Elissa Malespina

Malespina Thanks Board of Ed as 2nd Librarian Position Is Restored at Columbia High

On Wednesday night, January 3, the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education approved the hire of a second librarian for the Columbia High School Library, restoring…

VIDEO: SOMA Cares About Schools Hosts ‘Passionate’ BOE Candidate Forum

Eight candidates provided a variety of perspectives and approaches at Wednesday night’s South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education candidates forum, organized by South Orange-Maplewood Cares About…

SOMA Cares About Schools Hosts BOE Candidates Forum Sept. 27

From SOMA Cares About Schools: SOMA Cares About Schools is holding our second annual BOE Candidates Forum on Sept 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the…

VIDEO: Jordan McCray-Robinson’s Powerful South Orange Middle School Graduation Speech

Not every 8th grader has her essays excerpted by The Washington Post. But Jordon McCray-Robinson isn’t just any 8th grader. She’s a South Orange Middle…

Visiting South Orange Students Refuse Photo With Speaker Ryan

About half the students in a group of South Orange Middle School 8th graders touring the Capitol in D.C. this past week refused a photo with…

UPDATE: Consultant to Lead Focus Group on Special Ed Director Search Nov 3 at CHS

October 28, 2016, 3:53 p.m.: This article has been updated to include a statement from a member of the Special Education Parents Advisory Committee in…

VIDEO: Board of Education Debate Sept. 13 at The Baird

South Orange – Maplewood Cares About Schools, a Facebook group, hosted a South Orange – Maplewood Board of Education debate Wednesday night at The Baird Center. The…

SOM Board of Ed Adopts $125M Budget that Cuts 11 Teachers, 2 Librarians

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education voted 7-2 to pass a $125 million budget for the 2016-17 school year on Monday night; Board members Johanna…

SOMA Board of Ed Votes to Move Forward on Strategic Planning Process

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education voted 8-1 Tuesday night (with Johanna Wright dissenting) to accept the administration’s proposed strategic direction document and approve…

SOM District, Achieve Foundation Offer Clarification on $15K Strategic Plan Grant

The announcement earlier this week that the Achieve Foundation was awarding $15,000 to the South Orange-Maplewood School District to pay for strategic planning consultants…