THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022

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

❖    Asian Heritage Club - The Lion Dance

The Lion Dance is a traditional dance performed on festive occasions, such as the Lunar New Year for good luck, as it is believed that the lion is an auspicious animal.  Because many different forms of Lion Dance exist throughout various Asian Cultures, we felt that it would be fitting for Metuchen High School's Asian Heritage Club to learn to perform this dance and learn about its connections to the many Asian Cultures.  The dance, music and the costume we are presenting to you today is characteristic of the Southern Chinese Lion Dance.  The Metuchen High School Asian Heritage Club had an opportunity to attend a workshop by the Lion Dance troupe at University of Pennsylvania last month, which was made possible by the generous grant from Metuchen Education Foundation.  The students have been diligently practicing the dance and the percussion sequences since then.  This will be the first time they will be performing in front of an audience.  

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Safe Return/Road Forward Plan Update - Dr. Caputo

❖    Open to Public for Comments on Safe Return Plan/Road Forward

❖    Discussion of Budget Calendar - Mr. Harvier

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 - Facilitators for Mental Health Mentor Program

Move to approve the following teachers to serve as facilitators for the MHS Mental Health Mentor program for the 2021-2022 school year, not to exceed 20 hours at the contractual rate of $47 per hour. To be paid from the CRRSA ESSER II Learning Acceleration Grant.

2. Appointment - Trainer for Embedding Coping Skills Pilot

Move to approve Emily Presuto to serve as a turn-key trainer for the Embedding Coping Skills Pilot for the 2021-2022 school year, not to exceed 10 hours at the contractual rate of $47 per hour. To be paid from the ARP ESSER III Learning Acceleration and Coaching Grant.

3. Appointment - Additional Trainers for Embedding Coping Skills Pilot

Move to approve Emily Mertz and Jennifer Muller to conduct coping skills pilot training for the 2021-2022 school year at the hourly rate of $47/hour. Total amount of hours not to exceed 15 hours. To be paid with ARP ESSER III Learning Acceleration and Coaching Grant Funds. 

4. Medical Leave of Absence 

Move to approve the medial leave of absence of Elizabeth Linthurst, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, from approximately January 31, 2022 through approximately March 14, 2022.

----------------------------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 November 30, 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 January 18, 2022 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.     Grant Applications

    Move to approve the Superintendent and the Business Administrator to apply for a grant through the New Jersey's Clean Energy Program and the School and Small Business Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair Program.

4.     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. English Language Learner Plan

Move to approve the English Language Learner Three Year Plan for the 2021-2024 school years.

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

4. 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: 

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