CHS students speak out about sexual harassment, the need for better education regarding consent

CHS students speak out about sexual harassment, the need for better education regarding consent

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Students and staff at Columbia High School asked the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education and district administrators to address sexual assault and harassment among students at the April 19 BOE meeting, after students identified themselves as victims and shared their experiences online in early March. BOE student representative Lily […]

Taylor addresses integration, facilities plan in letter to community

Taylor addresses integration, facilities plan in letter to community

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — To provide updates regarding the South Orange–Maplewood School District’s Intentional Integration Initiative, which will begin in September with the incoming kindergarten class, Superintendent of Schools Ronald Taylor sent an informational letter to the community on April 14. “For background, in the 2018-2019 school year, the Board of Education voted […]

SOMSD announces phases 4 and 5 to reopen for in-person learning

SOMSD announces phases 4 and 5 to reopen for in-person learning

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange–Maplewood School District Superintendent Ronald Taylor announced the plan for the next two phases of the district’s reopening plan, as the district gets ready to continue with the third phase of hybrid instruction. Students in kindergarten through second grade, and in sixth and ninth grades have returned to […]

Some students return to school buildings, even as mediation breaks down

Some students return to school buildings, even as mediation breaks down

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Students in kindergarten through second grade in the South Orange–Maplewood School District returned to their classrooms on March 15, even as mediation between the district administration and the South Orange–Maplewood Education Association broke down the week before. On March 9, the district released a statement saying that the Board […]

SOMSD reopens school buildings for select students

SOMSD reopens school buildings for select students

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District opened in a limited capacity on March 1, with English language learners across all grade levels, self-contained special education students and preschool students who have chosen hybrid instruction returning to the school buildings. Teachers for those students will teach in person from their classrooms. […]

South Orange–Maplewood School District, teachers union enter mediation regarding in-person learning

South Orange–Maplewood School District, teachers union enter mediation regarding in-person learning

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District and South Orange–Maplewood Education Association, the teachers union, began mediation meetings on Feb. 19, after the Feb. 15 announcement that hybrid learning would not begin as scheduled. It was a reversal of the decision made only a few hours before that in-person classes would […]

Taylor presents on inequity in South Orange–Maplewood School District

Taylor presents on inequity in South Orange–Maplewood School District

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange–Maplewood Superintendent of Schools Ronald Taylor attended the South Orange board of trustees meeting on Sept. 29, giving the trustees a presentation on equity in the school district, as was requested by trustee Donna Coallier. During the presentation, Taylor shared statistics on equity in high school AP classes and outlined […]

SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOMSD to begin school year virtually

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Four days after the South Orange–Maplewood School District presented its fall reopening plan, with three options to choose from as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prevent the normal back-to-school fanfare September would usually bring, Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing New Jersey school districts to begin the […]

SOMSD, Black Parents Workshop reach settlement agreement

SOMSD, Black Parents Workshop reach settlement agreement

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In February 2018, the Black Parents Workshop filed a federal lawsuit against the South Orange–Maplewood School District, drawing attention to the marginalization of black students in the district and the segregation seen in the district’s elementary schools. On July 13, the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education approved a settlement […]