Board Meeting - April 27, 2021

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021

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 Criterion Sentinel, The Star Ledger, The Metuchen Mirror, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4.     Roll Call

5.     Showcase of Success

v We are proud to present to you the Metuchen High School Jazz Ensemble. The ensemble has been recognized as one of the finest in the state and were the NJAJE State Jazz Band Finalists in 2016 and 2020 and the NJAJE State Silver Award Winners in 2018 and 2020. Tonight they will be performing “Groovin’ Hard” by Don Menza, which was made popular by the Buddy Rich Band. We would also like to recognize and thank our senior members for all of their hard work and dedication to music and the preservation of jazz: Yun Hyon, Alto Saxophone; Julian Ossa, Piano; and Phil Xie, Piano.

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

7.     Presentations

v Budget Hearing – Mr. Harvier

8.     Reports

v President’s Report

v Superintendent’s Report

v Business Administrator/Board Secretary’s Report

v Committee Reports

9.     Old Business

10.    New Business

11.    Approval of Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

Move to approve the minutes of the following 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.

A.   PERSONNEL

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.     Retirement – Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Marty Holleran, MHS Science Teacher, effective June 30, 2021.

2.     Approval and Rescission of MHS Spring Coaches

Move to rescind and approve the following Metuchen High School spring coaches for the 2020-2021 school year (Agenda 4/13/21 Section 13 A7):

3.     Approval of MHS Volunteer Coaches

Move to approve the following the MHS volunteer coaches for the 2020-2021 school year:

4.     Resignation – Lunch Aide

Move to accept the resignation of Bharti Trivedi, Campbell School lunch aide, effective April 21, 2021.

5.     Appointment – 2020-2021 Proctors

Move to approve the following 2020-2021 G&T proctors at the contractual rate of $46/hour, for no more than 18 hours per proctor:

6.     Appointment - Lunch Aide

Move to approve Alisa Ryan as Campbell School lunch aide, at a rate of 13.35/hour for the 2020-2021 school year, pending criminal history clearance.

7.     Appointment – Substitute Teachers

Move to approve the following substitute teachers for the 2020-2021 school year, effective April 28, 2021:

8.   Metuchen High School Weight Room Supervisor Addition

Move to approve the following staff member as an additional MHS weight room supervisor at the rate of $25.00/hr. as needed during the 2020-2021 school year, effective April 28, 2021 (Agenda 3/9/21, Section 13 A4):

9.   Mentor Teacher Revision

Move to rescind and approve the following mentor teacher to work with the following mentee teacher for the 2020-2021 school year, effective April 5, 2021 (Agenda 4/13/21, Section 13 A5):

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

B.     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 February 28, 2021.

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 April 27, 2021 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 approve budget transfers effective February 28, 2021.

4.     Adoption of the 2021-2022 School District Budget

WHEREAS, the Board of Education must adopt and submit a 2021-2022 school district budget to the New Jersey Department of Education.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education adopt the 2021-2022 school district budget as follows:

The supporting documentation of the budget included an itemization of certain expenditures required under administrative regulations. Maximum travel budget is established at $75,000. Travel includes professional development that takes place outside the District.

5.     Nonpublic Security Aid

Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2020-2021 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.

6.     Parent-Paid Tuition for 2021-2022

Move to approve the parent-paid tuition for the 2021-2022 school year:

7.     Integrated Preschool Tuition

Move to approve integrated preschool tuition for the 2021-2022 school year at a rate of $295/month for half day program and $590/month for full day. 

8.     Resolution – Food Service 2021-2022

Metuchen Board of Education

Food Service 2021-2022

Management Fee and Guarantee Language

Be it resolved that the Metuchen Board of Education “SFA” approves the renewal of the Food Service Management contract with The Pomptonian, Inc. “FSMC” for the food service operation for 2021-2022. 

The FSMC shall receive, in addition to the costs of operation, an administrative/management fee of $23,620.00 to compensate the FSMC for administrative and management costs.  This fee shall be billed in 10 monthly installments of $2,362.00 per month as a cost of operation.  The SFA guarantees the payment of such costs and fee to the FSMC.

As a result of the uncertainties during the public health emergency there is no guaranteed operating result for 2021-2022 school year.

9.     Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Move to approve Cigna as the districts medical, dental, vision insurance carrier for the 2021-2022 school year.

10.    Home Instruction

Move to approve Life Works Schools to provide home instruction at a rate of $50 per hour.

11.    Student Agreement

Move to approve settlement agreement for student #2026127.

12.    Professional Development

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

13.    Bus Purchase

Move to approve the purchase of a 2022 IC Bus LLC, 54 Passenger School Bus from Truck King International Bus Sales for $117,971.60 (ESCNJ 20/21-33, ITEM # 8).

14.    Bus Purchase

Move to approve the purchase of a 2022 Trans Tech SST, 29 Passenger Van from Alliance Bus Group, Inc. for $73,038.10 (ESCNJ BID #20/21-33, ITEM #7).

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C.     POLICY 

1.   School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill Reports

Move to accept the following reports on the completion of the School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills:

·         4/12/2021 2:40 PM, Campbell Elementary School, Faculty Parking Lot. Van 6 and Van 12. Cohort A Students. Supervised by Brooke Kirschner.

·         4/19/2021 2:40 PM, Campbell Elementary School, Faculty Parking Lot. Van 6 and Van 12. Cohort B Students. Supervised by Brooke Kirschner.

·         4/20/2021 8:27 AM, Metuchen High School, Gym door side of building. Van 18. Supervised by Bruce Peragallo, Brian Stike, and Marissa Plancher.

·         4/20/2021 8:46 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 6. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Rick Cohen.

·         4/20/2021 9:07 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 12, Van 6, Van 14. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Karen Calantoni.

·         4/20/2021 11:53 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 2. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Karen Calantoni.

·         4/22/2021 7:45 AM, Edgar School, front of school. Van 14, E2.0 Cohort B students. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, William Ortman, and Suzy Azevedo.

·         4/26/2021 7:40 AM, Edgar School, Horseshoe driveway at rear of building. E8, E7, E2, E5, E1, E3, E4, E6. Cohort A students. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Roseanna Misuraca, Neyda Evans, Suzy Azevedo, and William Ortman.

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D.     CURRICULUM

Nothing at this time

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