THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 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

❖    Edgar Wind Ensemble

 

The Edgar Wind Ensemble is under the direction of Robyn Keyes. The ensemble is a combination of Band students in both 7th and 8th grade. Tonight you will hear Metrodance by Randall Standridge. According to program notes written by the composer, a visit to New York City inspired this vibrant concert work, supercharged with the urban buzz of one of the most amazing places in the world - the speed of life, and the collision of so many personalities, ideas and cultures is energizing and invigorating. It is a concert celebration that pulsates with the urban groove one feels when walking through those busy streets. The Edgar Spring Band Concert will be held on May 14th at Metuchen High School at 7PM for those who wish to attend. 

    

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

 

7. Presentations 

❖    Corrective Action Plan by Ed Porowski

❖  Final Budget Hearing - Dr. Caputo and Michael Harvier

●      Motion to open public hearing

●      Present budget

●      Accept comment from public

●      Motion to close public hearing

❖   District Goals Update - Dr. Caputo 

❖    Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights/HIB Official Grade 2024-2025

 

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. Retirement - Certificated Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Kathy Keers-Nolde, Teacher at Campbell School, effective June 30, 2026.

 

2.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Chioma Ossai, Paraprofessional at Edgar School, at a salary of $24,923/year, prorated, effective April 23, 2026 through June 30, 2026.

 

3.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Michele Cook, Teacher at Metuchen High School, at a salary of $68,263*/year, Step 4G, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

 

          * salary may be adjusted based on new MEA contract 

 

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Janelle Fisher, Teacher at Moss School, effective approximately June 8, 2026 through June 24, 2026.

 

5.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Courtney Crawford, School Psychologist at Edgar School, effective approximately June 12, 2026 through approximately December 1, 2026.

 

6.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Kourtney Levy, Teacher at Campbell School, at a salary of $64,050*/year, Step 3A, effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027. 

 

      * salary may be adjusted based on new MEA contract 

 

7.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Christina Leitner, Teacher at Metuchen High School, effective approximately August 26, 2026 through approximately December 9, 2026.

 

8.     Appointment – Leave Replacement

Move to approve the appointment of Saima Khan, Leave Replacement for Ashley Pietrowski, Teacher at Campbell School, at a rate of $329.73/day, effective May 4, 2026 through approximately June 3, 2026.

 

9.     Leave of Absence – Certificated Staff

Move to approve the leave of absence of Jessica DiMaggio, Teacher at Moss School,  effective August 26, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

 

10.     Resignation - Certificated Staff

Move to accept the resignation of Andrew Southern, Teacher at Edgar School, effective    September 10, 2026.

 

11.    Informal Mentor Teacher

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

 

 

12.     Mentor Training

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

 

 

13.    Appointment of Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment of substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year as listed on the chart below, effective April 29, 2026, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance: 

 

 

14.    Volunteer Clubs - Metuchen High School

    Move to approve the following volunteer clubs at Metuchen High School for the 2025-2026 school year:

 

 

15.    Retirement - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Jonathan Nolde, Teacher at Campbell School, effective June 30, 2026.

 

----------------------------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, 2026.

 

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 28, 2026 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, 2026.

 

4.     Professional Development

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

 

 

5.    Energy Savings Plan

    This Board of Education hereby approves the resolution in the form attached hereto adopting the Energy Savings Plan on attachment 1.

 

6.    SESO Refunding Bond Ordinance

    This Board of Education hereby approves the introduction of a school energy savings obligation (SESO) refunding bond ordinance in the form attached hereto authorizing the issuance of SESO refunding bonds to finance the Energy Savings Plan on attachment 2.

 

7.    Local Finance Board Application

    This Board of Education hereby approves the resolution in the form attached hereto authorizing application to the Local Finance Board for approval of the energy savings obligation refunding bond ordinance on attachment 3.

 

8.    Power Purchase Agreement

    This Board of Education hereby approves the resolution in the form attached hereto approving the Power Purchase Agreement on attachment 4. 

 

9.    In-district Transportation Routes

    Move to approve Bid Number 26-27-001 with George Dapper Inc. for the following daily routes for in-district transportation for the 2026-2027 school year and to not exceed $214,485.

 

 

10.    Transportation Jointures and Individual Routes 2026-2027

    Move to approve the transportation jointures and individual routes for the 2026-2027 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, Edison School District, and South Plainfield School District. 

 

11.    Transportation Providers 2026-2027

    Move to approve South Plainfield School District, Dapper Bus, Mercy Transportation, Irvin Raphael Inc, Shamrock Stagecoach, Layla Trans, Piscataway School District, Woodbridge School District, Passaic Valley Coach, Raritan Valley Bus, Coach USA, and Villani Bus as transportation providers for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

12.    Health Insurance

    Move to approve the Schools Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) as the district’s medical and prescription health insurance carrier and Delta Dental and Vision/VSP as the district’s dental and vision carrier for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

13.    Adoption of the 2026 – 2027 School District Budget

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Education must adopt and submit a 2026-2027 school district budget to the New Jersey Department of Education.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education adopt the 2026-2027 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 $90,000. Travel includes professional development that takes place outside the District.

 

The  Board of Education is requesting authority to utilize $670,956 in health care allowance and this allowance will be utilized by the end of the budget year and cannot be deferred or incrementally completed over a longer period of time.

 

The Board of Education is also requesting $12,652 in enrollment adjustment.

 

The  Board of Education includes in the budget a capital reserve withdrawal in the amount of $554,743 for repayment of debt. 

 

14.    Nonpublic Security Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic security 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:

 

 

15.  ESIP and Contracts

 

WHEREAS, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) has determined that it is the District’s best interests to pursue energy savings in accordance with New Jersey’s   Energy Savings Improvement Program (“ESIP”) laws; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board previously awarded a contract to Spiezle Architectural Group  (“Spiezle”) to conduct and Investment Grade Energy Audit (“IGEA”) as the initial step     under the ESIP laws; and

 

WHEREAS, Spiezle performed the IGEA, developed an Energy Savings Plan (“ESP”) and submitted same to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“BPU”) for its review and approval to proceed with an ESIP in accordance with the ESIP laws; and

 

WHEREAS, the BPU has determined that the proposed ESP meets the requirements   

under applicable law and that the Board may proceed with the implementation of the 

ESP under the ESIP law.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Metuchen Board of Education hereby authorizes an amendment to the existing contract with Spiezle set forth above to include all items necessary to implement the ESP under the ESIP laws using the DIY model.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amendment is subject to review by Board counsel.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Superintendent and Business Administrator are authorized to execute all documents necessary to implement this resolution.

 

    ----------------------------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 13, 2026 - April 24, 2026. 

 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases.

 

• METHS031726001

• EMS032026001

 

3.    District Calendar

    Move to approve the revised district calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

4.    School Times

    Move to approve the school times for delayed openings and early dismissals during the 2026-2027 school year.

 

 ----------------------------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: 

 

2.      NJDOE Literacy FOCUS Grant

Move to approve the application and acceptance, if granted, of the NJDOE FOCUS grant in the amount of $4,896 for the 2026-2027 school year.

 

3.      Multilingual Learning Parent Advisory Committee

Move to approve the following teachers for planning and attending the Multilingual Learning Parent Advisory Committee Night on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the rate of $51/ hour, paid through Title III funds, not to exceed 4 hours each:

 

 

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