The following comments were made at the December 21, 2023 South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education meeting by Elissa Malespina, who will be completing her service to the Board this month; Malespina, who has served one three-year term, announced she would not seek reelection this past summer. Prior to her comments, Malespina was lauded by Board member Johanna Wright, who noted that Malespina is a Bammy award winning educator and that her tenure on the board “was marked by her integrity, decency and courage in making the truth plain.” Watch Wright’s comments here.
During her tenure, Malespina was an advocate for library sciences and for updating policies against censorship/for inclusionary materials and curricula, and for centering students and educators, among other work and advocacy. Malespina was at the center of controversy when she filed ethics charges against her fellow board members for failing to sever items for a vote, among other charges (former BOE member Annemarie Maini then filed competing charges against Malespina). Malespina was advised to recuse herself from matters related to the Black Parents Workshop lawsuit settlement due to her participation on behalf of her special needs son. Malespina courted ethics charges when she voted to approve a settlement with parents over busing for hazardous routes in January after a judge deemed the district had violated its own policy.
The following comments are from Elissa Malespina:
I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have been a part of this journey over the past three years. First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest thanks to my husband Joe and my son Matthew for their unwavering love and support. Your presence in my life has been my pillar of strength, and I couldn’t have undertaken this role without you.
I’d also like to acknowledge and thank Mrs. Wright for her kind and thoughtful words. Her dedication to our students and this district is truly remarkable. Her return to the board has been invaluable during these last few months, and her guidance and wisdom have been like that of a mother figure to many of us.
[BOE members] Regina [Eckert], Bill [Gifford], Nubia [Wilson], and [BOE President] Kaitlin [Wittleder], your hard work, dedication, transparency, and friendship have been instrumental in shaping our discussions and decisions. We may not always see eye to eye, but your willingness to engage in tough conversations has been a testament to our commitment to making our community better.
Choosing to raise my family in SOMA was a decision driven by the rich diversity of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and thought that this community values. I take pride in the work I’ve done to craft policies that promote diversity in our curriculum and school library books, policies that are now being embraced by other districts in New Jersey and across the country. Ensuring that our students can see themselves reflected in our educational materials must remains a goal of this district.
I’m equally proud of our efforts to pass the Right to Read resolution and the Teaching Truth in History resolution [Editor’s note: See the resolutions attached below]. In these challenging times, it’s essential to remember that we must uphold the principle that differing viewpoints and perspectives deserve a place in our educational landscape. Censorship should not have a place in our community, and we must stand against it.
These past three years have been filled with events and challenges, but they’ve taught me the importance of transparency. When we are honest and forthright with the public, even in difficult moments, trust can be maintained. I hope that the next board continues to prioritize transparency.
Furthermore, I urge the board to listen to the message rather than judging the messenger. It’s all too common for personal animosities to interfere with what’s best for our students. We must put aside such differences and focus on what’s right for our community.
While my time on the board may be ending, my commitment to advocating for students remains unwavering. I plan to utilize my knowledge and expertise to assist other parents and community groups in navigating our district. Stay tuned for more details on this initiative.
To the new members of the board, I offer my best wishes and a word of advice: thick skin is a necessity in this role. It’s not always easy, and you will face tough decisions that won’t please everyone. Remember that this is about what’s best for the students, not a popularity contest. Let that guide your decisions, and you can’t go wrong.
Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make our community even better in the future.
Watch Malespina’s comment here:
With reporting by Mary Barr Mann.
