THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026

 

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

❖    Student Advisory Board

    

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

 

7. Presentations 

 

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) - None

 

13. Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools

(at this time the Board will take formal action on the following items – see attachments)

Oftentimes 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. Salary Adjustment – Custodial Longevity

Move to approve a change in total salary for Lorenzo Asiain, Custodian, from $52,121/year to $53,039/year as a result of completing 10 years of service, effective April 1, 2026.

 

2.    Leave of Absence - Extension

    Move to approve the extension of the leave of absence of Emily Presuto, Teacher at Edgar School, through approximately April 17, 2026 (Agenda 2/10/26, Section 13, A14).

    

3.    Leave Replacement Extension

    Move to approve the leave replacement extension of Kathy Busch, Leave Replacement for Emily Presuto, Teacher at Edgar School, at a rate of $150/day, through approximately April 24, 2026 (Agenda 2/24/26, Agenda 13, A1).

 

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Elizabeth Rentenberg, Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately August 26, 2026 through approximately December 4, 2026.

 

5.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Ashley Pietrowski, Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately May 6, 2026 through approximately June 3, 2026.

    

6.  Leave of Absence – Certificated Staff

     Move to approve the leave of absence of Andrew Southern, Teacher at Edgar School,     

     effective January 27, 2026 through June 30, 2026.

 

7.  Leave of Absence – Certificated Staff

     Move to approve the leave of absence of Nadia Salzer, Teacher at Campbell School,

     effective April 6, 2026 through approximately April 17, 2026.

 

8.  Leave of Absence - Revision

    Move to revise the leave dates of Samantha Murphy, Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately April 27, 2026 through approximately October 18, 2026 (Agenda 1/27/26, Section 13, A12).

 

9.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective April 15, 2026, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

 

 

10.    Informal Mentor Teachers

Move to approve the following staff to serve as an informal mentors for the 2025-2026   school year, to be paid at a rate of $51/hour, not to exceed six hours:

 

 

11.    Formal Mentor Teacher

Move to approve the following formal mentor teacher to work with the following mentee    teacher for the 2025 – 2026 school year: 

 

 

12.    Mentor Training

Move to approve the following mentors to attend mentor training, for 1 hour at the rate of $51/hour: 

 

 

14.    Appointment - Edgar Middle School Volunteer Coach

    Move to approve the following Edgar Middle School Volunteer Coach for the 2025-2026 school year as listed:

 

 

15.    Instructional Stipend 

    Move to approve the following Edgar Middle School instructional stipend for the 2025-2026 school year,effective April 7, 2026 through approximately June 24, 2026:

 

 

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

 

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1. Change Order M&M Construction

Move to approve the change orders as listed below:

 

 

2.     Professional Development

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

 

 

3.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2025-2026 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.    Non Public Student Programs and Professional Development 

Move to approve MSquared Books to provide an Antibullying presentation for students and staff at Metuchen Christian Academy not to exceed $500 funded by Title IV and Title II during the 2025-2026 school year.

 

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

 

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call    

 

1.    Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for March 23, 2026 - April 10, 2026. 

 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported case.

 

• CES021926001

• EMS030626001

• EMS030626002

• METHS031626001

 

 ----------------------------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