“I know this may make some uncomfortable and elicit some challenges across our community [but] I feel these recommendations align with SOMSD’s commitment to building equity, fostering inclusion, and building a sense of belonging throughout our schools,” says Superintendent.
SOMSD
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth OrangeTowns
As More Students of Color Enroll in AP Classes at CHS, Focus Turns to Supporting Them
by Lela Mooreby Lela Moore“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.
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth Orange
School Demographer: South Orange-Maplewood Enrollment Not Returning to Pre-COVID Levels Anytime Soon
By race, white student enrollment has been stable, Black enrollment is declining, and Asian & Hispanic increasing.
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GovernmentMaplewoodSchools / KidsTransportation
‘A Mess Out There’: Maplewood Officials Discuss Improving Pedestrian Safety for School Kids
Crossing guard schedules/locations and new school schedules & walking routes do not align, said Deputy Mayor Deb Engel.
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth Orange
As Busing Woes Plague Start of School Year, BOE & Parents Call for ‘Swift Action’, Supt. Asks for ‘Patience’
Parents report significant delays, no-show buses, confused routes, last-minute cancellations and more. They — and the Board of Ed — are calling for swift action from the Superintendent.
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GovernmentMaplewoodTowns
Just in Time to Start Next Year’s Cycle, Maplewood Inches Closer to Passing ’23 Budget
by Lela Mooreby Lela Moore“We started this process all the way back in January. We are at the point where we can finally see a finish line,” said the CFO. “We’re about to start our 2024 budget preparations,” joked Mayor Dean Dafis.
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth Orange
UPDATE: Columbia Again Ranks Among Top 50 High Schools in New Jersey
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.
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth Orange
CHS Debuts AP African American Studies, Fully Restores Journalism Class
The district is one of the few in the state piloting an AP African-American studies class. Also, the high school’s lauded Journalism class has been restored to a full-year class that will count toward graduation.
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MaplewoodSchools / KidsSouth Orange
BOE Questions Disparity In South Orange & Maplewood Middle Schools HIB & Safety Incidents
South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education members asked district administration for more qualitative data.
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CommunityGovernmentMaplewoodPoliticsSchools / KidsSouth Orange
South Orange Family Helps Make History With New Jersey Menstrual Equity Bill
by Lela Mooreby Lela MooreElise Joy and her daughters Emma and Quinn Joy, co-founders of the non-profit Girls Helping Girls. Period, have been active in the effort to make period products accessible to menstruating public school students in New Jersey since 2018.