THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025

 

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 and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

 

4. Roll Call

 

5. Showcase of Success

❖    MHS Jazz Band

The Metuchen High School Jazz Band is under the direction of Mr. John Flynn. The group is one of two auditioned jazz bands at MHS and performs regularly for the community and at local jazz festivals and competitions. This season the band brought home first place finishes at both the TIA Somerville "Jazz at the Ville" competition and the 2025 TIA Region 7 A Class Jazz Championships, a title they now hold in back to back years. Earlier this month, The Metuchen Jazz Band attended their first TIA Atlantic Coast Championships competition in Wildwood, NJ and was named A Class Silver Medalists with a section award for Best Rhythm Section. Tonight the band will perform Cotton Tail by Duke Ellington, featuring soloists Joe Duhme, Ayaan Saha, Lindsay Kang, and Gavin Moorman. Please join the Jazz Band and the rest of the Metuchen Jazz groups at their annual Jazz on the Plaza concert on Wednesday, June 11th downtown!

 

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

 

7. Presentations 

❖    Mental Health Presentation - Tania Herzog

❖    Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights/HIB Official Grade 2023-2024

 

8. Reports

• President’s Report

• Superintendent's Report 

• Committee Reports

• Student Board Member Report

 

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.    Volunteer Club

    Move to approve the following Volunteer Club for the 2024-2025 school year as listed:

 

 

2.    Appointment Revision - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the revision of the appointment of Amy Dees, 0.8 Math Teacher at Metuchen High School, to full time Math Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a salary of $63,500/year, Step 1G, effective August 27, 2025 through June 30, 2026 (Agenda 3/11/25, Section 13, A10).

 

3.    Leave Replacement - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Christine Piovoso, Leave Replacement for Melissa Gallo, Teacher at Campbell School, effective August 27, 2025 through approximately December 5, 2025, at a per diem rate of $329.73/day.

 

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Scott Delaney, Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately September 11, 2025 through approximately December 4, 2025.

 

5.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Administrators

Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured administrators for the 2025-2026 school year as shown on Attachment 1 (first page).

 

6.    Reappointment - Non-Tenured Teachers

Move to approve the reappointment of the following non-tenured teachers for the 2025-2026 school year as shown on Attachment 2.

 

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.    Professional Development

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

 

 

2.    Bussing Fee

    Move to approve the partial subscription bussing fee of $610 for the 2025-2026 school year. 

 

3.    In-district Transportation Routes

    Move to approve the following daily routes for in-district transportation routes with George Dapper Inc. for the 2025-2026 school year. 

 

                                                                      

4.    Athletic Transportation Routes

Move to approve the following rates for athletic transportation routes with George Dapper Inc. for the 2025-2026 school year. 

 

              

5.    Transportation Jointures and Individual Routes 2025-2026

    Move to approve the transportation jointures and individual routes for the 2025-2026 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.

 

6.    Transportation Providers 2025-2026

Move to approve South Plainfield School District, Dapper Bus, Mercy Transportation, Irvin Raphael Inc, Shamrock Stagecoach, Layla Trans, Passaic Valley Coach, Raritan Valley Bus, Coach America, Stout’s Transportation, Panorama Tours, and Villani Bus as transportation providers for the 2025-2026 school year.

 

7.    Appointment- Clinical, Therapeutic, Counseling and Behavioral Services

    Move to approve the appointment of the following to provide therapeutic mental health services for the 2025-2026 school year: 

• Rutgers UBHC- to provide Therapeutic Mental Health Services for an annual contract of $651,200/year

 

8.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security aid for the 2024-2025 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:

 

 

9.    Settlement Agreement

    Move to approve the settlement agreement for Student 2029175.

 

10.    Resolution

 

RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM METUCHEN BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORIZING THE SUSTAINABLE JERSEY FY2025 TREE FOR SCHOOLS GRANT APPLICATION

 

WHEREAS, planting trees on school grounds will bring many benefits to our students, staff, and the wider community, including providing cooling shade, habitat, beauty, air and water filtration, stormwater runoff reduction, energy savings, climate change mitigation, and educational opportunities;

 

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education seeks to support and work with school administrators, staff, students, and community partners to create a safe and healthy environment for students now and into the future by planting and maintaining trees at appropriate locations;

 

THEREFORE, the Metuchen Board of Education has determined that the Metuchen School District should apply for a grant from the Trees for Schools: Tree-planting Grants for New Jersey Public Schools, Colleges, and Universities Program. The Grant will be used for a tree planting initiative at schools within the Metuchen School District.

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Metuchen Board of Education, State of New Jersey, authorizes the submission of the aforementioned grant.

 

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the Metuchen School District is awarded this grant, the Board of Education commits to protecting and maintaining the trees planted with grant funds.

 

11.   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 29, 2025 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.

 

12.    Technology Equipment Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the obsolete equipment on the attachment. 

 

13.    Change Order M&M Construction

    Move to approve the change order as listed below:

 

 

14.    Change Order Epic Management Inc.

    Move to approve the change order as listed below:

 

 

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

 

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

    

1. Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for April 28, 2025 - May 9, 2024. 

 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

 

• EMS032725001

• EMS040325001

 

 ----------------------------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