The South Orange – Maplewood Board of Education will host its first Open Forum to solicit feedback in the district’s search for a new superintendent tonight, Sept. 9 from 7 – 8 p.m. at the Columbia High School Library.
The forum is open to the community. It will be preceded by dedicated sessions for SOMEA leadership and faith leaders earlier in the day.
Recently, the board issued a revised and expanded schedule of forums for various stakeholders and members of the community to provide their input to the district as it searches for a new superintendent.
The Board is seeking input from a wide range of community members through three methods: an online survey, open forums and focus group sessions for particular stakeholder groups. The sessions will be held with the consulting firm the district has hired to guide the search.
The Board will use the input gleaned from these methods to approve a leadership profile and search criteria at its October 20 board meeting.
Two documents, an Outreach Schedule and an Outreach Plan, have been posted on the SOMSD website (on the right hand side of the home page).
A second open forum will be held for the general South Orange and Maplewood communities Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8:15 p.m., at the Columbia High School Library.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, there will be opportunities throughout the day for various stakeholders to attend in the District Meeting Room at 525 Academy Street in Maplewood:
- Elementary School Parents 9:00 a.m.-10 a.m.
- Secondary School Parents 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
- High School Parents 11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
- Community Coalition on Race/SOMA Parents of Students of African Descent 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
- Special Education community 2 p.m.-3 p.m.
- Achieve 3:15 p.m.-4 p.m
In addition, parents of students in the district will have an additional chance to participate in forums on Oct. 6 and Oct. 9.
