Cali School gets grant to continue partnering with SOMSD

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair State University John J. Cali School of Music’s Arts Institute Partnership Grant was renewed for a second year. The grant is designed to provide music lesson services to South Orange-Maplewood School District music students. Last year, South Orange-Maplewood School District’s fine arts department and Montclair State University embarked on one […]

SOMSD Parenting Center speaker series

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood Parenting Center, in conjunction with elementary school PTAs, will present a 2018-2019 speaker series as follows: Professor Edward Fergus will discuss “SOMSD 2020 – Intentional Integration and Innovation in Our Elementary Schools” on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Seth Boyden School, 274 Boyden Ave. […]

BOE outlines superintendent search process, feedback opportunities

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In August 2018, South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education launched the search for South Orange-Maplewood School District’s next superintendent, and hired William Librera of West Hudson Associates as the superintendent search consultant to assist in the search process. According to a press release from the district, the board chose Librera […]

Seth Boyden School performs at John J. Cali School of Music

MONTCLAIR, NJ — On May 24, music ensembles from Seth Boyden Demonstration School in Maplewood traveled to Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music to perform for parents and other school community members. This performance was a demonstration of students’ cumulative growth as participants in the MSU Music Grant Residency Partnership with South […]

Parents urge BOE, district to keep Frye

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Public speaks at the May 21 South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education special meeting was full of passionate support for Seth Boyden Principal Damion Frye, who, a week prior had not been reappointed to his post for the 2018-2019 school year. More than two dozen community members — including many Seth Boyden parents, […]

District unveils plan for buildings, grades

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Acting Superintendent Thomas Ficarra unveiled the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s long-range facilities and integration plan at the Board of Education’s May 14 meeting. In his presentation, Ficarra introduced a plan to renovate and upgrade the district’s school buildings while better integrating the schools by redrawing district lines. The plan […]

Meetings on facilities and integration plan in SOMSD

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood School District will hold several community meetings to discuss the long-range facilities and integration plan. Each meeting will include the same presentation. Meetings will be held: Wednesday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Seth Boyden School, 274 Boyden Ave. in Maplewood; Thursday, May 31, at 7:30 […]

School water retests show 1 issue at CHS

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In a May 13 update, the South Orange-Maplewood School District reported that it received the results from an April test of 21 plumbing fixtures in the district; only one unit had an unacceptable level of lead and failed the retest. The district retested the 21 fixtures, which had been offline during the […]

Principal shakeup in the SOMSD

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — In just a few weeks, two South Orange-Maplewood School District principals have been removed from their original posts. Marshall School Principal Bonita Samuels was placed on paid leave a few weeks ago following public outcry concerning allegations that she texted a photo of a teaching assistant, a little person, […]