SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — There is going to be a new but familiar face in town at South Mountain Elementary School; following the superintendent’s recommendation and the Board of Education’s May 12 approval, Alyna Jacobs is the new school principal, effective July 1. Jacobs — who graduated from South Mountain Elementary School, South Orange Middle […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood Middle School Principal Jerrill Adams has resigned from his position, effective Aug. 31. The former principal’s name was included on the list of resignations within the personnel fiscal resolutions approved by the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education at its meeting Monday, June 20. His departure comes less than two years after […]
Former CHS baseball player claims that he was bullied by his coaches
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The father of a former Columbia High School baseball player, who has long said his son was repeatedly bullied by his coaches, is now demanding to know why the results of the special Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation into the coaching staff have still not been reported roughly four months after they […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As the South Orange-Maplewood School District ramps up its strategic planning process, questions have arisen regarding supervisory positions. In an email to the News-Record, district spokeswoman Suzanne Turner said that while the supervisory structure may change, the number of supervisors is unlikely to do so. According to Turner, the […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Columbia High School has remedied the confusion that arose late last month, when automated phone calls informing several parents that their children had skipped at least one class were mistakenly made May 20 to parents of children who were actually making up PARCC testing. CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron told the News-Record that […]
Following district incidents on social media, high school students spoke out during BOE meeting
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — This month, the South Orange-Maplewood community was shocked by acts of racism and anti-Semitism on social media from local students. In response, several students and teachers spoke out at the May 12 Board of Education reorganization meeting, proposing ways to rectify the situation and begging the school district to […]
Incidents at Columbia High School, South Orange Middle School create backlash in community
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — As social media spreads one’s words globally and instantly, it has become much easier for foolishness and cruelty to be dispersed. The South Orange-Maplewood School District knows this all too well, especially following the two incidents that came to light last week involving racist and anti-Semitic social media postings […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Despite approving the use of banked cap at the March 21 meeting, the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education was unable to avoid some substantial cuts, including 15 full-time staff positions. At its May 2 meeting, the board voted to pass the 2015-2016 school district budget on second reading with […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — For the third straight year, an enthusiastic group of Jefferson Elementary School fifth-graders have participated in the “Pencils for Ethiopia” program, as part of a community service project. This year, 20 students chose to devote their time to collecting pencils for the cause. The service project teaches children about the hardships faced […]
With initial ‘two- to four-week’ inquiry time passed, Seitz has yet to speak to main players
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A parent of one of the former Columbia High School baseball players who was allegedly bullied by the coaching staff said he has not yet been interviewed by the independent investigator employed by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to look into the matter, although the investigator was hired Feb. […]