THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 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, The Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

❖    Introduction of New Hires

❖    ACCESS Assessments and Results

❖    District Goals Presentation

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

7. Presentations  

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report

• Committee Reports

• Student Board Members 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.    Instructional Stipend

Move to approve the following instructional stipend for the 2026-2027 school year:

2.    Non-Instructional Stipends 

    Move to approve the following non-instructional stipends for the 2026-2027 school year as listed on attachment #1. 

3.    Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Melissa Robbins, Teacher at Edgar School, from Step 3M, $93,660/year, to Step 4M, $95,890/year, as a result of her earning her Master's Degree +30, effective September 1, 2026.

4.    Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Ausrine Dereskeviciute, Teacher at Moss School, from Step 3B, $65,625/year, to Step 4B, $67,188/year, as a result of her earning her Master's Degree +30, effective September 1, 2026.

5.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Cara McNulty, Paraprofessional at Metuchen High School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $24,939/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

6.    Home Based Services

    Move to approve the following Special Educators to provide home based services and parent training for the 2026-2027 school year at the rate of $52/hour, as needed:

7.    After School Assistance

    Move to approve the following staff to provide assistance in after school, extracurricular clubs for the 2026-2027 school year as needed, at an hourly rate of $52/hour, as needed:

8.    Supplemental Instruction

    Move to approve the following certified staff to provide Supplemental Instruction as needed for the 2026-2027 school year at the rate of $63/hr:

9.    Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve a change in base salary for Christopher McEwan, Teacher at Campbell and Metuchen High Schools, from Step 3H, $71,400/year, to Step 4H, $73,100/year, as a result of him earning his Master's Degree +30, effective September 1, 2026.

10.    Leave of Absence - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Jordan Leitner, Paraprofessional, effective August 26, 2026 through approximately December 1, 2026.

11.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Ryan Corrigan, Teacher at Edgar and Metuchen High Schools, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $61,500/year, Step 1A, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

12.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Jan Eriksson, Teacher at Campbell School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $62,500/year, Step 1B, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

13.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Marian Sharkawy, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $25,735/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

14.    Informal Mentor Teacher

    Move to approve the following staff to serve as an informal mentor for the 2026-2027 school year, to be paid at a rate of $52/hour, not to exceed six hours: 

15.    Professional Development

Move to approve the following staff as providers on August 26 and August 27, 2026 for teacher led professional development at a rate of $52/hour as indicated below:

16.    Formal Mentor Teachers 

Move to approve the following formal mentor teachers to work with the following mentee teachers for the 2026-2027 school year: 

17.    2026 New Teacher Orientation

Move to approve the following mentors to work with new teachers at the New Teacher Orientation on August 27, 2026, for up to 6 hours at the hourly rate of $52/hour:

18.    Reappointment - Lunch Aides

Move to approve the following lunch aides for the 2026-2027 school year at the hourly rate of $17.19/hour:

19.    Professional Development

Move to approve the following lunch aides to participate in the CPR/AED and First Aid training during the August 27, 2026, district in service day, at the hourly rate of $17.19/hour not to exceed 3 hours each:

20.    Transfer – Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following transfers for the 2026-2027 school year:

21.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2026-2027 school year as listed on the chart below, effective August 25, 2026, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

22.    STAR Academy 2026 

Move to approve the following staff members for the STAR Academy for the Summer 2026 (Rescind Agenda 8/11/26, Section 13, A13):

23.    ESEA Title I Funded Salary

Move to approve Amy Dee’s 2026-2027 school year salary of $68,000 to be partially (2 periods) Title I grant funded, in the amount of $27,200, with benefits partially Title I grant funded in the amount of $15,330.

24.    ESEA Title I Funded Salary 

Move to approve Stephanie Tortolani’s  2026-2027 school year salary of $63,500 to be partially (1 period) Title I grant funded, in the amount of $12,700, with benefits partially Title I grant funded in the amount of $7,158.

25.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Tiffany Choi, Library Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $25,735/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

26.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Rheanna Andersen, Library Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $24,787/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

27.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Joelle Williams, Leave Replacement for Christina Leitner, Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately August 24, 2026 through approximately December 11, 2026, at a salary of $332.43/day.

28.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Srividya Venkatesh, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $25,735/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027, pending criminal history clearance.

29.  Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities

Move to approve the following co-curricular stipends for the co-curricular activities for the 2026-2027 school year as listed (Agenda 07/21/2026, Section 13, A16):

30.    Curriculum Writers

Move to approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for the 2026-2027 school year (Rescind Agenda 6/9/26, Section 13, D3 and Rescind 7/21/26 Section 13, A23):

31.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

Move to approve the appointment of Darcy Fruhschein, Leave Replacement for Lindsay Kaye, Teacher at Edgar School, effective approximately August 24, 2026 through approximately October 28, 2026, at a salary of $332.43/day, pending criminal history clearance.

32.    Appointment - Coaches

    Move to approve the appointment of the following coaches for the 2026-2027 school year (Agenda 06/23/2026, Section 13, A4):

33.    Appointment - Paraprofessional 

    Move to approve the appointment of Pradepa Mani, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a salary of $25,735/year, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. 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 June 30, 2026.

2.  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 August 25, 2026 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.

3. Budget Transfers

Move to approved budget transfers effective June 30, 2026.

4.    ESCNJ Authorization

    Move to authorize the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey to conference, discuss and solicit input in the development of the nursing services contract document for the 2026-2027 school year, which provides nursing services to the following non-public schools located in the Metuchen School District: Apple Montessori School, St. Joseph High School, Callicorp LLC DBA Friends of the Family, Metuchen Christian Academy, Jump Immersion School and St. Francis Cathedral.

5.     Professional Development

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

6.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2026-2027 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:

7.    Out of District Student Placements - 2026-2027 School Year

Move to approve the following 2026-2027 school year out of district student placements: 

8.    Transportation Agreement

    Move to approve the transportation agreement for student # 20341125 during the 2026-2027 school year.

9.    Settlement Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement for student # 20360062.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    First Reading of Policies and Regulations

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

• P 2200 Curriculum (M)

• R 2200 Curriculum Content (M) (Abolished)

• P 2411 Career Education and Academic Counseling (M)

• R 2411 Guidance Counseling (M) (Abolished)

• P 0162 Notice of Board Meetings

• P 0162.01 Legal Notices (M)

• P 2260 Equity in School and Classroom Practices (M)

• R 2460.3 Additional/Compensatory Special Education and Related services (M) (Abolished)

• P 6112 Reimbursement of Federal and Other Grant Expenditures (M)

• R 6115.01 Federal Awards/Funds Internal Controls-Allowability of Costs (M)

• P 6115.02 Federal Awards/Funds Internal Controls – Mandatory Disclosures (M) 

• P 6311 Contracts for Goods or Services Funded by Federal Grants (M) 

• P 8561 Procurement Procedures for School Nutrition Programs (M)

• P 5516 Student Use of Internet – Enabled Devices (M)

• R 5516 Student Use of Internet – Enabled Devices (M)

• P 2363 Student Use of Privately-Owned Technology (Abolished)

• P 8662 Transportation by Private or District - Owned Vehicles – To and From School (M)

• P 8660 Transportation by Private Vehicles – To and From School-Related Activities (M)

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Work Based Learning

    Move to approve the following Work Based Learning Experiences for students in the Metuchen Internship Learning Experience classes at MHS for the 2026-2027 school year: Metuchen Boro Hall, Sam’s Club, ShopRite of Edison, ShopRite of Woodbridge, What’s the Scoop.

2.    Disposal of Textbooks

    Move to approve the disposal of the following textbooks from Metuchen High School on  attachment #2. 

3.  Title III Funds

Move to approve Guzman Educational Consultants, LLD to provide professional development for the 2026-2027 school year, to support teachers in meeting the educational needs of multilingual learners in content areas, through Title III funds, not to exceed $4,750.

4.    Consulting Services

Move to approve BDO Consulting Services LLC to provide professional development and literacy coaching services for the 2026-2027 school year at the rate of $1,500 per day not to exceed $6,000 funded by IDEA grant.

5.  Curriculum Guides

Move to approve the implementation of the following new or revised curriculum guides:

6.    Band Competition Schedule

Move to approve the Metuchen School District Marching Band Competition Schedule for 2026-2027 school year:

7.    Programs and Courses

Move to approve the following Programs and courses that comprise the district’s curriculum for annual implementation during the 2026-2027 school year:

8.    Professional Development Plan

Move to approve the Metuchen District Professional Development plan for 2026-2027 school year. 

9.     Mentoring Plan

Move to approve the Metuchen District Mentoring Plan for the 2026-2027 school year. 

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