Dr. Qawi Telesford

Seven candidates are vying for three seats on the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education in…

The three candidates will be running together on a slate, per the Essex County Clerk’s Office. Election day is November 5.

“We are going to need to come back and figure out what it is that we’re going to do to make sure that one way or another we are addressing the needs of our student athletes and developing a field surface of whatever composition that’s going to meet the needs of all of our students,” said BOE member Will Meyer.

The policy changes would allow a socioeconomic status-neutral waitlist for transfers related to the Intentional Integration Initiative.

“As we continue to increase enrollment for Black and Latinx students we need to simultaneously ramp up our efforts to understand what they’re experiencing from a social emotional standpoint in those classes,” said BOE member Courtney Winkfield.

Noting disparate outcomes for white & Black students, Board of Ed members say more work is to be done; results also rely on data from 2019-21.

South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education members asked district administration for more qualitative data.

“We’re seeing really, really striking gaps in math,” said BOE member Courtney Winkfield. She called upon district administrators to consider restructuring and reorganizing the district’s math curricula across all grades as part of a comprehensive plan.

The old CHS swimming pool’s Guastavino tiles will be preserved; meanwhile, Supt. Taylor says district is coordinating with towns on swim equity.

Policy 2270 Religion In The Schools was tabled early in the meeting. BOE President Wittleder says the Board will revisit the policy process.