SOMSD BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

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 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.

• Oath of Office and swearing-in of 2021-22, student BOE representatives, Noah Morros and Vanessa Previlon

• Roll Call

• Approval of Board Minutes: Executive Session and Special Public Session - July 12, 2021

• Agenda and Attachments
  

• Fall 2021 Reopening Update
• Summary of District Goal Updates & Year In Review (August 16, 2021)

• Reopening statement and acknowledgment to the community;
• Upcoming 8/26 Board Retreat will focus on framing the 2021-22 District goals which the Board anticipates approving at the September board meeting;
• The BOE will also focus on updating its own board goals at the upcoming September meeting;
• Statement regarding BOE Communication, transparency and trust

• A full list of action items and associated resolutions is available here.
• Resolution 4190A, "Commitment to Renaming Jefferson Elementary" was approved unanimously by the Board in an 8-0 vote. It was resolved that the Board of Education directs the Superintendent or a designee to work with the students of Jefferson Elementary School to seek input from the District’s student community to propose a new name for that school to the Board of Education by June 30, 2022, so that the Board may vote on the adoption of such name to take effect commencing with the 2022-2023 school year.

Approved Resolutions:

• 4178: Personnel Fiscal Resolutions
• 4179: Personnel Substitute Resolutions
• 4180: 2021-22 ESY Out of District Placements
• 4181: Financial Reports
• 4182: Book Adoptions
• 4183: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Investigations for the Month of July 2021
• 4184: Confidential Special Education Agreements

• 4186: Amend Confidential Special Education Settlement Agreement

• 4187: Vacation Option for Excess Vacation Days
• 4188: Superintendent’s Merit Bonus
• 4189: Amend BOE Committee Appointments and Liaison Assignments for the 2021 Calendar Year
• 4190A: Commitment to Renaming Jefferson Elementary

• 4185: Adopt and Abolish Board Policies - 2nd reading:
1. 2415 Every Child Succeeds Act
2. 5350 Student Suicide Prevention
3. 2414 Programs and Services for Students in High Poverty and in High Need School Districts
4. Drug-Free School Zones

There were first readings of four policies:

1. 2415.05 Student Surveys, Analysis and/or Evaluations
2. 5111 Eligibility of Resident/Non-Resident Students

• Mon., September 20: BOE Meeting, Public Session @ 7:30 pm

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