THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 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

❖    Edgar Middle School proudly presents Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr! Celebrate the joys of learning with the Edgar Middle School drama club. This musical revue highlights the hits of the classic cartoon Schoolhouse Rock! Reintroduce yourself to Bill, Interplanet Janet, and the Conjunction Conductor, amongst other favorite characters from the popular series. To give a sneak peek, Giovanni Fighera and Celeste Falkovitch will perform the classic tune "Just a Bill." Tickets are $5 and must be purchased from the Edgar Middle School main office prior to the event. 

    Dates- 2/25 and 2/26, at 7 PM.  2/27, at 2 PM

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Review of Transportation and Technology Budgets - Mr. Harvier

❖    Referendum Presentation - Referendum Concepts, Edgar/MHS 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. Retirement - Substitute Coordinator

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Judy Kurabinski, Substitute Coordinator for the Metuchen Schools District, effective June 30, 2022.

2. Salary Adjustment – Certificated Staff

Move to approve a change in base salary for Caroline Forde, Edgar School Teacher, from Step 1F, $57,250/year, to Step 3F, $60,113/year, as a result of earning her Master’s Degree, effective March 1, 2022.

3. Appointment - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the appointment of Annie Kim, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $22,848/year, prorated, using IDEA grant funds, effective February 23, 2022, pending criminal history clearance. 

4. Appointment - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the appointment of Richard Cundari, Math Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $54,250/year, prorated, Step 1D, effective April 25, 2022, or earlier if he is released from his current district. 

5. Appointment - Custodian

Move to approve the transfer of position of Lorenzo Asiain, from Night Head Custodian to Day Head Custodian at Edgar School, effective February 14, 2022.

6. Appointment - Custodian 

Move to approve the appointment of Raul Morales as Night Head Custodian at Edgar School, effective February 14, 2022, with the additional compensation of $4,550/year, prorated, for the 2021-2022 school year.  

7. Appointment - Event Staff

Move to approve the following additional Event Staff for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 9/14/21, Section 13 A14):

8. Appointment - Substitute Nurses

Move to approve the appointment of the following additional substitute nurse for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 23, 2022, at a rate of $125/day, pending completion of criminal background clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A7):

9.    Appointment – 1:1 Substitute Nurses

    Move to approve the appointment of the following 1:1 per diem substitute registered nurses for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 23, 2022, at a rate of $280/day, pending completion of criminal background clearance:

10.     Campbell School Lunch/Recess Stipend

    Move to approve the following non-instructional lunch stipend for the period of March 1, 2022 through April 14, 2022 as follows:

11.    Campbell School Lunch/Recess Stipend

    Move to approve the following non-instructional lunch stipend for the period of March 7, 2022 through June 21, 2022 as follows:

12.    Appointment - Substitute

    Move to approve the additional substitute teacher for the 2021-2022 school year, effective February 23, 2022, pending completion of substitute paperwork and criminal background clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A5):

13.    Family Leave - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the family leave of absence of Joseph Keagle, Physics Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately March 7, 2022 through approximately April 25, 2022.

14.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Neha Makwana, Leave Replacement for Megan Shapiro, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, at a rate of $278.38/day, effective approximately March 24, 2022 through approximately June 24, 2022, pending criminal history clearance. 

15.    Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities - Metuchen High School.

    Move to approve the name change of the following co-curricular volunteer club at Metuchen High School for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 2/8/22, Section 13 A11):

16.    Behavioral Technician Training - Paraprofessionals

    Move to approve the following paraprofessionals to complete the Registered Behavioral Technician training, not to exceed 45 hours each, at their hourly rate as follows:

17.    Appointment - Informal Mentor Teacher

    Move to approve the following additional staff to serve as an informal mentor for the 2021-2022 school year, to be paid at a rate of $47/hour, not to exceed six hours (Agenda 8/24/22, Section 13A 17):

18.    Medical Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to extend the medical leave of absence of Jo-Ann Rice, Secretary at Edgar School, through approximately March 18, 2022.

19.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Elena Celano, as Leave Replacement for Campbell School Art Teacher Gina Kustelski, effective approximately March 3, 2022 through June 24, 2022, at a rate of $150/day.

20.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

           Move to approve the appointment of Ben Hohmann, Paraprofessional at Campbell School, for the 2021-2022 school year, at a salary of $21,785/year, prorated, effective March, 1 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 December 31, 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 February 22, 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.   Budget Transfers

Move to approve budget transfers effective December 31, 2021.

4.    Student Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement of student 2020610.

5.    Student Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement for student 2032001.

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.    District Calendar

    Move to approve the district calendar for the 2022-2023 school year.

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Metacognition and PBL Coach

Move to approve Susan Stevens of Dr. Goodreader Consulting Services to serve as a Secondary Math Coach for the 2021-2022 school year to provide professional learning focused on real-world math PBL. Cost not to exceed $8,000.    

2.     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