THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 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

Introduction of New Teachers

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

7. Presentations 

8. Reports

• President’s Report 

• Superintendent's Report 

• Committee Reports

• Student Board Member Report

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.    Supplemental Instruction

Move to approve the following certificated staff to provide supplemental instruction as needed for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $62/hour:

2.    Volunteer Club - Edgar Middle School

    Move to approve the following volunteer club at Edgar Middle School for the 2025-2026 school year:

3.    In Service Professional Development

    Move to approve the following staff members for the planning of the following professional development, at a rate of $51/ hour as indicated below:

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Dana Donatelli, School Psychologist, Moss and Metuchen High Schools, effective approximately November 14, 2025 through approximately December 12, 2025.

5.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Laurie Toth, Paraprofessional at Campbell Elementary School, effective September 25, 2025 through approximately October 31, 2025.

6.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective October 10, 2025, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

7.    Informal Mentor Teachers

    Move to approve the following staff to serve as an informal mentors for the 2025-2026 school year, to be paid at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed 6 hours:

8.    Volunteer Robotics Coach - Metuchen High School

    Move to approve the following volunteer coach for the Robotics Team at Metuchen High School for the 2025-2026 school year pending completion of criminal history clearance (Agenda 09/30/2025, Section 13, A3):

9.    Mentor Training

    Move to approve the following mentors to attend mentor training for 1 hour, at the rate of $51/hour:

10.    Appointment – Leave Replacement

Move to approve the appointment of Deborah Cordes, Leave Replacement for Dana Donatelli, School Psychologist at Moss and Metuchen High Schools, effective approximately November 12, 2025 through approximately December 12, 2025, at a rate of $329.73/day.

11.    Appointment – Leave Replacement

Move to approve the appointment of Deborah Cordes, Leave Replacement for Kaitlyn Kordesha, School Social Worker at Campbell and Moss Schools, effective approximately December 23, 2025 through approximately June 24, 2026, at a rate of $329.73/day.

12.    Appointment – Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Maria DiLorenzo, Leave Replacement for Jessica Lanigan, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately November 24, 2025 through approximately April 6, 2026, at a rate of $329.73/day.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Professional Development

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

2.    Transportation Agreement

    Move to approve the transportation agreement for student #20341125.

3.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2025-2026 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:

4.  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 Oct 14, 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.

5.    Rescind - Out of District Student Placement 2025-2026 School Year

    Move to rescind and approve the following 2025-2026 school year out of district student placement (Agenda 9/30/2025, Section 13, B6):

6.    Evaluations

    Move to approve Dr. Kavita Sinha, to perform specialized neurodevelopmental evaluations for the 2025-2026 school year, at the rate of $600/evaluation. 

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Suspensions

    The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for September 26, 2025 - October 10, 2025.

2.    Second Readings of Policies and Regulations

Move to approve the second readings of the following policies and regulations:

• P 1570        Internal Controls (M)

• P 5339.01    Student Sun Protection (M)

• P 1620        Administrative Employment Contracts (M)

• P 2422        Statutory Curricular Requirements (M)

• R 1570    Internal Controls (M)

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

4. 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: 

----------------------------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