills into the community.Community-based instruction to Target to learn and generalize social and emotional/behavioral goals, as well as communication goals. 

Alexis Wolford, Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dorothea Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Debbie De Cerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro, Lori Anne Diserio, Alexis Wolford, Brendan McCunney

12/6/24

16

$60

no subs needed

MHS

Bridewater-Raritan High School

Grade 9-12; The MHS Chamber Orchestra will participate in the CJMEA High School Orchestra Festival at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Students will perform their festival setlist in front professionals in the string orchestra field, receive written comments, and a rating.

Christopher McEwan, Jordyn Gallagher

2/26/2025

23

$160

no subs needed

MHS

Mayor Macs Cafe

Grades 10-12;Students learn how to run a cafe from a 18-21 year old program CRP1 Act as a responsible and contributing citizen CRP2 Apply appropriate academic and technical skills CRP3 Attend to personal health and financial wellbeing CRP4 Communicate clearly and effectively and with reason CRP5 Consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of decisions CRP8 Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them

Dawn Valovcin, Christina Dybas, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DeMeglio

2/28/2025

7

$80

no subs needed

CES

Majestic Lanes

Grades 1-8; Community based instruction to Majestic Lanes to generalize social emotional/behavioral goals, engaging socially with peers, awareness in the community, and communication goals. 0.1.2 Express ideas for activities and initiate discussions. 0.1.4 Discuss their own actions and efforts. 0.4.5 Express needs verbally or nonverbally to teacher and peers without being aggressive.

Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dee Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Samantha Murphy, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Deb De Cerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro, Lori Anne Diserio, Lexi Wolford, Brendan McCunney

3/7/2025

16

$70

no subs needed

CES

Friendly's

Grades 1-4; Community based instruction to Friendlys to generalize social emotional/behavioral goals, engaging socially with peers, awareness in the community, and communication goals. 0.1.2 Express ideas for activities and initiate discussions. 0.1.4 Discuss their own actions and efforts. 0.4.5 Express needs verbally or nonverbally to teacher and peers without being aggressive.

Lori Anne DiSerio, Samantha Murphy, Laura Petty, Kelly Vissichelli, Deb De Cerbo, Francesca Ghezzo, Suzette Brown, Brian Jeney, Abeera Omarzai, Dee Parker, Kinjal Vakharia, Michelle Duggan, Gunisha Chadha, Emily Bianchi, Isabella Massaro

3/7/2025

13

$0

no subs needed

MHS

High Notes Festivals

Grades 7-8; Adjudicated festival for middle school musicians-students are given the opportunity to have 2 vocal professionals evaluate our performance and provide us written and audio commentary along with a numerical rating-the comments are played back for the students for a clinic and self reflection.

Stefeny Stofa-Krombholz, Christopher McEwan, Robyn Keyes, Jordyn Gallagher

5/9/24

110

$0

4 subs needed

 

2.    Wellspring Center for Prevention

    Move to approve Wellspring Center for Prevention for character development lessons, using the Why Try program resource at Edgar Middle School, not to exceed $5,400 (partially funded through ESEA Title IV funds).

 

3.    Professional Development

    Move to approve Magnolia Consulting Group to provide professional development for I&RS and 504 teams on tiered interventions and supports, not to exceed $5,600.

 

4.    Curriculum Guides

    Move to approve the implementation of the following curriculum guides:

 

Curriculum Guide

Subject/Course

Grade

French 1

8

Spanish 4

9-12

German 5

9-12

Modern Physics

11-12

Digital Graphics (previously Digital Graphics 1)

9-12

Architecture (previously Digital Graphics 2)

9-12

School Counseling Program

Elementary

School Counseling Program

Middle School

School Counseling Program

High School

Student Assistance Counseling Program

District wide

Curriculum Guide on Accommodations and Modifications 

District wide

 

----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------

 

  1. Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)

 

  1. Announcements 

 

  1. Motion to Go Into Executive Session (when applicable)

 

Resolution to Close Meeting

 

BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to the Sunshine Act, N.J.S. 10:4-12 and 13, that the Board of Education will now meet in executive session to discuss _____________________________________ and that matters discussed will be disclosed to the public as soon as the reason for confidentiality no longer exist.

 

  1. Adjournment

Groups audience: