THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 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, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

4. Roll Call

5. Showcase of Success

Introduction of New Teachers

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

7. Presentations 

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report

• Committee Reports

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. Appointment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the appointment of Abeera Omarzai, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $21,785/year, prorated, effective September 15, 2021.

2. Appointment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the appointment of Matt Sutin, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $79,200/year, Step 5-J, prorated, effective November 15, 2021, or earlier if released from current district.

3. Appointment - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the appointment of Nicolette Dulin, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $22,848/year, prorated, effective September 15, 2021.

4. Appointment - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the appointment of Sandra Spinelli, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $22,848/year, prorated, effective September 15, 2021.

5. Appointment - Lunch Aides

Move to approve the following as lunch aides at Campbell School for the 2021-2022 school year, pending criminal history clearance:

6. Special Services Intern

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

7. Resignation - Certificated Staff

Move to accept the resignation of Alissa Trapanese, School Psychologist, effective November 1, 2021, or earlier if a replacement is hired.

8. Student Observers

Approve the following observers in the Metuchen Public Schools district for the 2021 – 2022 school year: 

9. Appointment - 2021- 2022 Student Teachers

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

10. Mentor Teachers – New Teacher Academy

Move to approve the following additional mentor teacher to work with new teachers at the New Teacher Academy on August 31, 2021, for 6 hours at the rate of $47.00/hr., for a total of $282.00. (Agenda 8/24/21, Section 18):

11. ESSER III Funded Quarantine Tutors

Move to approve all certified staff to serve as quarantine instruction virtual tutors for the 2021-2022 school year on an as needed basis, at the hourly rate of $47/hr., plus an additional .5 preparation time for each hour of designated quarantine instruction virtual tutoring. 

12. Covid Testing - Staff

Move to approve the following staff members at assist with Covid testing for staff and students, as needed after work hours, at their hourly rates:

13. ESL Intern

Move to approve the following Rutgers Graduate School GSAPP SEL intern for the 2021-2022 school year with a stipend of $5,000 to be paid from Esser II Funds: 

14. Appointment - Event Staff

Move to approve the following Event Staff for the 2021-2022 school year, at the rates listed below:

15. Salary Adjustment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve a change in base salary for Michael Butler, Edgar School Teacher, from Step 1N, $90,000/year to Step 2N, $92,250/year, as a result of him earning 30+ credits beyond his Bachelor’s Degree, effective September 1, 2021.

16. Salary Adjustment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve a change in base salary for Kevin LoPresti, Campbell School Teacher, from Step 3K, $80,325/year to Step 4K, $82,238/year, as a result of him earning 30+ credits beyond his Master’s Degree, effective September 1, 2021.

17. Salary Adjustment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve a change in base salary for Alexa Baird, Metuchen High School Teacher, from Step 2G, $61,705/year to Step 3G, $63,210/year, as a result of her earning her Master’s Degree, effective September 1, 2021.

18. Appointment - Substitutes

Move to approve the additional substitute teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, effective September 15, 2021 (Agenda 08/24/2021, Section 13 A5):

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Reassignment of Petty Cash Funds for the 2021-2022 School Year

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:19-3 move to approve the establishment of petty cash funds as of September 14, 2021. The individuals responsible for proper disposition of the indicated fund amounts are as follows (Agenda 06/22/2021 Section 13 B11):

2. Student Agreement

 Move to approve the settlement agreement of student #2029130.

3. Mental Health Counseling - Well Spring Center

Move to approve Well Spring Center for Prevention to provide mental health counseling services for the 2021-2022 school year at a rate of $57,000 for the year, to be funded by ESSER Grant funds. 

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 2020-2021 school year, which provides nursing services to the following non-public schools located in the Metuchen School District: Apple Montessori, Callicorp LLD DBA Friends, St. Joseph High School, Metuchen Christian Academy and St. Francis Cathedral. 

5. Professional Development

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

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Second Reading of Policies and Regulations 

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

P 1648            Restart and Recovery Plan   (Abolished)

P 1648.02       Remote Learning Options for Families   (Abolished)

P 1648.03       Restart and Recovery Plan – Full-Time Remote

Instruction  (Abolished)

P 1648.11       The Road Forward COVID-19 – Health and Safety  (New)

P 2422            Comprehensive Health and Physical Education

P 2431            Athletic Competition

P 2467            Surrogate Parents and Resource Family Parents

P 5111            Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Students

P 5114            Children Displaced by Domestic Violence  (Abolished)

P 5116            Education of Homeless Children

P 6115.01       Federal Awards/Funds Internal Controls – Allowability

of Costs   (New)

P 6115.02       Federal Awards/Funds Internal Controls – Mandatory

Disclosures  (New)

P 6115.03       Federal Awards/Funds Internal Controls – Conflict of

Interest  (New)

P 6311            Contracts for Goods or Services Funded by Federal

Grants  

P & R 7432      Eye Protection

P 8420            Emergency and Crisis Situations

R 8420.1         Fire and Fire Drills

P 8540            School Nutrition Programs

P 8550            Meal Charges/Outstanding Food Service Bill

P 8600            Student Transportation

P 8810            Religious Holidays  (Abolished)

2. Proposed Policy First Reading

Move to approve the first reading of the following proposed policy:

    P 1648.13    School Employee Vaccination Requirements

3. ESCNJ Appointment of Representative

Pursuant to enacted legislation P.L. 192-1989, Chapter 254, the Metuchen Board of Education elected Vincent Caputo to the Representative Assembly of the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey from September 2021 to September 2022.

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

    Nothing at this time

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