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

• Pledge of Allegiance

• STUDENT PERFORMANCE - CHS Varsity Orchestra String Ensemble
  

• Notice of the Meeting

• Approval of Board Minutes: Regular Meeting - November 30, 2023

• Staff Tenure Celebration

• Special Board Recognition and Appreciation of Board Member Service

• Thair Joshua offers remarks about Susan Bergin, followed by remarks by Susan Bergin
• Johanna Wright offers remarks about Elissa Malespina, followed by remarks by Elissa Malespina
• Susan Bergin offers remarks about Courtney Winkfield, followed by remarks by Courtney Winkfield
• Bill Gifford offers remarks about Johanna Wright, followed by remarks by Johanna Wright

• BOE Student Representative Report

• Regular Public Board of Education Meeting - Agenda and Attachments

Click on the photo above to watch video.

Click on the photo above to watch video.

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

Approved Resolutions:

• 4550: Personnel Resolutions
• 4551: Substitute Resolutions
• 4552: Out of District Placements For The 2023-2024 School Year
• 4553 A: Financial Reports
• 4554: Approval of New & Revised Curriculum
• 4555: Transfer or Removal of Non-Domiciled Students
• 4556: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Investigations For The Month of November 2023

1. A. 143.2 Student Representatives to the Board of Education
2. B. 2270 Religion in Schools
3. C. 3212 Attendance
4. D. 4212 Attendance
5. E. 4324 Right of Privacy - Support Staff Members
6. F. 5111 Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Students
7. G. 5120 Assignment of Students
8. H. 5124 Internal Transfers
9. I. 8500 Food Services
10. J. 8540 School Nutrition Programs
11. K. 8550 Unpaid Meal Charges/Outstanding Food Service Charges
12. L. 8600.1 Hazardous Routes

There were first readings of one policy:

1. 5517 School Issued Student Identification Cards

Officials from the South Orange and Maplewood School District and the Board of Education recognized 32 individuals who have earned tenure. CLICK HERE for a list of all staff members who were recognized. Photos of those who attended the Board meeting are below. With the honorees are Board President Kaitlin Wittleder and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Ann Bodnar.

On Thursday, January 4th, 2024, 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education is scheduled to hold a public reorganization meeting at the

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, 07040
Phone: (973) 762-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somsdk12/
X (Twitter): @SOMSDK12

Instagram: @somsdk12

LinkedIn: @South Orange & Maplewood School District