THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 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 

❖    Budget Hearing - Mr. Harvier

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

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

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.    Maternity Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the maternity leave of absence of Eileen Wagenblast, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, from approximately May 23, 2022 through June 30, 2022.

2.    Family Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the family leave of absence of Eileen Wagenblast, English Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective September 6, 2022 through January 20, 2023.

3.    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):

4.    ESSER III Funded Strong Support Tutors

    Move to approve the following certified staff to serve as ESSER III Strong Support tutors for the 2021-2022 school year at the hourly rate of $47.00/hr., plus an additional .5 preparation time for each hour designated virtual tutoring. 

5.    EMS/MHS French Teacher Position

    Move to approve the Edgar School/Metuchen High School French Teacher position from .8 to full-time, for the 2022-2023 school year.

6.    Spring Play Musician Stipends

    Move to approve the following musician stipends for the Footlighters spring play for the 2021-2022 school year:

7.    Appointment - Additional SEPAC Facilitator

    Move to approve Lisa Granados as an additional facilitator for the SEPAC workshop at a rate of $47/hr (Agenda 04/12/2022, Section 13, A13).

8.    Appointment – Additional Zone Staff

    Move to approve the additional Zone Staff for the 2021-2022 school year (Agenda 8/24/21, Section 13A 10):

----------------------------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 February 28, 2022.

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 April 26, 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 February 28, 2022.

4.     Dental and Vision Insurance

    Move to approve Cigna as the district's dental and vision insurance carrier for the 2022-2023 school year.

5.    Adoption of the 2022-2023 School District Budget

WHEREAS, the Board of Education must adopt and submit a 2022-2023 school district budget to the New Jersey Department of Education.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education adopt the 2022-2023 school district budget as follows:

The supporting documentation of the budget included an itemization of certain expenditures required under administrative regulations. Maximum travel budget is established at $75,000. Travel includes professional development that takes place outside the District.

6.    Resolution Authorizing Submission of an additional spending proposal to the legally qualified voters of the school district at the annual school election

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY (with not less than a majority of the full membership of the Board concurring) AS FOLLOWS:

    1.    It is hereby determined that an additional spending proposal will be submitted for voter approval at the Annual School Election scheduled for November 8, 2022. The form of the proposal will read substantially as follows with such adjustments as provided by bond counsel in accordance with guidelines or requirements of the Department of Education:

PROPOSAL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS

RESOLVED that there shall be raised an additional $800,000 for General Funds in the 2022-2023 School Year.  These taxes will be used exclusively for additional costs required for the School District Grade Level Reconfiguration including Full Day Kindergarten, additional costs for salaries, benefits and/or other compensation or expense as required for teachers, specials, basic skills, special education, counselors, paraprofessionals and lunch room aids, curriculum, technology, facilities operating costs, utilities, transportation and related costs.  Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase in the district’s tax levy.  These proposed additional expenditures are in addition to those necessary to achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.  This proposal will take effect only if the school bond proposal to finance the reconfiguration facilities improvements is also approved at this Annual Election.

2.    This Board of Education hereby approves and adopts the proposal set forth above and, subject to the approval of the legal voters of the school district as set forth therein, hereby determines to carry out the purposes described therein.  

3.    The Business Administrator/Board Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to send a certified copy of the proposal to the County Clerk as required by N.J.S.A. 19:60-2 and to request the County Clerk to arrange for it to be voted on at the Annual School Election once approved as set forth herein.

4.    The Business Administrator/Board Secretary is hereby further authorized and directed to send a certified copy of the proposal to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for approval as required by N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-5(d) (9), 18A:7F-39  and N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-12.1.

5.      The Board shall include a copy of the approved proposal as part of the legal notice of public hearing on the budget required pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-28, shall post it at the public hearing held on the budget pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-29 and shall request that the County Clerk have a copy printed on the sample ballot pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:60-10 as may be necessary. 

6.    The Board President, the Superintendent of Schools, the Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Bond Counsel and other appropriate representatives of the Board are hereby authorized to take all steps necessary to implement this resolution.

7.    The reference to officers of the Board of Education herein includes any interim, acting or successor officer holding such position. 

8.    This resolution shall take effect immediately.  

7.    NJDOE ARP-HCY II Grant

    Move to approve Metuchen Public Schools to apply for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Homeless Children and Youth (HCY) II Grant for the 2021-2022 school year. 

8.    Transportation Jointure 2022-2023

    Move to approve the Transportation Jointure for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year with the Camden County Educational Services Commission. 

9.    Transportation Jointures and Individual Routes 2022-2023

    Move to approve the transportation jointures and individual routes for the 2022-2023 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. 

10.    Transportation Providers 2022-2023

    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 2022-2023 school year.

11.    Student Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement of student 2028004.

12.     Professional Development

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

13.    Transportation Bids

    Move to approve for the Superintendent and Business Administrator to advertise for bids for courtesy bussing routes for Campbell, Edgar, and St. Francis for the 2022/2023 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:

• EMS032222001

• EMS032322001

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

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Field Trips - Retroactive

    Move to retroactively 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