Do you happen to have a bunch of pen tool? >> I may. >> I have one job. >> You do not have one job. >> Yeah, my one job is only >> you can have >> are a gentleman and a scholar. This is a >> Everyone ready?
>> Sure. >> Mr. last for all you do for us. >> Good evening. >> I have that professor voice that will command the room. Good evening. I call to order the September 9th, 2025 meeting
of the Matuchin Board of Education. Please stand for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Mrs. Alvich, notice of the meeting, please. 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 19th 1976. Notice of this meeting was provided 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 burough hall and the matuchan public library the home news and tribune the star ledger and by filing a copy with the burough clerk as prescribed by this
law. >> Thank you. Roll call please. Sure. >> Mr. Bot >> here. >> Miss Cheetto >> here. >> Mr. Derlinger >> here. >> Mr. Glber >> here. >> Dr. Johnson Lurcus >> here. Miss Colleen >> here. >> Mr. Lifton
>> here. >> Miss Michaels Lamort >> here. >> Dr. Signner >> here. >> Mr. Sus >> here. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Dr. Caputo, we have one of our fun showcase of successes today. >> We do as we do at the beginning of um
most years and throughout the year. When we hire new folks, um, we like to introduce our new teachers who have started with us. Um, they're approved on prior board meetings. We like to introduce them publicly to the to the public and the board at a meeting. And we're fortunate we have seven staff
members with us tonight. So, I have them in alphabetical order by last name. I'll call them up to the uh the podium. I'll introduce them by their name and what job they're in. And I'll ask them to say a few words as little as, you know, thanks, I'm happy to be here. Uh, or they may have a little more to say, may have a story to tell us. So, we're
really happy that you took your time out after a busy workday to join us tonight. Thanks, Miss Taylor always for putting our group together and for organizing that. First up tonight, we have Rihanna Anderson. She's a Campbell School replacement. Uh she'll be starting with us in November.
>> Hi everyone. Thank you so much. I'm very excited to start my position at the end of October at Campbell School. Uh, I was a third grade teacher North Plane Field before I had my children. So, I'm really excited to go back to third grade. I've
been subbing in Matuchen schools for the last year or so and I love subbing at C at Campbell and all around the district and so I'm really excited for this opportunity. So, thank you very much. >> Welcome.
>> Next up, we have Alicia Fernandez. She'll be also be a Campbell Lever replacement teacher. She is. I can't believe you're placing teacher. >> Hi everyone. Um I am a Matuchen mom myself. Born and raised in Matuchen. Went through the whole school district. Uh taught kindergarten in a private
daycare for nine years and just happy to get back in the classroom with the second graders. It's been going good so far. So um just happy to be here. Thank you. Wonderful. >> Thank you. Welcome. >> Thank you. Welcome. >> Next up is Amy Fitaris. She's Edgar School PE and health.
>> I am not a Matouchin mom, but I am a mom. Um, so I come here with um lots of years of experience. I'm really excited to come to Matuchin. Uh, I don't live so far, so I know this area very well and I'm really excited. It's a place I really wanted to be. Um, besides being a
teacher, I'm also a soccer and um, track refere referee. I do high school soccer. I do high school track. I do college soccer, which is where I just was 20 minutes ago. So, sorry for the attire. I would have dressed up more, but I'm also a phys teacher, so I come in with a lot
of uh >> knowledge of kids and and handling stuff, and I'm really excited to be here, and um I've had a great time with the kids so far, and I love the smiling faces. I love seeing them want to run. >> So, that's exciting. >> Good. Thanks. >> Wonderful. Welcome. >> Next, we have Robin Gil, who's an Edgar
Lever replacement teacher with us. >> Good evening, everyone. My name is Robin Gil. Um, first of all, I'm really honored to be back in Matuchen because this was the first job I had fresh out of college. >> Uh, September of 2020, I believe, I was hired as a ELA leave replacement at
Edgar. >> Um, and so nearly 5 years later, I'm back and I look forward to the rest of my time here at Edgar. Hopefully something else opens up down the line. >> Thank you, Robin. Welcome back. Next up is Deborah Lee, Edgar School
lever replacement teacher. >> Hi, good evening um Dr. Caputo. Good evening, Dr. and word of ed. Um I'm nerv I'm I'm Yes, I'm nervous too. That too. >> All good. All good. >> Um
I do remember my name. It's My name is Deborah, but I do go by Debbie. Um, currently I am the fifth one of the fifth grade leave replacement teachers. Um, initially I I was the last
hire of the 2025 2026 school year. Um, and uh, I was actually hired twice. Uh, I was initially hired to be a parah at Edgar Middle School. Um, and then I was emailed a few days later after accepting
the position about a leaf replacement. Um, so a little confused. I I I mentioned, you know, I accepted a position for the school already. Does that affect
um will that affect my hire? Um because after a certain time for leave placement, then the it's officially finished. So, after a lot of confusion on my end, it was I was it was clarified that after uh this long-term position
ends, I would be going to be a parah. Um I'm very excited. Uh I've gotten to already know the children in the classroom in the fifth grade. Um and we're already uh jumping right into uh learning about community. Um we've
started uh our first novel. Uh and also today the children learned um how to be a good citizen in within the competi within the community with somebody um who were to have a disability. um coming
from a background of myself uh because I do have a disability, they learned how they can be helpful not just to me but to their friends if they see something um if they were to see something that
needed medical attention. So, um they were super excited. They worried because they're they're so small. all their fifth grade, but they were worried and they had so many questions and I said, "You can ask me all the questions you want, but that tells me that you are so eager to learn how to be community
helpers within the community already." And that is what learning is about. And until um their teacher comes back, I would uh help them and guide them. Um initial um the dream, I'm very excited to be finally making a break within um
Matuchen School District. Um I have Dr. Caputo and Dr. Herzog already know um I've dedicated my life to teaching. Um my most recent assignment was in Princeton. Uh but I am super
excited because Matuchin is a whole lot of a better commute. Um and so I'm really excited. I've already u been introduced to my mentor and she's an amazing mentor and I'm already learning a lot. So, I'm super excited as to what this school year will bring.
>> Thank you. >> Fantastic. Thank you so much. Welcome. >> Next up is Rebecca Perto, Campbell School, fourth grade. >> Hi everyone. I am Matuchen, born and bred. I haven't been in this auditorium in 20 years, so this is pretty cool. Um,
I'm really excited to have a permanent position in fourth grade teaching ELA in an ICR classroom. I had a different career, got married, moved back to Matuchen, had a baby, and then decided
teaching was the route to go, especially as a mom now. So, I am a Matuchin mom. My kid is too young to go to Matuchin schools yet, but um six days into the school year, we have an awesome class. We are doing great and I'm just really
excited for the rest of the school year. >> Wonderful. >> Thank you, Rebecca. >> Thank you. Welcome. >> And finally tonight, Julia Sudall, Edgar, Special Education. >> Hi everyone. Good evening. Um my name is Julia Sadal. I am at Edgar um teaching
in-class resource for fifth, seventh, and eighth grade. Um prior to my time in Matuchen, I was in East Brunswick for a few years. Um Matuchen has always been a dream district of mine, so I am so
excited to get to be a part of it. Um the community here is amazing. Um I love where I am working, working with the students of all different ages. Um, we've had a great start to the school year and I'm excited to keep going. >> Welcome.
>> Wonderful. Thank you, Julia. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Welcome to all of you. >> Yes. >> All of you. >> That's it. >> All right. Thank you. [Music] >> All right. >> All right. And we have reports, but
we'll let you all get home because we know you've had a long day already. Thank you so much. >> Open first. >> Sorry. open first before we >> Oh my god. >> No, it's okay. >> All right. See,
>> all right. Good people. Uh, at this time, we're actually open to the public. I've skipped ahead, but that's okay. I see only one member of the public who is not coming to talk to us. That's all right. You are always welcome to hang out. Um,
and at this time, I turn to Dr. Caputo with my question mark. Do you have any presentations? >> No presentations tonight. >> Wonderful. Now we go to reports. I have none. I'm assuming. >> Yeah, I'll have a short report that I send out tomorrow just giving the uh public an update. I'm sure Mr. Glasber
will talk about some of the construction updates. I'll reiterate that in an email tomorrow when we send out their regular >> morning after board meeting uh update for the community. Uh as you heard from our new teachers, six days in. really excited about our new spaces, our new spaces to come, our full day
kindergarten. Um, and it feels like, and I said this to Dr. Herszog on one of our tours through the buildings uh over these first six days, it feels like we're kind of in mid-season form already, which is really good. Um, there's been good connections made and content um already being taught and
learned. So, good start to the school year. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Dr. Kabuto. I think it's always very exciting this time of school year. Um, and especially given the scope of the projects that we've had within the district. I am so grateful and appreciative to our entire community for their patience and grace
and our students for how they've just rolled with all of it. So, it's been fantastic to observe that across the district this this six days in. So, thank you for that. Um, I do not believe any committees had formal meetings since our last meeting, but I know that as per
usual, Mr. Glber enjoys making sure that we are up to date with the happenings with respect to construction. So I'll turn it over to you to do that. >> Thank you. I'll actually be pretty brief tonight. So >> Okay, just kidding. >> Yeah. So, uh, construction's moving along. We are targeting towards late
December to mid January kind of for completion at the high school. And that should also satisfy the new Moss construction as well roughly in that area. Um, air conditioning at Edgar and Moss uh should be turned on this week >> and Campbell
>> and Campbell as well. Uh, Edgar Moss and Campbell. Okay. Um, for this week, um, it's been cool the last couple days, but still we would like to check things off and know that they are completed. Uh, there was a wonderful video, if you haven't seen it, that Mr. Ulig, our
videographer over there, he put together uh about kindergarten. It was beautiful to see so many positive comments online. Um, just to see the excitement from the teachers and from the families as well. Um, we've seen and heard some good
feedback on the Campbell School playground which is up and running. Kids are enjoying that from the beginning of school as well. So, a lot of positive things happening and still more to go, but the finish line is in sight. Uh we do have a meeting on September 15th and
that will be the same for uh finance and also for extracurricular. And then we have an open to the public meeting of the construction committee on October 6th. So on October 6th, the construction meeting committee will meet as we do
every other month open to the public at 700 p.m. in the Matuchen High School media center. That's all that I have tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Glasburg. Did you conspire with the weather to be cooperative given that we did not have these fully up and running? >> Don't jinx it.
>> I'm just saying it's been wonderful. I recommending >> maneuvering to make that happen. That's all. >> And mostly good outside playing weather, too. >> Yes. The kids have really been enjoying the playgrounds. It's been a a noticeable joy at Pickup. Uh, all right.
Thank you very much, Ms. Michaels Lamort. Uh hi. Hi. Uh so I have a few things. Um so first for uh Campbell, meet the teachers night is on September 18th. First and second grade picture day is on September 25th. And then third and
fourth grade picture day is on September 26th. For uh Edgar School, picture day is on September 17th. And then meet the teachers is on September 25th, I think. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then the high school September 11th which is this Thursday is meet the
teacher night. And I also wanted to on behalf of all the high schoolers thank uh Joe Beckman uh for coming and giving a a presentation today. Thank you. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> All right. So at this time I would like
to ask everyone if there are any comments or questions on those two reports. Fantastic. Any old business from the board? Any new business? All right. At this time, I'd like to move to
approve the August 26, 2025 minutes of the Matuchan Board of Education. Is there a second? Mr. Derlinger. Roll call, please. Mrs. Alavich. Oh, wait. I'm supposed to say more, aren't I? Sorry. Just kidding. Special business meeting one. Special
business meeting two. special and uh listen board meeting >> as well as the board meeting. Now I'd like to ask you please Mrs. Elliott to roll call. >> Absolutely. Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derfinger,
>> yes. >> Mr. Glford, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Mr. Lifton, >> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> abstain. >> Thank you. Mr. Sus, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. And at this
time, the meeting is open to the public on any topic. But seeing still none, I shall move to the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. Oftent times it may appear to members of our audience that the board of education takes action with very little comments 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 asssure that the members fully understand the matter. When the committee is satisfied with the matter 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.
At this time, I'd like to move the personnel items A1 through A15. Uh, is there a second, Mr. Bot? Uh, any comments or questions on the personnel items?
Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glasper, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Mr. Lifton, >> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Mr. Sus,
>> yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Turning to Mr. Sus for the finance items. >> Yes. I'd like to move items B1 through B7. Is this on the agenda? >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Ms. Cheetah. >> Uh, any questions or comments?
>> Oh, I missed it. >> I see muttering, but I don't know if there are questions or comments. Questions or comments? Going once. Okay. Roll call, please. Mrs. Elliott. Mr. Bot. >> Yes. >> Miss Cheetum.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Derlinger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Glassber. >> Yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus. >> Yes. >> Miss Colleen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lipton. >> Yes. >> Dr. Sper. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sus. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Dr. Johnson, if I could just stop you for a moment. >> I No, there's no question. I had made an
error. Um, going back to the um personnel items. I needed to abstain on item six. If you could make that note, I'd appreciate it. Miss Ali, for item six, Mr. Lif. >> Under personnel. >> Under personnel, right? Mr. Lifton wants
to change from yes to abstain. >> No problem. >> Thank you. I I apologize. >> No worries. Gotcha. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I was I was too quick. I should have waited. I saw you looking. All right. Uh now I've lost my place. Did you move yet?
>> No, not yet. All right. Now, >> all sorted on personnel. All sorted on >> finance. >> Finance. Now we're moving to policy. Dr. Spner, >> I'd like to move item C1 as listed on the agenda, please. >> Thank you so much. Is there a second?
Mr. Sus, any questions or comments on the policy item? >> Sure. Why have we been letting uh Miss Rose Lammore, Miss Michael's Lamort sit here if if we're not approving until now? >> That is a question for someone else, not your president.
>> Um, all right. Uh, any other questions? >> All right. Fantastic. Uh, roll call, please. >> Okay. One moment. Sorry. All right. Mr. Bot. >> No. Just >> Yes. >> Okay. Miss Cheetum. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Derfinger. >> Absolutely. >> Mr. Glassber. >> Yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus. >> So begrudging that. Yes. >> Yes. Enthusiastically. Yes. >> Miss Colleen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lipton. >> Yes. >> Dr. Spigner. >> Yes. Mr. Sus. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Thank you kindly. Uh Mr. Derlinger, turning to you for curriculum. Thank you. >> I'd like to make a motion to move items D1 through three as listed on the agenda, please. >> Thank you. Is there a second?
Dr. Spner, are there any questions or comments on the curriculum items? Good people, I shall pause now to give you time. No. Seeing none, roll call, please. Mrs. Alavich, >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetah,
>> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glasber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Mr. Lifton, >> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Mr. Sus, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Thank you, Mrs. Alavich. We
are open to the public on any topic at this time. Seeing no change in the attendance, I shall close the section and move to Mrs. cheetah for the announcements. >> Thank you. Um I have a relatively lengthy update today, but it's a good one. So stay tuned. I'm going to expand
a little bit more on Miss Michael's um Oh, sorry. I'm going to expand a little bit more on Miss Michael's Lab Mort's um explanation into uh Mr. Beckman and talk a little bit more about that as the update that I've received. Um so but before we get there, um heads up that the Matuchin PT Council is kicking off
their annual fundraiser. So, all of your favorite Otis Spunkmeer cookies and goodies are back. Grades preK through four have packets in their backpack. And you can also go to shopf fun.com for more information on the fundraiser. It's good time to stock up for some holiday stocking stuffers. So, it's another good
way to support the school. In addition to that, um this week we're going to believe focus on the dedication and support of our PTOs. The touch students are because of that work are experiencing something truly special. The PTO's were able to bring in national speaker Joe Beckman, whose mission is to
remind students of the power of human connection, resilience, and kindness at a time when young people need it most. Planning for this program began at the end of last year, and after months of coordination, Joe is presenting to every grade at both Edgar Middle School and
Matuchen High School. Because of space limitations, the assemblies are divided into four sessions over two days, two at Matushan High School and two at Edgar. So each presentation could be tailored to the age group. Joe spoke at the high school today, September 9th, and
tomorrow he will bring his message to Edgar students in grades 5 to 8. His style is energetic, funny, and heartfelt. One moment the students are laughing, the next they're reflecting on the deeper importance of kindness, empathy, and staying true to themselves. This is the kind of message that sticks
with young people long after the assembly ends. And the energy in the room make well was made clear in how deeply the students were connecting to him. Bringing in a national level speaker like Joe Beckman to Matuchen for eight different grade levels across two
schools took significant planning back and forth and funding. But it was absolutely worth it. These assemblies remind students that they are seen, valued, and supported not only by their teachers and administrators, but also by their community. Special thanks to Mr.
Powski and Miss Asavdo for their collaboration and making this possible. This assembly is just one example of the impact of our PTOs have when they invest in opportunities that uplift and inspire. It's more about it's more than just an event. It's about strengthening
the culture of kindness, connection, and belonging that every student in Matuchin deserves. So very big shout thank you to our PTOs for organizing such a tremendous event over the next couple days. So that is all I have for today. Thank you. And um parents, maybe ask
your kids what they learned. um in these assemblies. >> Wonderful. Thank you very much for the expansion um so that we all can go home and ask our our young people in the middle and high schools because it's nice when that kind of a message gets spread around the community as well. So,
thank you for that, Mrs. Cheetah. >> At this time, I'd like to move to adjourn the meeting. Is there a second? Mr. Bot. All in favor? Good night, everyone.