Metuchen board reviews curriculum, technology budgets; student-safety report shows 15 incidents

The Metuchen Board of Education on Feb. 24 reviewed proposed 2026–27 budgets for the district's curriculum office and technology program and received a student-safety update that the district tallied 15 qualifying incidents for Period 1 (Sept. 25–Dec. 25). The board also heard construction and energy-saving project planning ahead of voting on agenda items.

Doctor Herzog, who presented the curriculum-office budget, said the proposal covers five areas: curriculum writing stipends, office supplies, professional development, systems-management contracts and district-delivered professional development. "The curriculum budget reflects the district's commitment to high quality curriculum and instruction for students and professional growth for our staff," Herzog said. He cited line items including $28,500 for curriculum-writing stipends, about $23,000 for contracted providers, roughly $22,000 for systems-management programs (including Frontline and a LinkIt data warehouse subscription) and about $12,000 to compensate teacher leaders and mentors. Herzog said the package keeps the district within a 2% increase compared with last year.

Technology director Chris Thuman told the board he was presenting his 15th budget and sought to "hold the basic line" on services while addressing connectivity, Chromebooks and cybersecurity needs. Thuman said the budget reflects a Chromebook refresh strategy that reduces immediate device purchases by leasing or staggering replacements and that the district has added about 20% more devices because of construction. He highlighted cybersecurity items under review — including a patch-management tool (Action1), endpoint protection and management subscriptions (CrowdStrike, Jamf), Parallels licenses to support Mac–Windows interoperability, Wasabi cloud storage, and Cisco Meraki network services — and said some quoted figures are budgeting estimates he will try to renegotiate. "That's basically my budget," Thuman said, noting the line presently appears as 6.88% but staff are working toward the district's 2% target.

During tech questions, board members flagged potential cost reductions (for example, lowering Parallels license counts and removing a remote-desktop subscription estimated to save about $6,000) and asked Thuman to seek lower quotes where feasible.

On student safety, Dr. Caputo presented the district's Student Safety Data System submission for Period 1 and a related report labeled in the transcript as an "HIV" report. The district reported 15 SSDS qualifying incidents in Period 1 (12 at Edgar School and 3 at Metuchen High School). The transcript lists 13 incidents by school in the similarly labeled report (2 at Campbell, 8 at Edgar and 3 at the high school). The administration also reported one use of Option G during the period (at Edgar), compared with higher counts in prior years (five and four in earlier periods).

Construction updates came from the construction committee: ribbon-cutting events and the first basketball games in the new high-school gym, several punch-list items at Edgar and Campbell, elevator and fire-alarm testing at Moss, and an anticipated temporary occupancy at Moss on March 9. The board was also notified that professionals will present a potential solar/ESIP (Energy Savings Improvement Program) opportunity on March 10 to detail energy savings and cash-flow scenarios and answer public questions.

The board set two near-term public meetings: a March 9 committee meeting on construction and a March 10 session where solar/ESIP professionals will present publicly. The board will consider budget and policy votes at its March meetings.