Board Meeting - January 2, 2024

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

THE ANNUAL REORGANIZATION MEETING

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ 08840

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

8:00pm

1.    Call to Order by Pro-Tem Chair, Michael A. Harvier, Board Secretary

2.    Sunshine Statement and Announcement of Purpose 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.

3.     Flag Salute

4.    Administration of Required Oaths to the Board Members Elected on November 7, 2023.

5.    Roll Call

6.    Announcement of Election Results 

7.    Pro-Tem Chair Will Conduct Election of the Board President

8.    President Takes Chair

9.    Board President Will Conduct Election of the Board Vice-President

10.    Meeting Open to the Public on all Previous Items

11.    Presentation/Discussions

❖    Safe Return/Road Forward Plan Update 

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

12.    Remarks by President

13.    Report of Superintendent

14.    Committee Reports

15.    Old Business

16.    New Business

17.    Meeting Open to the Public

(for comments on the recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools)

18.    Approval of the Minutes of the Board of Education Meetings

    Move to approve the minutes of the following meetings:

19.    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.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Katie Upshaw, Preschool Self-Contained Teacher at Moss School, effective approximately May 20, 2024 through approximately December 1, 2024.

2.    Resignation - Lunch Aide

    Move to accept the resignation of Jeffrey Salzer, Edgar Middle School lunch aide, effective December 19, 2023.

3.    Appointment - Supervisor 

    Move to approve the appointment of Patricia Lewis, Supervisor of Special Education for Metuchen School District, for the 2023-2024 school year, at a salary of $117,400/year, prorated, effective when her replacement is hired through June 30, 2024. 

4.    Leave of Absence - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence of Jaclyn Salit, Third Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective approximately January 16, 2024 through approximately February 7, 2024.

5.    Resignation - Certificated Staff

    Move to accept the resignation of Joelle Williams, Moss School Self-contained Kindergarten teacher, effective February 16, 2024, or earlier if a replacement is hired.

6.    Appointment - Additional Event Staff

    Move to approve the following additional Event Staff for the 2023-2024 school year (Agenda 8/8/23, Section 13 A10):

7.    Coaches - Revision Metuchen High School

    Move to rescind and approve the following Metuchen High School Coaches for the winter 2023-2024 school sports season (Agenda 7/18/2023, Section 13, A7):

8.    Safety Care Training - Non-Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the following non-certificated staff to attend Safety Care Training at their hourly rate, not to exceed 12 hours.

9.    Leave of Absence Extension - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence extension of Andrea Agnone, Special Education Teacher at Edgar School, effective December 22, 2023 through January  12, 2024 (Agenda 12/19/2023, Section 13, A21).

10.    Leave of Absence Extension - Certificated Staff

    Move to approve the leave of absence extension of Deanna Kindler, First Grade Teacher at Campbell School, effective December 22, 2023 through approximately January 19, 2024 (Agenda 12/19/2023, Section 13, A13).

11.    Resignation - Paraprofessional

    Move to accept the resignation of Kajal Desai, Moss School paraprofessional, effective January 5, 2024.

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

2. FINANCE

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Renewal - NJSBA Coop Agreement

    Move to approve NJSBA K12 Classroom Products and Services - Contract #E-8801-NJSBA-ACES-CPS.

2.    Professional Development

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

3.    Duties of Business Administrator/Board Secretary

Move to approve the following duties/position of Michael A. Harvier, Business

Administrator/Board Secretary through December 31, 2024:

a ) PACO-Public Agency Compliance Officer for Affirmative Action.

4.    Behavioral Technician Services - Revision

    Move to approve First Children Services to provide RBT services, at a rate of $63.50/hour not to exceed $60,000 (Agenda 06/27/2023, Section 13, A28).

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

3. POLICY

Motion/Second/Comments/Roll Call

1.    Suspensions

    The board hereby acknowledges receipt of the suspension report for December 18, 2023 - December 22, 2023. 

2.    Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

    Move to affirm the findings of the previously reported cases:

• EMS121223001

• EMS121323001

• EMS121323002

• EMS121423001

• EMS121523001

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

D.    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.    Student Observers

    Move to approve Jackeline Lopez for a Student Observation in our schools for the Spring 2024 through Rutgers University:

3.    Practicum Experience

    Move to approve Cal Harkness to complete a Practicum experience as an Intern in our schools for the Spring 2024 through Montclair University: 

----------------------------end of curriculum section--------------------------

20.    Reorganization

    a.    Set Regular Meetings of the Board of Education

        Move to approve the Board of Education Meeting Schedule for 2024.

    b.    NJSBA Code of Ethics

        Move to approve the adoption of the NJSBA Code of Ethics for 2024.

21.    Meeting Open to the Public (for anything you wish to discuss)

22.    Announcements 

23.    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.

24.    Adjournment