THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023

 

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

❖    Tournament of Bands Chapter VII Group IV Open Champions

Tournament of Bands Group IV Open New Jersey State Champions

US Bands Group V Open Grand National Finalist

The marching band competes annually in the Tournament of Bands circuit with bands from NJ, PA, WV and MD.  They are currently the biggest band in the entire circuit, coming from one of the smallest schools.  They also compete in open class, which is the most advanced class in the circuit.  The Pride of Metuchen Marching Band is currently back-to-back state and chapter champions.  At the end of the season, the band also competed against bands from throughout the country in the US Bands Grand National Championship at MetLife Stadium. 

 

 

2023-2024

Pride of Metuchen Marching Band

 

* = Section Leader

 

Flute and Piccolo

Devin Fineman *

Abigail Hogan

Mirabella Hom

Kiko Li

Bella Staal

 

Clarinet

Ashley Chen

Ada Dolan

Joseph Duhme *

Amira Elsayed

Emma Huber

Ximena Johnstone-Asturias *

Anika Kundu

Neela Myers

Chloe Shen *

Anushree Sutradhar

 

Low Reeds

Daniel Afkhami *

Ayaan Saha

Ishaan Sarkar

 

Alto Saxophone

Sara Haq

Eliman Kassogue

Habib Kassogue

Nene Murao *

Shinnosuke Murao

Ryan Stein

Gianna Toscano

Victoria Zaniecki

Melody Zetino *

 

Tenor Saxophone

Daniel Choi

Caleb Han

Harshith Pasam

Daniel Ruiz

Nicholas Timko

Ryan Timko *

 

Trumpet

Tariq Alisammond

Sean Blaze

Julia Diaz

Alistair Fawcett

Elizabeth Fineman

Connor Gaughan

Jackson Gould *

Logan MacPherson

Michael McNamara *

Aidan McPherson

Vedant Naik *

Brandon Zhu

 

Mellophone

Alyson Chan *

Nicholas Cosenza

Ethan DelaGarza

Gianna Hernandez *

 

Baritone

Avner Chaplin *

Nell Massey

Siddhant Naik

Nicholas Reuter

Gage Rodey

Bowen Zhang

 

Tuba

Eli Duhme

Chamber Lam

Rose Michaels-LaMorte

Oliver Sydor

 

 

Drumline

Madeleine Cook

Praket Jha

Arturs Krumins

Janhavi Malik

Zoya Malik

Riva Nagvekar

Tyler Nicholson

Aidan Ogborn *

Ripley Wong *

Allen Zheng

 

Front Ensemble

Peter Coreschi

Katy Donohue

Joshua Feldmann

Milo Haviland

Alexandra Ho

Lindsey Kang

Peter Kukuruza

Emily Lanton *

Katherine Meyer

Gavin Moorman

Ronan Sequeira

Daniel Stone

Marisol Torres

Matthew Zetino *

Michael Zetino

 

Guard

Elizabeth Aiyeleso

Jocelyn Branch

Faith Cordova

Michaela Coreschi

Munachiso Ezem-Madu

August Garner *

Evy Hand

Zora Haviland

Eileen He

Adrienne Lee

Melinda Li

Gwendolyn Osmond

Caelum Ritzdorf *

Emma Staal *

 

❖ Sports Champs

 

MHS Girls Cross Country 

Red Division Champions

GMC Champions

Central Jersey Group 1 Sectional Champions

Group 1 Champions

 

Ella Andersen

Gianna Hernandez

Kaitlyn Hsueh

 

Sally Kelton

Lilly Kupersmit

Maggie Rivera

 

GMC Champion

Sectional Champion

 

Gianna Hernandez 

 

MHS Boys Cross Country 

White Division Champions

Central Jersey - Group 1 - State Sectional Champions

 

Brady Allen

Kai Englert

Arturs Krumins

Michael McNamara

Harry Moorman

Alex Patelski

Eric Schleif

James Vissichelli

 

White Division Champion

Central Jersey Group 1 Sectional Champion

 

Alex Patelski

 

MHS Girls Tennis

Co-White Division Champions

 

Julia Armour

Marina Armour

Alyson Joy Chan

Katie Chen

Nicole Dudek

Abigail Hogan

Lindsey Kang

Lauren Kantar

Emily Lan

Anna Leon

Cindy Li

Chelsea Lu

Mary McGrath

Erika Mihaylov

Suhani Modha

Nene Murao

Mai Nguyen

Samantha Schulz

Vrinda Surati

Gina Yip

 

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)

 

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. Retirement - Custodial Staff

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement of Mark Cooper, Head Night Custodian at Campbell School, effective February 1, 2024.

 

2.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Jaclyn Reisman, Metuchen High School Special Education Teacher, effective January 26, 2023. 

 

3.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Ernest Svolto, Metuchen High School Paraprofessional, effective December 31, 2023. 

 

4.    Maternity Leave of Absence - Date Revision

    Move to approve the updated effective date of the maternity leave of absence of Sofia Lopes, 4th Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective December 14, 2023 through approximately May 23, 2024 (Agenda 7/18/23, Section 13 A17).

 

5.    Volunteer Clubs - Additional

    Move to approve the following Volunteer Clubs for the 2023-2024 school year as listed (Agenda 08/22/2023, Section 13, A10):

 

 

6.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Lauren Corrigan, Paraprofessional at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $22,435/year, prorated, effective approximately January 22, 2024 (or earlier if released from her current district).

 

7.    Appointment - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the appointment of Trey Jaworski, Biology Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $64,000/year, Step 1H, prorated, effective approximately January 30, 2024.

 

8.    Appointment - Leave Replacement 

    Move to approve the appointment of Maricruz Araujo, as Leave Replacement for Edgar School Spanish Teacher, effective December 12, 2023, at the rate of $150/day. 

 

9.    Appointment - Paraprofessional

    Move to approve the appointment of Victoria Dunyak, Paraprofessional at Moss School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $24,255/year, prorated, effective December 20, 2023.

 

10.    Rate Increase – Substitute Secretaries

    Move to approve the rate increase for the following Substitute Secretaries, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.

 

 

11.    Rate Increase – Substitute Custodians

    Move to approve the rate increase for the following Substitute Custodians, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.

 

 

12.    Rate Increase – Lunch Aides

    Move to approve the rate increase for the following Lunch Aides, to $16/hour, effective January 1, 2024.

 

 

13.    Family Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the family medical leave of absence of Deanna Kindler, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective November 13, 2023 through approximately December 22, 2023.

 

14.    Appointment - Certificated Staff 

    Move to approve the appointment of Adero Solomon, Special Education Math Teacher at Metuchen High School, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $58,564/year, Step 3A, prorated, effective approximately January 29, 2024, pending receipt of certification, through June 30, 2024. 

 

15.    Appointment - Additional Substitutes

    Move to approve the appointment  of the additional substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year, effective December 1, 2023, pending completion of substitute training and criminal history clearance:

 

 

16.    Rate Increase – Daily Substitutes

    Move to approve the rate increase for the substitute teachers and paras, as listed on the attached, effective January 1, 2024.

 

17.    Student Teacher Mentor Stipend

    Move to approve a Student Teacher mentor stipend of $275 to Jeremy Barnes, Campbell School Teacher, for mentoring Michael Small, Student Teacher, for the months of September to December 2023 funded by the University of Phoenix. 

 

18.    Appointment - MHS Winter Coach

    Move to approve the following 2023-2024 Metuchen High School Coach Appointment:

 

 

19.    Leave Replacement 

    Move to approve the appointment of Christine Piovoso, Leave Replacement for Deanna Kindler, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, at a rate of $301.49/day, effective December 13, 2023 through approximately December 22, 2023.

 

20.    MHS Winter Coach - Rescind

    Move to rescind the appointment of the following coach for the Winter 2023-2024 school sports session at Metuchen High School (Agenda 06/13/2023, Section 13 A19):

 

 

21.    Medical Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the medical leave of absence of Andrea Agnone, Special Education Teacher at Edgar School, effective December 7, 2023 through December 22, 2023.

 

----------------------------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 October 31, 2023.

 

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 December 19, 2023 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 October 31, 2023.

4.  Professional Development

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

 

 

5.    Nonpublic Technology Aid

    Move to approve the following nonpublic technology aid for the 2023-2024 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:

 

 

6.    Behavioral Technician Services - Revision

    Move to approve Soliant Health, LLC, to provide behavioral technician services, at a rate of up to $65/hour, not to exceed $120,000 (Agenda 11/28/2023, Section 13, B7).

 

7.    BCBA Services

    Move to approve Brett DiNovi & Associates as a provider of independent BCBA services for the 2023-2024 school year, at a rate of $135/hour and Clinical Associates services at a rate of $60.50/hour, not to exceed $60,000 (Agenda 06/27/2023, Section 13, B31).

8.    Resolution

 

WHEREAS on December 7, 2023, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) held a public bid opening for additions and alterations at Metuchen Schools; at Moss and Edgar Middle School

 

WHEREAS the Board received six (6) bids at the public bid opening; and

 

WHEREAS all of the bids received substantially exceeded the Board’s cost estimates for the Project and the Board’s appropriation for the Project; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the bids are not reasonable as to price based upon the prior cost estimates provided to the Board; and

 

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22 permits a board of education to reject all bids when they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project and/or the Board’s cost estimates for the Project.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the above recitals are incorporated herein as if set forth here at length.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22, the Board rejects all bids for the Project on the basis that 1) they are unreasonable as to price as they substantially exceed the Board’s cost estimate for the Project and/or 2) substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to return the bid securities of all bidders.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to re-bid the Project.

 

9.    Resolution

 

WHEREAS on December 14, 2023, the Metuchen Board of Education (“Board”) held a public bid opening for additions and alterations at Metuchen Schools; and Campbell Elementary and Metuchen High School

 

WHEREAS the Board received three (3) bids at the public bid opening; and

 

WHEREAS all of the bids received substantially exceeded the Board’s cost estimates for the Project and the Board’s appropriation for the Project; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the bids are not reasonable as to price based upon the prior cost estimates provided to the Board; and

 

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22 permits a board of education to reject all bids when they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project and/or the Board’s cost estimates for the Project.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the above recitals are incorporated herein as if set forth here at length.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22, the Board rejects all bids for the Project on the basis that 1) they are unreasonable as to price as they substantially exceed the Board’s cost estimate for the Project and/or 2) they substantially exceed the Board’s appropriation for the Project.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to return the bid securities of all bidders.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Administrator is authorized to re-bid the Project.

 

10.    Resolution

 

BE IT RESOLVED that the Metuchen Board of Education hereby authorizes the use of a Project Labor Agreement for additions and alterations at the Metuchen Schools. 

 

11.    Technology Equipment Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of the technology equipment as shown on the attached list.

 

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

 

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

    

1. Suspensions

The Board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report summary for November 24, 2023 - December 15, 2023. 

 

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

 

4. CURRICULUM

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

 

1.    Field Trips - Retroactive

    Move to approve the following field trip, retroactively, for students in the Metuchen School District as shown:

 

 

2.    Field Trips

Move to approve the following field trips for students in the Metuchen School District  as shown: 

 

3.    Curriculum Writing 

Move to approve the following curriculum writers for the following subjects: 

 

 

4.    Outdated Book Disposal

    Move to approve the disposal of outdated books from the Campbell Elementary School Library as per the guidelines outlined in the district's policy on Disposition of Property. 

 

5.    Externship

    Move to approve Devin Croake for an Externship placement with the following teachers for the Spring 2024 through Lafayette College:

 

 

6.    Curriculum Writers

    Move to rescind and approve the following curriculum writers and amounts for Summer 2022, (Agenda 6/14/22, Section 13 D2):

 

 

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