THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY

MEETING

of the Metuchen Board of Education

Metuchen High School

400 Grove Avenue

Metuchen, NJ

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

I.Flag Salute

II.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, The Sentinel, The Star Ledger, and by filing a copy with the Borough Clerk as prescribed by this law.

III.Roll Call

IV.Showcase of Success

Students who were part of the winning Health Bee Team will be presented to the Board and to the public.  They are: 7^th graders Kassia Antin, Jake Berger, Divij Gupta, Ben Isler, Serena McKiernan, and Nick Tay.  The team's advisor was Health teacher Melanie Gilbert.

Presentation - Middlesex County Teacher of the Year

Sandy Vorensky, Edgar Middle School Math Teacher will be presented to the Board and the public as Middlesex County Teacher of the Year.

Presentation - Booster Club

Mr Caputo will present members of the Booster Club for recognition  by the Board and the public for their support of the MHS athletic programs.

V.Discussion Items
There will be a discussion of the following policies:

Policy 142.1            Nepotism

Policy 174            Legal Services

Policy 177            Professional Services Policy

EMS Principal Kathy Glutz will present a summary of the work of the Regional Achievement Centers (RAC).

There will be a discussion/[presentation of grouping and the G&T program.

VI.Report of President of the Board of Education

VII.Report of the Superintendent of Schools

VIII.Report of the Business Administrator/Board Secretary

IX.Committee Reports

X.New Business

XI.Old Business

XII.Meeting Open to the Public   

(for comment on any Presentation/Discussion items, Reports, and New/Old Business)

XIII.   Meeting Open to the Public

(for comments on the Recommendations of the Superintendent)

XIV.   Minutes

  Move to approve minutes of the following meetings:

XIV.  Recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools

      (At this time the Board will take formal action on the following items).

A.   PERSONNEL

Personnel items will be released upon action by the board of Education.

B.          FINANCE

1.       Treasurer of School Monies' and Board Secretary's Reports

Move approval of the Treasurer of School Monies' Report, Board   

Secretary's Report as of March 31, 2013   

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 May 22, 2013 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 Secretary and

          filed in the Business Office.

3.       Budget Transfers

Move to approve budget transfers effective April 30, 2013.

4.       Food Service 2013-2014 Management Fee and Guarantee Language

       The Food Services Management Company shall receive, in addition to the costs of operation, an administrative/management fee of twenty thousand, one hundred eighty dollars ($20,180.00) to compensate the FSMC for administrative and management costs.  This fee shall be billed in 10 monthly installments of ($2,018.00) per month as a cost of operation.  The LEA guarantees the payment of such costs and fee to the FSMC.

       A per meal administrative/management fee shall apply to all special function and vended meals receipts deposited in the LEA's account.  All special function and vended meals receipts deposited into the LEA's account shall be divided by $1.00 to arrive at a meal equivalent.  The administrative/management fee charged for special function and vended meals will be $.10 per meal equivalent. 

The FSMC guarantees the LEA a no cost of operation for the LEA for school year 2013-2014. 

5.       Transportation Jointures

Move to approve transportation jointures with the following districts and educational services commissions:  Delsea Regional School District, Edison School District, Piscataway School District, South Plainfield School District, Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission, Monmouth/Ocean Educational Services Commission, and Somerset Educational Services Commission.

6.       Transportation Provider

Move to approve South Plainfield School District as a transportation provider for athletics and field trips.

7.       In-District Transportation Routes

Move to approve the following in-district transportation routes with Dapper Bus Company:

8.       Extended School Year 2013 Out of District Placements

Move to approve the ESY 2013 Out of District Placements as shown on the attached list.

9.       Sidebar Agreement

Move that, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Metuchen Board of Education approve the previously submitted Sidebar Agreements between the Board and the Metuchen Custodial and Maintenance Association.

10.   Change in Provider Fee Agreement

Move to approve an adjustment in the fee charged by Cross County clinical Services and Education from $800 per evaluation to $825 per evaluation.

11.   Resolution - Travel

Move approval of the following certificated staff members'  

attendance at professional development conferences as shown on the   attached list.

12.   Field Trips

Move approval of the following field trips for students in the   

Metuchen School District, as shown on the attached list.

C.   POLICY

1.    First Reading of Policies

There will be a first reading of the following policies

Policy 142.1          Nepotism

Policy 174         Legal Services

Policy 177         Professional Services Policy

D.    CURRICULUM

Nothing at this time.

XVI.  Meeting Open to Public

XVII.  Announcements

 XVIII.  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 PERSONNEL, PROPERTY, AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING MATTERS, and that matters discussed will be disclosed to the public as soon as the reason for confidentiality no longer exists.

Field Trips:  BOE Mtg. 5/21/13

EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR 2013

OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENTS

The evening will include chocolate tastings for $5 and cookbooks will be on sale.  

The Old Franklin School is located at 491 Middlesex Avenue (Route 27) in Metuchen, right next to the Metuchen Fire House.  Parking is available along Middlesex Avenue or across the street at Borough Hall. 

The Metuchen Farmers Market officially opens at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15^th in the Pearl Street Parking Lot, corner of New and Pearl Streets, located in the heart of downtown Metuchen.  This year's Market promises to be bigger and better than ever.  Stay tuned for a full list of 2013 vendors and events to be announced soon at www.metuchenfarmersmarket.com. 

On Saturday, June 1 at 10 AM, Metuchen residents who will be entering grades 6-12 in September are invited to sign up for free summer programs that include a community service project; book clubs; and classes in art, writing, film making, cooking, archery, etc. You can register in person at the Metuchen Library, 480 Middlesex Avenue; or by calling on 732.632.8526; or by writing the YA Librarian at KLiss@Lmxac.org.  To see the full array of programs, dates and times, visit www.metuchenlibraryteens.org and click on "Summer 2013."  Register early; classes have limited space.

Also on Saturday, June 1, the Teen Advisory Board of the Library will host their 3rd Annual YA Scavenger Hunt between 10 AM and 12:00 PM for Metuchen residents who will be entering grades 6-12.  The Scavenger Hunt begins in the Young Adult section of the Library.  Participants are free to hunt the public spaces of the Library for answers to a set of questions and clues.  One lucky person will win a $25 gift card.

Everyone who takes part in the scavenger hunt or who signs up in person for a summer program on June 1 between 10 AM and noon will receive a paperback book of their choice from a wide selection of popular YA titles. All programs, books and prizes are provided free, courtesy of the Friends of the Metuchen Library.

The New Jersey Orators, Inc. established in 1985 has held true to its mission statement:

To teach the art of public speaking, reading literacy and life skills to youth between the ages of 7 and 18, thereby increasing their self-confidence, leadership skills and ability to maximize career choices and academic success.

This non-profit organization was founded by a small group of African-American corporate executives living in Middlesex and Somerset counties who were concerned about the lack of language competency exhibited by many of the young people while interviewing for jobs in their companies.

As a result of their involvement with the organization and participating at corporate or community events, NJO youth have received full scholarships to private schools, an annual renewable scholarship for college, and job internships in the fields of broadcasting and publishing, as well as recommendations to highly selective academic programs. The Orators are proud of its graduation rate of 98% of their Seniors attending 4-year colleges.

The Orators will be celebrating their 2013 Scholarship & Awards Program with Keynote Speaker, Phyllis C. Hunter, well-known literacy specialist on   May 18 from 2 -5 PM at New Brunswick High School 1000 Somerset Street New Brunswick, NJ. Her speech will focus on "Its not Complicated!" addressing the myths about ability to read and providing techniques for successful readers.

To find out more about our organization log onto the New Jersey Orators website at: www.njorators.org or call 732-846-5011.  "Like Us" on Facebook.  Write us at:

New Jersey Orators, Inc. 812 Hamilton Street   Somerset, NJ 08873

Since it's founding in 1985, the New Jersey Orators (NJO) recognized that illiteracy, unemployment and incarceration were direct correlates. A recent NY Times article by Erik Eckholm on the plight of Black men substantiated those worsening statistics.  Over the years, however, the organization has successfully stressed literacy through journals, reading literacy workshops and through its oratorical program. 

New Jersey Orators has grown from one chapter with 16 members in 1985 to 17 chapters statewide and two chapters in Pennsylvania. Annually, the organization services over 300 participating youth with requests for additional chapters every year.
Over the years, the organization has received recognition at the local, state and national level, including the following:

·      Huffington Post "New Jersey Orators Develop Positive Academic Skills", 2012

·      National Recognition by The President's The Points Of Light Foundation as number 51 out of 3,000 U.S. Volunteer Organizations

·      Manhattan Institute of Social Entrepreneurial Award 2002

·      One of the "Best Run Volunteer Organization in the Nation", The Wall Street Journal, November 2000


·      The Governor's Volunteer Award from the state of New Jersey

·      The Plainfield City News listed the Co-Founders/Executive Board among New Jersey's 100 Most Influential

Several youth representing all age groups and chapters throughout the state performed at the request of the Prudential Foundation for the 50^th anniversary celebration the of Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. They performed with Archibishop Desmond Tutu at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, New Jersey in the spring of 2004 and received recognition for their performances. NJO was privileged to perform annually at the New Jersey State Theatre for Bristol-Myers Squibb's Diversity Committee.

Wanda Brooks, James Hunter, Lanetta Lyons, Eloise Samuels, and Leon Vinson make up the Founding Members and Executive Board of Orators, Inc. Currently retired from corporate management positions, Lanetta Lyons worked at Ethicon, Wanda Brooks and Leon Vinson worked at AT&T, Eloise Samuels worked at Bellcore / Telcordia Technologies. James Hunter works for the Essex County Prosecutors Office. These equally yoked individuals shared the responsibilities of supporting this organization as it strives to grow nationally.

The Metuchen Lions Club will be holding a Flea Market on Saturday, June 8^th.  9am-3pm at the New Street Parking Lot in Metuchen.  Vendors and Shoppers invited.   Spaces 18 x 20 ft. $12.00 in advance, $15.00 at the gate.  Proceeds go to the blind and hearing impaired.  No rain date.  For Information call 732-494-8641 or e-mail blyashin@verizon.net.

Campbell's Cup for Cancer campaign was conducted by the fourth grade at Campbell School and Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Anderson's reading classes. Check out this link to see how these fourth graders raised over $3700 in one week to help this great cause! For more information, see MM's article that helped them start off their campaign at this link: http://www.metuchenmatters.com/2013/04/support_fourth_grade_fundraising_for_alexs_lemonade_stand_now.html

Congratulations to everyone involved! Great work well done!

MetuchenHigh Compliments

3:52pm May 9

Hi Jana Siciliano, Thanks for your appreciation! I am a co-host of this page with one other person who originally created it and asked me to co-host it with them. When I asked how they came up with the idea, they said "There are too many people who are under-appreciated in the school who walk around with a very gloomy look on their faces. As much as they don't say so, they would like to be acknowledged. Everyone really does." Which I think is the whole purpose of the page and is why I was honored when they asked me to co-host it with them. However, all of the praise should not be sent to us. The students of Metuchen High are the ones who have contributed the kind comments you see listed on the page. My co-host and I would like to remain anonymous however to keep the page going and keep people sending in comments without knowing who we are. Thanks again!