SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At the Feb. 27 South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education meeting, board members voted to affirm the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s commitment to educating all children.
The board passed Resolution No. 3536, which states the district’s goal to education all children, regardless of ethnicity or immigration status.
“The School District of South Orange Maplewood has a well-settled obligation under the Constitution of the United States to provide a free and appropriate public education to all school-age children without regard to their immigration status or their family members’ immigration status,” the resolution reads. “The Board has taken note of historical and recent rhetoric targeting immigrant communities, ethnic groups and religious populations.
“The Board desires to assure all South Orange and Maplewood residents of the district’s commitment to educating all school-age children who live in the district, as required by law,” the resolution continues. “The School District of South Orange Maplewood is committed to ensuring that the climate in district schools is welcoming for all students and their families, and that all students’ families are treated as partners in their children’s education.”
Board President Elizabeth Baker said at the meeting that this reaffirmation of the district’s commitment to all children came about in response to the Trump administration reversing the Obama administration’s guidance that the federal Title IX law protects the right of transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identities, as well as recent attacks against Muslims and Jews across the country.
“Across the country, we have seen communities — including school communities — standing up for what we have taken for granted,” Baker said, adding that some of the rights that belong to various members of the community that seemed sacrosanct just two months ago, now seem to be slipping away. “We also have the opportunity through policy to do what’s right, to go beyond the law and to meet the needs of our community.”
The other board members and audience seemed pleased with the resolution, with community member Ronnie Schwarz applauding the board for its action.
“I am so very proud of the board of education for considering this resolution to educate all children this evening,” she said. “I hope to continue to see such moral and ethical action.”
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