Amid bullying scandal, district hires new baseball coach

Boosters president criticizes baseball coach-hiring process

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of James Whalen as the new head baseball coach for Columbia High School during its Nov. 16 meeting, putting an end to months of speculation that coach Joe Fischetti would not be rehired amid allegations he and his coaching […]

SOMSD wins sustainability award for collaboration with Maplewood Green Team

EWING, NJ — Sustainable Jersey for Schools recently announced the recipients of the 2016 Sustainability Champion award, the Green Team Collaboration award and the Sustainability Makes $ense award. This year, three schools in Atlantic County — Reeds Road Elementary School, Alder Avenue Middle School and Egg Harbor Township High School — received the Sustainability Champion […]

Both sides appeal HIB investigation results to the BOE

Parents, players come out in droves to support coaches

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The attorney for two of the Columbia High School baseball coaches accused of bullying and the parent of one of the players they allegedly targeted are both appealing some of the findings from the independent investigation conducted into the coaches’ actions. Steve Farsiou, the lawyer for the head varsity coach, Joe Fischetti, […]

Seth Boyden School inaugurates outdoor classroom

Seth Boyden School inaugurates outdoor classroom

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After two decades of gradually transforming its backyard into a vibrant outdoor learning center, Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood inaugurated the final and most highly anticipated phase of the project: an open-air classroom bordered by an art nook, a performance area and a large habitat garden — a space that the […]

Four Essex County schools achieve sustainability certification in 2016

EWING, NJ — Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced Sept. 6 that 83 schools achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016, though many others are working toward it. The 83 schools come from 24 different school districts across 13 New Jersey counties. In two years, 118 schools have achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. […]

SOMSD shuts down CHS pool to protect students

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. sent the following letter, in part, to the Columbia High School community on Sept. 1: “We are suspending the use of the Columbia High School pool, effective immediately. We cannot use the pool in its current state without compromising the safety of our students […]

Gold resigns as Maplewood Middle assistant principal

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood School District administrators seem to be traveling through a revolving door. The latest SOMSD administrator to announce his resignation is Maplewood Middle School Assistant Principal Marc Gold. In the fall, Gold will be assistant principal at Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown, where former South Orange Middle School Principal Joseph Uglialoro […]

Students speak of everyday racism at CHS

Following district incidents on social media, high school students spoke out during BOE meeting

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — This month, the South Orange-Maplewood community was shocked by acts of racism and anti-Semitism on social media from local students. In response, several students and teachers spoke out at the May 12 Board of Education reorganization meeting, proposing ways to rectify the situation and begging the school district to […]

District struggles with intolerance online

Incidents at Columbia High School, South Orange Middle School create backlash in community

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As social media spreads one’s words globally and instantly, it has become much easier for foolishness and cruelty to be dispersed. The South Orange-Maplewood School District knows this all too well, especially following the two incidents that came to light last week involving racist and anti-Semitic social media postings […]