SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Seven months after the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education passed a resolution that placed a moratorium on most suspensions and school removals, Superintendent Ronald Taylor said in an update at the board’s May 16 meeting that the pause reduced the risk of suspensions across races, even though there are […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education discussed the Columbia High School pool at its May 16 meeting, revisiting a conversation about the possibility of retaining the high school’s pool as part of the district’s ongoing long-range facilities plan. A group of residents advocated for the CHS pool with a presentation at a […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Two separate ethics complaints have been filed against current and former members of the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education, with a court hearing scheduled for July 11 and a second hearing on July 13 if necessary. Current board members Elissa Malespina and Johanna Wright filed ethics charges against board […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education student representative Noah Morros asked the BOE for another social worker to be hired at Columbia High School, citing the number of students who are struggling with mental health issues, especially in the wake of the death of sophomore Cole Longworth at the end […]
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District broke ground on another portion of the Long Range Facilities Plan at South Mountain Elementary School on March 22, starting the 18-month process to build nine new classrooms, a courtyard and a revamped playground. The fifth project to get off the ground, South Mountain’s expansion is […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education reached an agreement in principle with the South Orange–Maplewood Education Association, the teachers union, early Friday morning, March 25, for a contract that runs from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. “After 14 hours of negotiations, the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District and South Orange–Maplewood Education Association’s negotiations on a new contract for the teachers union broke down and, after attending several mediation sessions since the beginning of January, the two groups will now be moving forward with a fact finder, who will propose a solution […]
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Board of County Commissioners celebrated Black History Month on Feb. 17 by honoring four community leaders who have all been heavily involved in the towns they live and work in. Recognized by the commissioners were Montclair’s Annette Strickland, Irvington’s Lionel Leach, South Orange’s Johanna Wright and Newark’s Roger […]
NEWARK, NJ — Newark Symphony Hall, New Jersey’s largest black-led arts and entertainment venue, has hired former South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education member Chris Sabin as its first director of communications and social impact. Sabin brings with him more than two decades of experience engaging people and advocating for better outcomes. His experience includes management […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood Education Association, the district’s teacher’s union, has reached an impasse in its negotiations for a new contract with the school district and Board of Education, and all involved parties will be meeting with mediators at the beginning of the year. The union has been working under […]