THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025

MEETING AGENDA

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ  08840

1. Call to Order

2. Flag Salute

3. 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.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    Welcoming of the new Student Board Member

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Spiezle architect to discuss the Energy Saving Improvement Program (ESIP)

❖    HIB and SSDS Report Period 2 (January 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025) – Dr. Caputo

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report

• Committee Reports

9. Old Business

10. New Business

11. Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

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

13. 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.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Sydney Rudin, Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective June 30, 2025.

2.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Jordyn Gallagher, Teacher at Moss and Edgar Schools, effective approximately October 31, 2025 through approximately March 21, 2026.

3.    Rescind- Metuchen High School Fall Coach

    Move to rescind and approve the appointments of the following coaches for the Fall 2025-2026 school sports season at Metuchen High School (Agenda 5/23/2025, Section 13, A1):

* pending criminal history clearance 

4.  Instructional and Non-Instructional Stipends

Move to approve the following Instructional and Non-Instructional Stipends for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the attached chart. 

5.    Student Supervision Stipends

Move to approve the following Student Supervision Stipends for the 2025-2026 school year as listed. Stipends to be dispersed throughout the school year, per marking period. 

6.     Rescind - Summer Work – District Safety Coordinator 

Move to rescind and approve William Ortman, District Safety Coordinator, for 2025 summer work,  district wide: 

7.    Appointment - Event Staff

    Move to approve the following Event Staff for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $55 per event:

8.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Nicole Hanson, Teacher at Campbell School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $61,000/year, Step 1A, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

9.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Bianca Rodriguez, Teacher at Campbell School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $66,150/year, Step 3F, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

10.    Safety Care - Trainer Training

    Move to approve Christina Dybas to attend Safety Care “Train the Trainer” recertification at the rate of $51/hour, not to exceed 8 hrs (Agenda 06/24, 2025, Section 13, A13).

11.    Substitute - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve certificated staff member, Kelsee Young, as a substitute teacher during the Summer 2025 ESY program at the daily rate of $125/day.

12.    Transfer - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the transfer of Drew Bandola, PE/Health Teacher at Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School to PE/Health Teacher at Edgar Middle School, for the 2025-2026 school year.

13.    Transfer - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the transfer of Michelle Huff, PE/Health Teacher at Edgar Middle School, to PE/Health Teacher at Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School, for the 2025-2026 school year.

14.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Abeera Faizan, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective August 27, 2025 through approximately December 3, 2025.

15.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Madeline DeBaro, Leave Replacement for Lauren Campbell, School Counselor at Edgar School, effective August 25, 2025 through approximately January 30, 2026, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day.

16.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Julia Sudol, Teacher at Edgar School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $62,500/year, Step 1E, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

17.    Appointment - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the appointment of Ausrine Dereskeviciute, Teacher at Moss School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $64,050/year, Step 3A, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

18.    Leave Replacement - Rescind

    Move to rescind the appointment of Kristy Marietta, Leave Replacement for Samantha Palermo, Student Assistance Counselor for the Metuchen School District, effective August 25, 2025 through approximately December 5, 2025, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day (Agenda 4/8/25, Section 13 A4).

19.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Amy-Michele Johnson, Leave Replacement for Melissa Gallo, Teacher at Campbell School, effective August 25, 2025 through approximately December 5, 2025, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day, pending receipt of NJ certification.

20.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Michella Maldonado, Teacher at Campbell School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $61,000/year, Step 1A, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

21.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Jessica Zalink, Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $62,500/year, Step 1E, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

22.    Appointment- Re-registration Support Staff

    Move to approve the following additional support staff to work the Re-Registration session for incoming 5th and 9th grade families, effective July 22, 2025, at her hourly rate, not to exceed 13 hours. (Agenda 5/25/25, Section 13 A8

23.    Leave of Absence – Certified Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Kaitlyn Kodersha, Social Worker at Campbell and Moss Schools, effective approximately January 2, 2026 through June 30, 2026.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.  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 July 22, 2025 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.

2.   Budget Transfers

Move to approve budget transfers effective May 31, 2025.

3.    Treasurer of School Monies and Board Secretary’s Reports

Move to approve the Treasurer of School Monies’ Report, and Board Secretary’s Report as of May 31, 2025.

4.    Professional Development

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

5.    Appointment – Board Attorney 

    Move that the Board of Education (Board) approve the appointment of David Rubin, P.C. (Firm) as General Counsel and approve the Firm for the period of July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026. The Board will pay the Firm an hourly rate of $185/hour.

6.    Facilities Use Agreement with YMCA

Move to approve, the Facilities Use Agreement with YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy, effective September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at the rate of $2,310/month.

7.  Resolution - Insurance Brokerage Service

The Board of Education in the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex awarded a Health Insurance brokerage service contract as an extraordinary unspecifiable service to Brown and Brown for $6,000 per month for the 2025-2026 school year. 

8.  Resolution - Insurance Broker

The Board of Education in the Borough of Metuchen in the County of Middlesex awarded a Property and Casualty brokerage service contract as an extraordinary unspecifiable service to Schenck agency for the 2025-2026 school year. The consultant is to be paid a commission by the insurance company.

9.    Change Order M&M Construction

Move to approve the change order as listed below:

10.    Resolution Increasing the Bid Threshold—Qualified Purchasing Agent

WHEREAS, Michael Harvier, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, possesses a Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) certificate; 

WHEREAS, the State Treasurer, in consultation with the Governor and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:34-7, and N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (b), has increased the bid threshold amount for school districts with a Qualified Purchasing Agent , from $44,000 to $53,000, effective July 1, 2025; 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (a) and N.J.A.C. 5:34-5.4, establishes and sets the bid threshold amount of $53,000 for the Board of Education, and further authorizes Michael Harvier, the Qualified Purchasing Agent, to award contracts, in full accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3 (a), for those purchases that do not exceed in the aggregate of the newly established bid threshold amount.

11.    Technology Equipment Disposal

Move to approve the disposal of the obsolete equipment on the attachment. 

12.    Expenditure - Dell

Move to approve the expenditure of $48,638.34 to Dell for payment 1 of 4 of contract #810-9017313-010 (chromebook lease).

13.    Technology Purchases

Move to approve the following technology purchases for equipment and services from the stated companies:

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Second Reading of Policy

Move to approve the second reading of the following policy:

❖    P 5111     ELIGIBILITY OF RESIDENT/NONRESIDENT STUDENTS

2.    First Reading of Policy

Move to approve the first reading of the following policy:

❖    P 5410     PROMOTION AND RETENTION 

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Work Based Learning

    Move to approve work based learning and community based instruction trips for the Metuchen Internship Learning Experiences classes during 2025 ESY to include: What’s the Scoop, ShopRite and Target.

2.    Textbook Disposal 

    Move to approve the disposal of the following textbooks and from the Metuchen High School:  

3.    Field Trips

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

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

14. Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)

15. Announcements

16. 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.

17. Adjournment