THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 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

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Audit 2020-2021 - A representative from Suplee, Clooney & Company will be present to discuss the results of the 2020-2021 school year audit.

❖    Review of baseline data, maintenance and custodial budget, and school based budgets - Mr. Harvier

❖    District ABR Summary Report/HIB Grading Self Assessment for 2020-2021 SY - Dr. Caputo

❖    Student Safety Data System (SSDS) - Period 1 (September - December 2021)

❖    Referendum Presentation - Referendum Concepts, Moss/Campbell Architectural Drawings presented by Mr. Lifton

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. Medical Leave of Absence

Move to approve a medical leave of absence of Jo-Ann Rice, Secretary at Edgar School, from January 6, 2022 through approximately February 21, 2022.

2. Retirement - Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Jane Harmon, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective June 30, 2022.

3. Retirement - Paraprofessional

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Kathleen Aquadro, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, effective June 30, 2022. 

4. Stipend 

Move to approve the stipend of $849 (prorated) for the following custodians as a result of obtaining their Black Seal Boiler Operator's License:

5. Medical Leave of Absence

Move to approve the medical leave of absence of Margaret Thomas, Music Teacher at Campbell School, from January 25, 2022 through approximately February 18, 2022.

6. Appointment - Substitute Custodian

Move to approve the following as substitute custodian for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 9, 2022, pending completion of criminal background clearance, at a rate of $15/hour:

7. Appointment - Leave Replacement

Move to approve the appointment of Ben Hohmann, as Leave Replacement for Metuchen High School Technology Teacher, effective January 31, 2022 through approximately March 1, 2022, at a rate of $150/day.

8. Resignation - Paraprofessional

Move to accept the resignation of Lisa Amend, Paraprofessional at Moss School, effective February 11, 2022.

9. Appointment - Substitutes

Move to approve the additional substitute teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 9, 2022, pending completion of substitute paperwork and criminal background clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A5):

10. Coach Appointment Revisions - Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School

Move to approve the following revisions to the 2021-2022 Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School Coach Appointments, pending criminal history clearance (Agenda 6/22/2021, Section 13 A27 and Agenda 10/12/21, Section 13 A5):

*Represents Adjunct Coach

**22-23 School Year

11.    Metuchen High School Volunteer Club - Addition

    Move to approve the following additional MHS Volunteer Club for the 2021-2022 school year, as listed (Agenda 8/24/21, Section 13 A15):

12.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the appointment of Sandy Iacona, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $22,848/year, prorated, effective February 9, 2022, pending criminal history clearance.

13.     tNJMHFA Mental Health First Aid Training

    Move to approve the following teachers to provide Mental Health First Aid training after-school for Metuchen High School 11th grade students, per the agreements within the tNJMHFA grant and per training provided at the contractual hourly rate of $47/hr., not to exceed 10 hours each:  

14.     Parent Academy Coping Skills Sessions

    Move to approve the following teachers to be paid from the ESSER III grant funds at the contractual hourly rate of $47/hr for facilitation and preparation of the Parent Academy Coping Skills sessions for the 2021 - 2022 school year:

15.    SECD Committee

    Move to approve the following teachers at the contractual hourly rate of $47/hr to implement the SECD committee plans to extend SEL education to the community to be paid from the Title IV federal grant for the 2021-2022 school year:

16.    SEL Interns

    Move to approve the following SEL Interns for the Spring 2022 semester:

17.     Appointment - Spring 2022 Student Observer

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

18.     Appointment - Spring 2022 Student Teacher

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

19.     Additional Instructional Stipend

    Move to approve the following additional instructional stipend for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 22, 2022:

20.    Appointment - Spring 2022 Student Observer 

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

21.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities - Edgar Middle School

    Move to approve the following additional co-curricular stipend at Edgar Middle School for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 8/24/21, Section 13 A14):

22.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities – Metuchen High School 

    Move to revise the following co-curricular stipend at Metuchen High School for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 8/24/21, Section 13 A14):

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. Acceptance of the 2020-2021 School Year Audit (CAFR)

Move to accept the Comprehensive Audit Financial Report (CAFR), the accompanying Report to Management, and the synopsis prepared by the Superintendent, the Business Administrator, and Suplee, Clooney & Company , with no corrective action necessary for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021.

2. Nonpublic Security Aid

Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2021-2022 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:

3. Nonpublic Technology Aid

Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2021-2022 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:

4.     Feeding Therapy - Reach For The Stars, LLC.

    Move to approve Lisa Jiannetto-Surrusco of Reach for the Stars, LLC. to provide professional feeding therapy services of consultation and staff training at the rate of $175 per hour.

5.    Expenditure - Northeastern Interior Services, LLC.

    Move to approve the expenditure by Northeastern Interior Services LLC in Little Falls, NJ, to repair 750 S/F of Siding at Campbell Elementary School, not to exceed $54, 313.44.

6.    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. HIB Grade System Report

Move to approve the submission of the HIB Self-Assessment Grade Report for the 2020-2021 school year to the NJDOE.

2. Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case:

• METHS121521001

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1. tNJMHFA Grant Approval

Move to approve the tNJMHFA grant for the 2021 - 2022 school year.

2. Esser II Grant Carryover

Move to approve the district’s ESSER II Grant carryover:

3. 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