Dr. Thomas Ficarra

New South Orange-Maplewood Schools Superintendent Dr. Ronald Taylor Is On the Job

The age of interims is coming to a close. After years of administrative churn and something of a clearing-of-the-decks by interim superintendent Dr. Thomas Ficarra,…

BOE Sends $160M+ Facilities Plan to Board of School Estimate — With Turf Fields & AC Included

The long and winding two-year road to undertake massive improvements to the school district’s crumbling infrastructure crossed another hurdle last night as the South Orange-Maplewood…

Board of Ed Responds to Controversy and Confusion Surrounding MMS Principal Renewal

The recent renewal of Maplewood Middle School Principal Dara Gronau, reportedly against the recommendation of Interim Superintendent Thomas Ficarra, continues to raise questions among residents…

UPDATED: BOE Rejects Maplewood Middle School Principal’s Resignation

Editor’s note, May 16, 4:30 p.m.: This article has been updated with comment from MMS Principal Dara Gronau. May 14, 5 p.m.: This article has…

School District Improvements Could Begin by Mid-Summer, Ficarra Says

Improvements to school buildings throughout South Orange and Maplewood could begin as early as August, as part of nearly $140 million in projects for the…

‘SOMSD 2020’ Schools Integration Plan Postponed Until 2021

The reorganization of South Orange and Maplewood schools — intended to eliminate segregation in the district — is underway but will be postponed until September 2021,…

Increase in South Orange-Maplewood State Aid Will Help Alleviate Budget Freeze

The South Orange-Maplewood School District received more than a half million dollars more in state aid for 2019/20 than anticipated, but that increase will go…

South Orange-Maplewood $140M Facilities Plan Schedule ‘Slides’ — No Bond Approval in March

Looks like the South Orange-Maplewood School District will be under a tight squeeze to get everything in order for construction to begin this summer on…

All South Orange-Maplewood School Buses Now Equipped With GPS for Tracking

All South Orange-Maplewood School District buses are now equipped with GPS devices or systems, and the school district has also created separate instant messaging lists…

Ficarra: Despite $3.9M Budget Gap, No Staff Reductions Proposed for 2019/20

The preliminary South Orange-Maplewood School District budget for 2019/2020 shows a $3.9 million shortfall, but interim Superintendent Thomas Ficarra said on Monday that no reductions…