The District will share a monthly newsletter with the SOMSD community to keep you informed and to provide a recap of key action items discussed and approved by the Board of Education (BOE) during their monthly regular public session meetings. The BOE meeting recap newsletter will be shared monthly after each regular session public BOE meeting and will only be provided for regular-session Board meetings.

The school board meeting is a business meeting in public and not a meeting with the public. Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the Board of Education takes action with very little comment and in many cases a unanimous vote. Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public meeting, the Administration has thoroughly reviewed the matter with the Superintendent of Schools/Chief School Administrator (CSA). If the Superintendent of Schools/Chief School Administrator is satisfied that the matter is ready to be presented to the Board of Education, it is then referred to the appropriate Board Committee. The Members of the Board Committee work with Administration and the Superintendent to assure that the members fully understand the matter. After the committee discusses the matter, it is presented to the full Board for discussion before any action is taken. Only then, is it placed on the agenda for action at a public meeting.

• Roll Call / Notice of Meeting

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Performance by: Unaccompanied Minors, CHS' mixed a cappella group.

• Approval of Board Minutes: Executive Session and Regular Meeting Minutes - August 24, 2023

• BOE Student Representative Report

• Regular Public Board of Education Meeting - Agenda and Attachments

Click on the above photo to see the Unaccompanied Minors' performance at the September 28th Board of Education meeting.

• Watch the Superintendent's Update (cued to begin at 1:27:43 minute mark): https://youtu.be/FuEi0qRxyKk?t=6804

• Watch Business Administrator Eric Burnside's report: https://youtu.be/2sDVVNoyLK4?t=11599

• Watch Board President Wittleder's Monthly Update: https://youtu.be/FuEi0qRxyKk

• A full list of action items and associated resolutions is available here.

Approved Resolutions:

• 4506: Personnel Resolutions
• 4507: Substitute Resolutions
• 4508: Adopt State Approved Educator Evaluation Rubrics
• 4509: 2023 Extended School Year Out of District Placements
• 4510A: Financial Reports
• 4511: New/Revised Curriculum
• 4512: Book Adoption
• 4513: Field Trips
• 4514A: Confidential Settlement Agreement
• 4515A-N: Adopt/Abolish Board Policy
• 4516: Approve Sidebar Agreement With SOMEA for April 24 - June 20, 2023
• 4518: Right To Read Resolution
• 4519: Approve Revised BOE Committees For the 2023 Calendar Year
• 4520: Approve Sidebar Agreement with SOMEA for the 2023-2024 School Year
• 4521: HAND CARRY Approve HIB APPEAL #247332_SOMS_04262023
• 4522: HAND CARRY Approve Special Counsel

1. 0131 Bylaws, Policies, and Regulations
2. 0133 Adjudication of Dispute
3. 0144 Board Member Orientation and Training
4. 0155.1 Board Member Participation at Board Meetings Using Electronic Device
5. 0163 Quorum
6. 2411 School Counseling
7. 2415.03 Highly Qualified Teachers
8. 5240 Tardiness
9. 5330 Administration of Medication
10. 5330.04 Administering an Opioid Antidote
11. 6311 Contracts for Goods or Services Funded by Federal Grants
12. 6360 Political Contributions
13. 6440 Cooperative Purchasing

There were first readings of 11 policies:

1. 3161 Examination for Cause
2. 3270 Professional Responsibilities
3. 3431.3 New Jersey's Family Leave Insurance Program
4. 4125 Employment of Support Staff Members
5. 5330.05 Seizure Action Plan
6. 5337 Service Animals
7. 7441 Electronic Surveillance In School Buildings and on School Grounds
8. 7490 Animals on School Property
9. 7510 Use of School Facilities
10. 7522 School District Provided Technology Devices To Staff Members
11. 8310 Public Records

Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: Board of Education Regular Meeting at

Note: to email all board members, please email boemembers@somsd.k12.nj.us.

Kaitlin Wittleder
Board President
Term: 2022 - 2024

email: kwittled@somsd.k12.nj.us

Elissa Malespina (1st Vice-President)
Term: 2021 - 2023
email: emalesp1@somsd.k12.nj.us

Nubia DuVall Wilson (2nd Vice-President)

Term: 2023 - 2025
email: nwilson@somsd.k12.nj.us

Regina Eckert
Term: 2023 - 2025
email: reckert@somsd.k12.nj.us

Bill Gifford
Term: 2023 - 2025
email: bgifford@somsd.k12.nj.us

Qawi Telesford

Term: 2022 - 2024

email: qtelesfo@somsd.k12.nj.us

Arun Vadlamani

Term: 2022 - 2024

email: avadlama@somsd.k12.nj.us

Courtney Winkfield
Term: 2021 - 2023
email: cwinkfie@somsd.k12.nj.us

Johanna Wright

Term: 2023

email: johannawright2@somsd.k12.nj.us

Student Representatives to the Board of Education

Gwyneth Brown
Term: 2023 - 2024
email: boestudentrep1@somsd.k12.nj.us

Asa Glassman
Term: 2023 - 2024
email: boestudentrep2@somsd.k12.nj.us

The mission of the South Orange Maplewood School District is to empower and inspire each student to explore and imagine, to pursue personal passions, and to collectively create a better future by creating a learner-centered environment through multiple pathways; reimagined structures, systems and supports; innovative teaching; partnering with families; and maximizing community expertise and resources.

Email: info@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/board-of-education/
Location: 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: (973) 762-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somsdk12/
Twitter: @SOMSDK12

Instagram: @somsdk12

LinkedIn: @South Orange & Maplewood School District