Board Meeting - June 22, 2021

 

 

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ  08840

 

 

 

 

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, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v   Spring Sports Champions

Congratulations to:

 

GMC Red Division Champions, GMC Champions and Central Jersey group 1 Sectional Champions

 

GMC Blue Division Champions

 

8^th Grade

^7th Grade

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the minutes of the following meetings:

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following tenured Central Office Administrators for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of Brian Shanley as Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at an annual salary of $112,924.

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following as technology staff for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following central office support staff for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following business office support staff for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following school secretaries for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

**Part-time secretaries may be used as substitute secretaries at their hourly rate.

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following custodial staff for the 2021-2022 school year effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the annual salary as follows:

 

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following as substitute custodians for the 2021-2022 school year:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following as bus drivers for the 2021-2022 school year:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following as bus aides for the 2021-2022 school year:

 

 

Move to approve the reappointment of Judy Kurabinski as substitute caller (substitute teacher coverage coordinator) for the 2021-2022 school year effective September 1, 2021 at an annual salary of $18,516.

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following paraprofessionals for the 2021-2022 school year as shown:

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the following teachers for additional guidance and support to students preparing for college admissions, the application process and algebra courses; as well as for pre-advanced placement instruction:

 

Move to approve the reappointment of the following substitute secretaries for the 2021-2022 school year:

 

 

Move to approve William Ortman as McKinney-Vento homeless liaison for the 2021-2022 school year, contingent on the completion of credential training.

 

 

Move to approve William Ortman, District Safety Coordinator, for summer work, district wide:

 

Move to accept the resignation of Lauren Volosin, MHS English Teacher, effective June 30, 2021.

 

Move to accept the resignation of Nicholas Romanek, MHS Special Education Teacher, effective June 30, 2021.

 

Move to approve the following 2021 ESSER II Fund (CRRSA Act) Summer Virtual Tutoring teachers at the rate of $47/hr, plus an additional .5 preparation time for each hour of student contact time:

 

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of Deneane Bonassisa, Supervisor of Special Education, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $115,000/year, 12-month position, effective July 1, 2021.

 

Move to approve the appointment of Samantha Green, Science Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $89,775, Step 3-M, effective September 2, 2021.

 

Move to accept the resignation of Estefhania Egan, MHS Spanish Teacher, effective June 30, 2021.

 

Move to extend the maternity leave of absence of Emily Mertz Tzetzos, Edgar School Teacher, through October 22, 2021 (Agenda 11/24/20, Section 13 A8).

 

 

Move to approve the following 2021-2022 Student Teacher in our schools:

 

Move to rescind and approve the following teacher to coordinate the FDU Orton Gillingham Teacher Practicum as part of the IDEA Grant (Agenda 8/25/20, Section 13 B9).

 

 

Move to extend the maternity leave of absence of Lauren Campbell, Edgar School Guidance Counselor, through January 17, 2022 (Agenda 10/13/20, Section 13 A22).

 

Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School coaches for the fall 2021 school sports season as shown on the attached list.

 

Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School coaches for the winter 2021-2022 school sports season as shown on the attached list.

 

Move to approve the following Metuchen High School and Edgar Middle School coaches for the summer 2022 school sports season as shown on the attached list.

 

Move to approve the appointment of Patricia Lewis, Metuchen School District Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $82,238, Step 4-K, effective September 2, 2021.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the Treasurer of School Monies’ Report, and Board Secretary’s Report as of April 30, 2021.

 

Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6:20-2A.10(d), the Board Secretary has certified that as of June 22, 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

 

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.

 

Move to approve budget transfers effective April 30, 2021.

 

Move to approve the Facilities Use Agreement with YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy, effective September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 at the rate of $1,900/month.

 

Move to approve the appointment of Rebecca Cuthbert as Treasurer of School Monies for the 2021-2022 school year at a rate of $5,408/year.

 

Move to approve the appointment of EI Associates as Architects of Record for the 2021-2022 school year.

 

Move that the Board of Education (Board) approve the appointment of David Rubin, P.C. (Firm) as General Counsel and approve the Firm for the period of July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The Board will pay the Firm an hourly rate of $185/hr.

 

 

 

 

 

Move that the Board of Education (Board) approve the appointment of The Machado Law Group (Firm) as Special Education Counsel and approve the Firm for the period of July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The Board will pay the Firm an hourly rate of $150/hr.

 

Move that the Board of Education (Board) approve the appointment of Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC for the construction and procurement and approve the Firm for the period of July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The Board will pay the Firm $165/hr for partners and counsel, $155/hr for associates and $100.00 an hour for clerks and paralegals.

 

Move that the Board of Education (Board) approve the appointment of McManimon, Scotland & Baumann (Firm) as Bond Counsel and approve the Firm for the period from July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The Board will pay the firm an hourly rate of $215/hr.

 

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:19-3 move to approve the establishment of petty cash funds as of July 1, 2021. The individuals responsible for proper disposition of the indicated fund amounts are as follows:

 

 

Move to approve PlanConnect as the third party administrator for the following Tax Shelter Annuity Companies for the Metuchen School District for the 2021 -2022 school year.

 

Move to approve the 2021-2022 Uniform Minimum Chart of Accounts for New Jersey Public Schools.

 

Move to approve the appointment of The Schenck Agency as the Metuchen School District’s Insurance Brokers of Record for the 2021-2022 school year, for the purpose of providing necessary services including the solicitation of competitive insurance rates, provision of advice regarding coverage maintained by the Board and responding to both the general and specific coverage questions. Awarded as an Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service.

 

Move to approve the appointment of Kevin Lukenda, MD, as district school physician for the 2021-2022 school year at the rate of $21,864/year.

 

Move to appoint Suplee, Clooney and Company as auditor for the 2021-2022 school year at a rate of $41,310.

 

Motion to adopt the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED that Vincent Caputo, Superintendent of Schools, Michael Havier, Board Secretary/ Business Administrator of the Metuchen Board of Education, Richard Cohen, Assistant Superintendent, and Tania Herzog, Director of Special Services or their designees, be designated as the Board’s agents to request state and federal funds under the existing State and Federal Laws for the 2021-2022 school year.

 

Motion to adopt the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED that Michael Harvier, Board Secretary/Business Administrator be designated and empowered as the Board of Education’s Purchasing Agent as set forth in the N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-2-2, 18A:18A-7, 18A:18A-37, including authorization to:

 

 

 

WHEREAS, N.J.A.C. 5:34-5 et seq. establishes the criteria for the qualifying as a Qualifying Purchasing Agent; and

 

WHEREAS, Michael Harvier possesses the designation of Qualified Purchasing Agent as issued by the Director of the Division of local Government Services in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:34-5 et seq; and

 

RESOLVED, that the governing body hereby appoints Michael Harvier as the Qualified Purchasing Agent to exercise the duties of a purchasing agent pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-2b, with specific duties of a purchasing agent authority, responsibility, and accountability of the purchasing activity of the Board of Education, and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:34-5.2 THE Board of Education Secretary is herby authorized and directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution and a copy of Michael Harvier’s certification to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services.

 

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:21-2, N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-31, and N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-41 permit Board of Education to establish and/or deposit into certain reserve accounts at the end, and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned statutes authorize procedures, under the authority of the Commissioner of Education, which permits a Board of Education to transfer unanticipated excess current revenue or unexpended appropriations into reserve accounts during the month of June by board resolution, and

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education wishes to transfer unanticipated excess current year revenue or unexpended appropriations from the general fund into the Capital Reserve Fund in the amount not to exceed $900,000 and Maintenance reserve in an amount not to exceed 400,000.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Metuchen Board of Education that it hereby authorizes the district’s School Business Administrator to make this transfer consistent with all applicable laws and regulations.

Move to approve the appointment of the following to provide clinical, therapeutic, counseling and behavioral services for the 2021-2022 school year:  

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following to provide psychiatric assessments/evaluations for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following to perform specialized neurodevelopmental evaluations for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

          Dr. Steven Gordon   $320/hr 

        Dr. Michael Selbst $300/hr 

       Dr. Debra Salzman $300/hr 

       Dr. Rory Panter $260/hr 

       Dr. Rebecca Schulman $240/hr 

       Dr. Ashley Zultanky $180/hr 

          Katherine Weiedemann, BCBA $200/hr

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

$79.56/hr OT and Speech Therapy- not to exceed $259,000 annually 

$300/evaluation for OT and Speech Evaluations 

 

Move to approve Kaleidoscope Education Solutions to provide related services, as needed, at the following rates:

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

RN - $60/hr 

LPN - $55/hr

RN (1:1) $54.59/hr 

LPN (1:1) $51.50/hr

Sub RN $56.65/hr

LPN Bus Ride up to 2 hrs $110/bus ride 

LPN (1:1) $53/hr

RN (1:1) $58/hr

 

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf, In Services, Consultation services at the rate of $165/hr   

Audiologist Consultation at the rate of $200/hr 

$550 per individual 

Level 1: $2,200 

Central Auditory Processing Evaluation $650 

Comprehensive Audiological Evaluation $300 

Hearing Aid Evaluation $450

Speech-Language Evaluation $650 

Bilingual Speech-Language Evaluation $850 

Language Processing Evaluation $950

Speech-Language Therapy/session $85 (30 min.), $127.50 (45 min.), $160 (1 hour) 

In-School Consultation (2 Hr. Minimum) $175/hr

Audiological Evaluation at $744/evaluation (ages 5+) 

Audiological Evaluation at $795/evaluation (ages 4 and under) 

Central Auditory Processing Evaluation at $1,368/evaluation  

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following providers for the 2021-2022 school year: 

  

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Evaluations: $150/hr 

Comprehensive AAC Evaluation Written Report: $300

Attendance at the follow-up IEP Meeting: $140/hr

Professional Development/Training: $140/hr

Written Implementation Plans: $140/hr 

Technical Assistance: $75/hr 

AAC Coaching: $140/hr 

Assistive Technology Evaluation with report- $1,400

Travel- $100/hr

AT and AAC Evaluations up to $1,300 

AT services $160/hr 

AAC services $210/hr 

In Service Training $650/ half day and $1,200/ full day 

Assistive Technology Evaluation- $899 

On-site Consultation/Training- $150/hr 

Full Day Professional Development Workshop- $800 

Half Day Professional Development Workshop- $400 

Travel Fee (Over 30 Miles of Travel)- $60 

AT Evaluation- travel included $999  

AP Supp and Training- travel included $155/hr    

AAC Evaluation- travel included $1320 

ACC Supp and Training- travel included $185/hr 

  

Move to approve the appointment of the following independent assessment providers for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

$600/Mono-lingual evaluation 

$750/Bilingual evaluation 

$675/English evaluation 

$915/Bilingual evaluation 

$800/evaluations 

$750/Spanish evaluation

$120 per page/ Written Translation

$2,400/Educational Evaluation and $1,500/Literacy evaluation 

Psychological evaluations -$420  

Functional Behavioral Assessment- $570 

Evaluations: $240 

Bilingual: $400 

Social history- $230 

$1600 full day -PD

$1000 half day -PD

$200 hour or $1000 per day -Consultation

Monolingual Psychological Evaluation (English) $300/evaluation

Bilingual Psychological Evaluation (Polish) $450/evaluation

Polish translation (meetings) $75

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following as providers of Home Instruction for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

Move to approve the following transition services for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

Move to approve the following duties/positions for Director of Special Services for Dr. Tania Herzog, for the 2021-2022 school year: 

 

 

Move to approve the re-adoption of the Nursing Services Plan for the 2021-2022 school year.   

 

Move to approve the re-adoption of Standing Orders for School Nurses for the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

Move to approve DPZ Professional Services to conduct Residency Investigations at a rate of $50/hr. 

 

Move to approve the following 2021 extended school year out of district student placements: 

 

 

*Indicates estimated tuition

Move to approve parent contract for transportation for the following students:

 

 

       Move to approve the placement of student #2020610 at Burlington County Special Services School District at a rate of $247.50 per diem from June 9, 2021 through June 21, 2021.

 

Move to approve the appointment of the following additional Bus Aides for ESY 2021 bus routes.

 

 

 

WHEREAS, on June 17 2021, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) held a public bid opening for the District Wide Mechanical Upgrades(“Project”); and

WHEREAS, the Board received two (2) bids at the public bid opening; and

WHEREAS, the lowest numerical bid was submitted by EACM Corp; and

WHEREAS, THE DAY AFTER THE BID OPENING, EACM Corp, ADVISED THE BOARD THAT IT MADE A CRITICAL ERROR IN THE CALCULATION OF ITS BID AND REQUESTED THAT ITS BID BE WITHDRAWN; AND

WHEREAS, DeSesa Engineering Co. Inc, SUBMITTED THE SECOND LOWEST NUMERICAL BID with a total bid of Two Million Four Hundred sixty six dollars ($2,466,000.00), which amount consists of a base bid of Two Million Four Hundred sixteen Thousand Dollars ($2,416,000.00), which amount includes a Fifty  Thousand Dollar ($50,000.00) General Allowance,  and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined by DeSesa Engineering Co. Inc. to be the lowest responsible bidder.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE ABOVE RECITALS ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD HEREBY ACCEPTS EACM CORP’S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW ITS BID FOR THE PROJECT.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1, et seq., the Board hereby awards a contract for the Project to in the amount of Two Million Four Hundred sixty six dollars ($2,466,000.00)  to  DeSesa Engineering Co. Inc., which amount consists of the base bid and ALL allowances.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board authorizes the Business Administrator, working with the Board’s construction counsel and architect to prepare the contract for the project, forward same to DeSesa Engineering Co. Inc., and obtain all documents required thereby.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT UPON THE BOARD’S RECEIPT OF THE PARTIALLY EXECUTED CONTRACT, AS WELL AS THE BOARD’S APPROVAL OF DESESA ENGINEERING CO., INC.’S BONDS, INSURANCE CERTIFICATE AND OTHER CONTRACT DOCUMENTS, THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR SHALL RETURN THE BID SECURITIES TO THE BIDDERS.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the district’s Safe Return Plan.

 

 

 

 

Move to approve the following curriculum writing documents, writers and amounts for Summer 2021:

 

 

Move to approve the textbook AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICA’S MUSIC for the class course, Music in American History and Modern America.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.