THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
MEETING AGENDA
of the Metuchen Board of Education
Campbell Elementary School
24 Durham Ave
Metuchen, NJ 08840
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Call to Order
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Flag Salute
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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.
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Roll Call
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Dr. Al-Sweel
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Mr. Glassberg
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Mr. Bhatt
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Dr. Johnson-Marcus
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Ms. Branch
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Ms. Killean
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Mr. Casey
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Mr. Suss
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Ms. Cheatham
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Ms. Zimmerman
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Mr. Derflinger
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Showcase of Success
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Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)
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Presentations
❖ Highlight on Campbell - Dr. Costanza
❖ Graduation Outcomes Presentation
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Reports
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Old Business
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New Business
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Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings
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September 8, 2026
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Special Business Meeting (1)
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September 8, 2026
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Special Business Meeting (2)
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September 8, 2026
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Board Meeting
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Meeting Open to the Public (for any topic)
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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.
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PERSONNEL
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
----------------------------end of personnel section--------------------------
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FINANCE
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
1. Professional Development
Move to approve the following professional development activities as shown on the following chart:
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Start Date
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End Date
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Activity Title
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Name
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Building
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Approved
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Payment
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FFPI Proposal #
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9/15/
2026
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9/15/
2026
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i_Ready Classroom Mathematics
|
Vorensky, Sandy
Valovcin, Sarah
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Moss/CES
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$0
|
|
|
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9/22/
2026
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9/22/
2026
|
The Science of Sleep: Targeting sleep in youth suicide prevention to improve teen mental health
|
Granados, Lisa
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EMS/
MHS
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$15
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FFPI
|
27-036
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|
9/25/
2026
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9/25/
2026
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NJ Strive Fall PD Day 26
|
Taylor, Carolyn
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Central Office
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$25
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Other
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|
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9/25/
2026
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9/25/
2026
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7th Annual NJBCA Coaches Clinic
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Tzetzos, Panos
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CES
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$0
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|
|
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10/1/
2026
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10/1/
2026
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Financial Aid Workshop
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Kurtin, Ilana
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Central Office
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$0
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No cost
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|
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10/6/
2026
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6/1/
2027
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Child Fatality and Near-Fatality Review Board-Suicide Subcommittee Meeting
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Paredes, Susan
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EMS/
MHS
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$0
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No cost
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|
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10/8/
2026
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5/6/
2027
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18-21 Community of Practice
(4 Thursday dates)
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Valovcin, Dawn
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MHS
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$100
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FFPI
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27-028
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10/8/
2026
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10/8/
2026
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Building Thinking Classrooms: Grades K-5
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Sudol, Julia
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CES
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$149
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FFPI
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27-040
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10/8/
2026
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10/8/
2026
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Building Thinking Classrooms: Grades K-5
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Haller, Alicia
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CES
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$149
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FFPI
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27-038
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10/8/
2026
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10/8/
2026
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Building Thinking Classrooms: Grades K-5
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Meyer, Lori
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CES
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$149
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FFPI
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27-039
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10/9/
2026
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4/16/
2027
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Middlesex County Guidance Council (4 Friday afternoon dates)
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Kurtin, Ilana
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Central Office
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$0
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No cost
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10/13; 10/29; 11/12/2026
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11/12/2026
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Lifelines Training Postinvention and Intervention
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Kurtin, Ilana
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Central
Office
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$150
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Other
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|
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10/13; 10/29; 11/12/2026
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11/12/2026
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Lifelines Training Postinvention and Intervention
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Campbell, Lauren
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$150
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FFPI
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27-053
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10/13/
2026
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10/13/
2026
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NJAGC Teacher Sharefest
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Valovcin, Sarah
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Moss/
CES
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$35
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FFPI
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27-037
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10/15/
2026
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10/15/
2026
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2026 NJPSA Fall Conference, Onward!
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Fitzgibbon, David
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CES
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$450
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FFPI
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27-043
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10/15/2026
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10/15/2026
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2026 NJPSA Fall Conference, Onward!
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Herzog, Tania
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Central Office
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$450
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Other
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|
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10/15/2026
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10/15/2026
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2026 NJPSA Fall Conference, Onward!
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Caputo, Vincent
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Central office
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$450
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Other
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10/16/2026
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10/17/2026
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NJIDA Dyslexia Conference
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Leghorn-
Orapallo, Ann
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EMS/
MHS
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$370
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FFPI
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27-032
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10/16/
2026
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10/16/
2026
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Framing the Future: From Data to Dynamic Literacy Instruction
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Santos, Kristina
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Moss
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$270
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FFPI
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27-030
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10/16/
2026
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10/16/
2026
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Framing the Future: From Data to Dynamic Literacy Instruction
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Gallo, Melissa
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Moss
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$270
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FFPI
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27-031
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10/16/2026
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10/16/2026
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NJIDA Fall Conference 2026
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Agnone, Andrea
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EMS
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$270
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FFPI
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27-033
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10/20/
2026
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10/21/
2026
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NJ science convention
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Wang, Jingjing
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MHS
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$370
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FFPI
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27-020
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10/20/
2026
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10/20/
2026
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DrewTEACH AI & Writing Symposium
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Gural, Todd
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EMS
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$98.28
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FFPI
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27-025
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10/20/
2026
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10/20/
2026
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DrewTEACH AI & Writing Symposium
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Stoner, Richard
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EMS
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$95
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FFPI
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27-024
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10/21/
2026
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10/21/
2026
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Sustainable Jersey Schools Awards Ceremony
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Porowski, Edward
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MHS
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$20
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Other
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10/22/
2026
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10/22/
2026
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All Means All: Special Education Conference 2026
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Nalepa, Lindsay
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MHS
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$25
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FFPI
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27-044
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10/22/
2026
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10/22/
2026
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Embedding Comprehension Strategies Across Narrative, Informational, and Content Area Instruction
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Levin, Lisa
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CES
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$180
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FFPI
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27-041
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10/22/
2026
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10/22/
2026
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Embedding Comprehension Strategies Across Narrative, Informational, and Content Area Instruction
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Spak, Jennifer
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CES
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$180
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FFPI
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27-042
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10/26/
2026
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10/27/
2026
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AENJ 2026 Conference
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Gumbrecht, Jennifer
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EMS
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$265
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FFPI
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27-034
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11/11/
2026
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11/11/
2026
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Hydroponics In Your K - 12 Classroom
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Robbins, Melissa
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EMS
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$314
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FFPI
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27-035
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11/13/
2026
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11/13/
2026
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The 17th Annual WPU Educational Technology Conference
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Bandola, Drew
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EMS
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$0
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No cost
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|
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12/3/
2026
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12/3/
2026
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Annual Suicide Prevention Conference
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Granados, Lisa
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EMS/
MHS
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$145
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FFPI
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27-045
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|
12/4/
2026
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12/4/
2026
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2026 NJCHE Conference
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Manziano, Louis
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Central Office
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$95
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Other
|
|
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12/8/
2026
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12/8/
2026
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Mastering the IEP: Strategies for Effective Writing
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Siesputowski, Tara
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EMS
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$85
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FFPI
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27-046
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|
1/12/
2027
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1/12/
2027
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NJIP PLAs: Operationalizing IDEA & NJAC Chapter 14- Session 3- IEP Writing & Progress Monitoring
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Siesputowski, Tara
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EMS
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$0
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No cost
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|
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1/14/
2027
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1/14/
2027
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NJIP PLAs- Social Emotional Behavioral Supports- Session 3- Reframing Behavior & Teaching Replacement Skills
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Siesputowski, Tara
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EMS
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$0
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No cost
|
|
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1/20/
2027
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1/20/
2027
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Sensemaking
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Nalepa, Lindsay
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MHS
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$85
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FFPI
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27-047
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5/11/
2027
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5/11/
2027
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NJIP PLAs: Inclusive Instructional Practices: HLPS & HITS - Session 5- Intensive Interventions & Tiered Supports
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Siesputowski, Tara
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EMS
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$0
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No cost
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2. Change Order EPIC Management, Inc.
Move to approve the change orders as listed below:
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Change Order #
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Description
|
Amount
|
|
27
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PCO# 1209 dated 6/11/26 PR29A Moss ES Stair Tower Framing. ADD $ 91,789.94
PCO# 1212 dated 6/24/26 Courtyard Parging & Painting. ADD $ 7,192.89
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$ 98,982.83
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3. 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 September 22, 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.
----------------------------end of finance section--------------------------
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POLICY
Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call
Nothing at this time
----------------------------end of policy section-------------------------
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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:
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School
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Destination
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Class/Group/
Purpose
|
Teachers/
Advisors
|
Date(s)
|
No. Of Students
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Board Cost- Transportation
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Number of
Subs Needed.
|
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MHS
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Rows for the Hungry
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PreCalculus Classes will participate in a service learning project to learn about food insecurity in Middlesex County and return to complete a project where students design their own donation garden and calculate the contribution (in terms of produce) it can make to the community.
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Amy Dees and Adero Solomon
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9/30/
2026
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40
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$80
|
2 subs needed
|
|
MHS
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Popcorn Park Zoo
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Grade 12,18-21 Program: This trip will give students the opportunity to practice social and communication goals, utilize problem solving strategies and apply academic and technical skills in authentic recreation and leisure settings.
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Dawn Valovcin, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Joelle Williams, Janine Haulenbeek
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10/2/
2026
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5
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$100
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no subs
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|
MHS
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Sams Club
Second location: Chick-fil-A
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Grade 12,18-21 Program: This trip will give students the opportunity to practice social and communication goals, utilize problem solving strategies and apply academic and technical skills in authentic recreation and leisure settings.
|
Dawn Valovcin, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Joelle Williams, Janine Haulenbeek
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10/9/
2026
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5
|
$70
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no subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, Terrace Pond Loop
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The Outdoor Wellness Club will attend a 5 mile hike in the Hewitt S. Abram Forrest. This hike will help students develop physical endurance and trail safety navigation
|
Anna Girin and Danielle Cermak
|
10/18/2026
|
35
|
$0
|
no subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Hibachi Grill & Buffet
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Grade 12,18-21 Program: This trip will give students the opportunity to practice social and communication goals, utilize problem solving strategies and apply academic and technical skills in authentic recreation and leisure settings.
|
Dawn Valovcin, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Joelle Williams, Janine Haulenbeek
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10/23/2026
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5
|
$50
|
no subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Metropolitan Opera Lincoln Center, NYC
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The Concert Choir will attend a final dress rehearsal of a brand new production of Lincoln in the Bardo Students will witness performers, directors and musicians in a live working rehearsal.
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Stefeny Krombholz and Lynda Wisniewski
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10/29/2026
|
27
|
$0
|
2 subs needed
|
|
MHS
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Campbell Elementary School
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MHS Orchestra students will perform music for the Campbell Halloween Parade.
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Christopher McEwan, Jordyn Gallagher and John Messenger
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10/30/2026
|
60
|
$120 for bus
$180 for truck
|
no subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Wegmans
|
Grade 12,18-21 Program: This trip will give students the opportunity to practice social and communication goals, utilize problem solving strategies and apply academic and technical skills in authentic recreation and leisure settings.
|
Dawn Valovcin, Michelle Schutz, Joseph DiMeglio, Joelle Williams, Janine Haulenbeek
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11/13/2026
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5
|
$50
|
no subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
9/11 Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway show
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AP Government and Euro class will visit the 9/11 Museum.
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Evan Robbins, Beth Abbott, Mark Mooney, Steve Cichetti
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11/20/2026
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40
|
$0
|
4 subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Six Mile Run Park
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The Outdoor Wellness club will participate in a 4 mile hike through Six Mile Run Park. Focus areas: physical endurance, team work, trail safety navigation.
|
Anna Girin and Danielle Cermak
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11/24/2026
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35
|
$0
|
no subs needed
|
|
Edgar and MHS
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Weihnachtsmarket at Sussex County Fairgrounds
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MSD German Students will experience an authentic German Chriskindlmarkt market SWBAT make comparisons between holiday traditions in America and German-speaking countries
|
Susan Paredes, Ashley Bosgra, Ilana Kurtin, John Cathcart and Chrissy Kremer, Jillieanne Peguero and Charmane Montgomery
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12/4/
2026
|
120
|
$0
|
4 subs needed
|
|
MHS
|
Hamilton on Broadway
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United States History Classes will attend Hamilton on Broadway that tells the story of the early USA.
|
Evan Robbins, Steve Cichetti, Michele Cook, Chris Giddes, Beth Abbott, Laura Connolly
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1/7/
2027
|
100
|
$0
|
no subs needed
|
2. Instrument Disposal
Move to approve the disposal/donation of the following curriculum resources from the Metuchen High School:
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Title/Item
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Publisher/Brand
|
Copyright
|
Quantity
|
|
TI-89
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Texas Instruments
|
1998
|
2
|
3. Textbook Disposal
Move to approve the disposal/donation of the following textbooks from Metuchen High School:
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Title
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Publisher/Author
|
Levels
|
|
Essentials of Speech Communication
|
Franklin & Clark
|
Speech Elective (mixed levels)
|
|
The Best Short Stories of the Modern Age
|
Douglas Angus
|
Unknown
|
|
The Bean Trees
|
Barbara Kingsolver
|
Unknown
|
|
Confidence
|
Todd Strasser
|
Unknown
|
|
GIfted
|
Beth Evangelista
|
Unknown
|
|
The Girls
|
Amy Goldman Koss
|
Unknown
|
|
Witness
|
Karen Hesse
|
7th grade ELA many years ago
|
|
Whirlgig
|
Paul Fleischman
|
7th grade many years ago
|
|
The VIew From Saturday
|
E.L, Konigsburg
|
6th grade reading in the 2000s
|
|
Shoeless Joe
|
W.P. Kinsella
|
7th grade ELA in the 2000s
|
|
The Contender
|
Robert Lypsite
|
English 10CP
|
|
Skellig
|
David Almond
|
Unknown
|
|
The Land
|
Mildred D. Taylor
|
Unknown
|
4. Curriculum Writer
Move to approve the following curriculum writer and amount for the 2026-2027 school year:
|
Subject
|
Grade
|
Author
|
Amount
|
|
Art and Movement
|
Kindergarten
|
Jennifer Korpon
|
$500
|
5. Curriculum Guides
Move to approve the implementation of the following new or revised curriculum guides:
|
Curriculum Guides
|
|
Subject/Course
|
Grade
|
|
Business Management
|
9-12
|
|
STEM Lab
|
3
|
|
STEM Lab
|
4
|
|
STEM Lab
|
5
|
|
Introduction to Film
|
10-12
|
|
English Language Arts
|
12
|
6. Student Intern
Move to rescind and approve the placement of the following student intern from Rutgers Music Mason Gross School of the Arts in the Metuchen Public School district during the 2026-2027 school year (Agenda 7/21/26, Section 13, D1):
|
Name
|
School
|
Supervisor
|
|
Rescind:
Tal Daan
|
MHS
|
John Messenger
|
|
Approve:
Tal Daan
|
MHS
|
Stefany Stofa-Krombholz
|
7. 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: Shoprite of South Plainfield
----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------
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Meeting Open to Public (for any topic)
-
Announcements
-
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.
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Adjournment
