Johanna Wright

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…

South Orange-Maplewood BOE Declines to Reverse Non-Renewal for MMS Science Teacher

Despite remarks from nearly a dozen supporters asking that sixth-grade science teacher Debra Hwang have her contract renewed (and a reported 23 or more letters…

2 South Orange-Maplewood BOE Members Abstained From Superintendent Vote. We Asked, ‘Why?’

“Hiring a new superintendent is one of the most important responsibilities of a school board,” wrote then-Board President Elizabeth Baker in July 2018, when the…

South Orange-Maplewood Board of Ed Penalizes Tuscan Principal for ‘Insubordination’

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education held a public discussion on Monday night concerning a one-day suspension of Tuscan School Principal Malikah Majeed — at…

‘Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action’ Comes to Columbia HS Feb 4-8

The locally based group MapSO Freedom School is bringing “Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action” to Columbia High School from February 4 to 8,…

Audit Finds Lack of Consistency in Credit Recovery/Absence Policy Administration at Columbia High School

Inconsistencies in the administration of absence and credit recovery policies at Columbia High School are leading the South Orange-Maplewood School District to give students amnesty…

South Orange-Maplewood District Details Impact of $1.4M Preschool Expansion Grant

A $1.422 Million grant obtained by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to expand preschool could ultimately lead to universal pre-K — bringing free preschool education…

PARCC Results Show Achievement Gap Persists; Ficarra Says Gains Will Come Soon

A review of state testing results from the 2017-18 school year at last night’s South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education meeting showed a continued, significant gap…

District Presents Report on STEM Realignment Process, With Final Curriculum to be Approved in October

The South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education will not be approving the final STEM Curriculum until October — but that’s not a bad thing, according to…

PHOTOS: ‘Power’ Actor, Musical Artist Rotimi Inducted Into CHS and SOMS Halls of Fame

Olurotimi Akinosho — better known as Rotimi — was inducted into the Columbia High School Hall of Fame as well as the South Orange Middle…