Union: SOMA negotiations likely going to mediator

Union: SOMA negotiations likely going to mediator

By Andy Milone Correspondent Intense labor negotiations remain unsettled in the South Orange-Maplewood School District. The Education Association, representing some 700 teachers, support staff and maintenance workers from 10 schools, filed Sept. 23 with the Public Employment Relations Commission for an impasse after months of talks resulted in a failure to come to terms with […]

SOMA Board of Ed, teachers union reach contract agreement

SOMA Board of Ed, teachers union reach contract agreement

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 teachers union and school district unable to come to agreement, fact finder to be consulted

South Orange–Maplewood teachers union and school district unable to come to agreement, fact finder to be consulted

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 […]

Teachers union and district reach impasse in contract negotiations in South Orange–Maplewood

Teachers union and district reach impasse in contract negotiations in South Orange–Maplewood

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 […]

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 […]

ECEA expresses opposition to reopening school buildings this fall

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County Education Association President Anthony Rosamilia, in collaboration with local teachers union presidents across the county, penned a letter to interim Executive County Superintendent Joseph Zarra and the county’s legislators expressing ECEA’s opposition to reopening school buildings this fall. “Out of the more than 3,000 counties in the United States, […]

Community events supporting Nights of 100 Dinners

Community events supporting Nights of 100 Dinners

MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Throughout the month of March, the Achieve Foundation’s 16th annual Nights of 100 Dinners fundraiser will be happening in full force across the South Orange and Maplewood. Several local businesses are showing their support of this annual fundraiser by hosting a variety of events for all ages. From knitting […]