THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, April 12, 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

❖    Student Advisory Board

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

7. Presentations 

❖    Referendum - Website Overview, Three Ballot Questions - Mr. Lifton

❖    District Goals Update - Dr. Caputo

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 - Student Observer

Move to approve the following student observer in the Metuchen Public Schools district for the 2021 – 2022 school year: 

2. Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

Move to approve the medical leave of absence of Beth Abbott, PE/Health Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective April 25, 2022 through approximately May 20, 2022.

3. Maternity Leave - Paraprofessional

Move to approve the maternity leave of absence of Jennifer Lesniak, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, effective approximately May 16, 2022 through June 30, 2022.

4. Retirement - Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Laura McCadden, Math Teacher at Edgar Middle School, effective June 30, 2022.

5. Appointment - Lunch Aide

Move to approve the following as a lunch aide in Metuchen Public Schools for the 2021-2022 school year, effective April 13, 2022, pending criminal history clearance:

6. Appointment – Substitutes

Move to approve the additional substitute teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, effective April 13, 2022, pending criminal history clearance (Agenda 8/24/2021, Section 13 A5):

7. Appointment – Formal Mentor Teacher

Move to approve the following additional staff to serve as a formal mentor for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 8/24/22, Section 13A 16):

8. 2022-2023 Fall Coach Appointments –Metuchen High School

Move to approve the following 2022-2023 Metuchen High School Fall Coach Appointments:

*Represents Adjunct Coach

9. Appointment - District Substitute Nurse

    Move to approve a district substitute Nurse, Susan Fackler, to provide per diem nursing assistance, at a rate of $125 per day, as needed, from January 1, 2022 through June 21, 2022, to be paid through ESSER Grant Funds.

10.    Additional Instructional Stipend

    Move to approve the following additional instructional stipend for the 2021- 2022 school year to provide IEP based intervention, effective, May 2, 2022 through June 21, 2022:

11.    Appointment - Leave Replacement

    Move to approve the appointment of Paul Napoli, Leave Replacement for Beth Abbott, PE/Health Teacher at Metuchen High School, at a rate of $278.38/day, effective approximately April 13, 2022 through approximately May 20, 2022.

12.    Appointment - Home Based ABA Specialists

    Move to approve the following self contained Teachers, Child Study Team, and Speech Therapists to provide home based ABA programming and training as needed:

13.    Appointment - SEPAC Facilitators

    Move to approve the following staff to provide the annual SEPAC workshop:

14.    Reading Intervention Services

    Move to approve Alyssa Polesky to provide Special Services reading intervention services at a rate of $47 per hour.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Transportation Jointure 2021-2022

    Move to approve the Transportation Jointure for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year with the Camden County Educational Services Commission. 

2.    Transportation Jointures and Individual Routes 2021-2022

    Move to approve the transportation jointures and individual routes for the 2021-2022 school year with the following districts and educational service commissions: Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, Somerset County Educational Services Commission, Monmouth / Ocean Educational Services Commission, South Plainfield School District, Edison School District, Piscataway School District, and Woodbridge School District. 

3.     Professional Development

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

4.    Transportation Providers 2021-2022

    Move to approve South Plainfield School District, Durham School Services, Garas Transportation, Nelvi Transit Inc., D&L Bus Services, Mercy Transportation, Road to Success, and Stars Transport Inc. as transportation providers for the 2021-2022 school year.

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case:

• CES022822001

2.     Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for March 21, 2022- April 8, 2022.

3.    School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill Reports

    Move to accept the following reports on the completion of the School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill:

• 3/18/2022 8:30 – 2:30 PM, Metuchen High School, student parking lot. Full School Evacuation Practice during Physical Education Classes, Bus 29 was used for all. Supervised by Brian Stike / Teachers Leading the drill were Bob Ulmer, Nick Zaneto, Mark Mooney, Beth Abbott, Julie Youngman, and Michelle Huff

• 3/24/2022 12:30 – 12:45 PM, Campbell Elementary School, Locations for the drill were staff parking lot, Durham Ave & Campbell driveway between Talmadge & Durham. C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, Van 6, and Van 12 all participated in the evacuation practice. Supervised by Dr. Vincent Costanza

• 3/31/2022 Moss School AM & PM Kindergarten classes, bus safety drill in class instruction, letter sent by Mr. Rick Cohen (Principal/Asst. Superintendent) 

• 4/1/2022 8:37 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 14. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Natalie Dougherty, and Karen Calantoni

• 4/1/2022 9:02 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 12, Van 16, Van 2. Supervised by Marissa Plancher, Natalie Dougherty, and Karen Calantoni

• 4/1/2022 11:53 AM, Moss School, in back of school. Van 14. Supervised by Marissa Plancher and Natalie Dougherty.

• 4/4/2022 8:30 AM – 2:15 PM, Edgar School, back bus circle. Full School Evacuation Practice during Physical Education & Health Classes, Bus 27 was used for all. Supervised by Suzy Azevedo / Teachers Leading the drill were Mr. Carter, Ms. Gilbert, Ms. Huff, Ms. Kuhthlau, and Mr. Butler

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