Four Essex County schools achieve sustainability certification in 2016

EWING, NJ — Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced Sept. 6 that 83 schools achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016, though many others are working toward it. The 83 schools come from 24 different school districts across 13 New Jersey counties. In two years, 118 schools have achieved Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. […]

SOMSD reminds families to be aware of local traffic patterns

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In a recent letter to parents and guardians, the South Orange-Maplewood School District advises that residents factor in traffic delays when planning to bring their children to school. As previously stated by the Maplewood Police Department, the Valley Street project will not be concluded before school starts; work is planned for Maplewood […]

SOMSD shuts down CHS pool to protect students

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. sent the following letter, in part, to the Columbia High School community on Sept. 1: “We are suspending the use of the Columbia High School pool, effective immediately. We cannot use the pool in its current state without compromising the safety of our students […]

SOMA Board of Education approves appointment of four new administrators

SOMA Board of Education approves appointment of four new administrators

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — At its Aug. 22 meeting, the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education approved the appointment of four new administrators to the South Orange-Maplewood School District: Dara Gronau, Maplewood Middle School principal Gronau received her master’s degree in administration and supervision from Montclair State University and her bachelor of arts degree […]

Cougar Prep graduates 23 students from high school readiness program

Cougar Prep graduates 23 students from high school readiness program

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Twenty-three teenagers and their parents gathered Thursday, July 28, at Columbia High School to graduate from Cougar Prep, a four-week high school readiness program for incoming freshmen. Cougar Prep is a collaboration between the South Orange-Maplewood School District and The Loft, managed by FAMILYConnections, preparing rising eighth-graders for the transition from middle […]

Five to run for three open Board of Ed seats

Two incumbents take on three challengers for BOE seats

Five to run for three open Board of Ed seats

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — November’s South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education election looks to be full of tough discussions, with five candidates running for three open seats, each for three years. Incumbents Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad and Johanna Wright will be vying to reclaim their seats against challengers Anthony Mazzocchi, Susie Adamson and James Henry Davis III, […]

Gold resigns as Maplewood Middle assistant principal

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood School District administrators seem to be traveling through a revolving door. The latest SOMSD administrator to announce his resignation is Maplewood Middle School Assistant Principal Marc Gold. In the fall, Gold will be assistant principal at Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown, where former South Orange Middle School Principal Joseph Uglialoro […]

South Orange native becomes next dean of U. of Minnesota Law School

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — An experienced, collaborative leader, Garry W. Jenkins will be the next dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, effective July 31. Jenkins grew up in South Orange, matriculating through the South Orange-Maplewood school system through South Orange Middle School, at which point he went to Delbarton School in Morristown, graduating […]

With HIB report completed, those involved wait for next step

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The independent investigator hired by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to look into allegations of bullying against the Columbia High School baseball coaching staff submitted his final report during an executive session of the Board of Education at its special meeting July 7. District spokeswoman Suzanne Turner confirmed to the News-Record that […]

‘Is school funding reform possible?’

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Thursday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m., in DeHart Community Center, 120 Burnett Ave. in Maplewood, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey’s legislative director, Lindy Wilson, will present different funding proposals and discuss how they impact the South Orange-Maplewood School District. The school district gets only about half of the state aid it should get, […]