THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026

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. Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)

6. Board of Education Interviews

-Interview with BOE candidates

-Motion to go into closed session

-Back from closed session - open meeting

-Return to public session

-Public comment

-Appoint new board member/announcement of new board member

7. Presentations 

❖    Mental Health Presentation - Dr. Tania Herzog

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)

Often times 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 Amy Fitzharris, Teacher at Edgar School, effective June 30, 2026.

2.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Emily Bianchi, Speech-Language Pathologist at Campbell School, effective approximately September 8, 2026 through approximately February 22, 2027.

3.    Supplemental Instruction

    Move to approve the following certified staff to provide Supplemental Instruction as needed for the 2025-2026 school year at the rate of $62/hour:

4.    Salary Adjustment – Custodial Longevity

    Move to approve a change in total salary for Darren Colegrove, Grounds Department, from $54,121/year to $54,361/year as a result of completing 20 years of service, effective June 1, 2026.

5.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Lauren Hall, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective May 20, 2026.

6.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective May 13, 2026, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

7.    Appointment - Leave Replacement Extension

    Move to extend the appointment of Eve Tricarico, Leave Replacement for Nga Fizur, through approximately May 29, 2026, at a rate of $329.73/day.

8.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of James Borg, Teacher at Edgar School, at a salary of $61,000*/year, Step 1A, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

* salary may be adjusted based on new MEA contract 

9.  Professional Development 

     Move to approve the following certified staff to plan Professional Development for the 

     May 22, 2026, In-service and to be paid at the hourly rate of $51/hour, as indicated      

     below:

10.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Carol Gaffney, Teacher at Moss School, effective June 30, 2026.

11.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Administrators

Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured administrators for the

2026-2027 school year as shown on Attachment 1 (first page).

12.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Certificated Staff

Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured certificated staff for the 2026-2027 school year as shown on Attachment 2 (second through third pages).

13.    Transfer - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following transfers, due to realignment, for the 2026-2027 school year as listed:

14.    Appointment - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the appointment of Ryan Brady, Teacher at Edgar School, at a salary of $64,050*/year, Step 3A, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

* salary may be adjusted based on new MEA contract 

15.    Multilingual Learning Committee

    Move to approve the following teacher for attending the Multilingual Learning Parent Advisory Committee Night on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the rate of $51/hour, paid through Title III funds, not to exceed 1.5 hours

----------------------------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.    Bussing Fee

    Move to approve the partial subscription bussing fee of $690 for the 2026-2027 school year. 

3.     Interlocal Services Agreement

Move to approve the interlocal services agreement between the Metuchen Public Library and the Metuchen Board of Education for the 2025-2026 school year, to share the cost of certain library services.

4.    Workspace for Education Subscription

    Move to approve the purchase of the Workspace for Education Subscription as listed on attachment 3 in the amount of $16,843.75.

5.    Student Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement for student # 2029175.

6.    Student Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement for student # 2028029.

7.    Technology Equipment Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the obsolete equipment on attachment 4. 

8.    YMCA Elementary School After Care Competitive Contracting Proposal No. CC 27-01

    Move to approve the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy as the Elementary School After Care provider for Moss and Campbell Schools pursuant to N.J.S.A.  18A:18A-4.1 et seq for 2026-2027 & 2027-2028 SY plus extensions as set forth in the request for proposals.

9.    Moss Security Cameras

    Move to approve the technology expenditure for the Moss Security Surveillance Cameras as listed on attachment 5 in the amount of $17,387.58.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases.

• CES040626001

• EMS041326001

 ----------------------------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: 

2.    OpenSciEd 

    Move to approve Rutgers Center for Math, Science and Computer Education (CMSCE) to provide PD on OpenSciEd for two days not to exceed $5,500 to be partially funded through title IV grant during 2025-2026 school year.

3.    Student Practicum

Move to approve the following student from Rutgers University, in the Metuchen

Public School District for the Spring 2026 school year:

4.    Site Based Professional Development

Move to approve Metuchen School District staff to attend a Site Based Professional Development opportunity on May 22, 2026 at FPC Food Pantry and Community Gardens and Peter J. Barnes Preserve, facilitated by Kate Lemerich.

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