SOMSD BOARD OF EDUCATION NEWSLETTER
December 15, 2022 Public Meeting Recap | Vol. 2, Issue 4
Highlights from the December 15, 2022 - Regular Session Board of Education Meeting
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).
Board President's Monthly Statement
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.
Meeting Overview
- Roll Call
- Notice of Meeting
- SOMSD Board of Education Resolution Authorizing Executive Session
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Regular Public Board of Education Meeting - Agenda and Attachments
- Performance by: CHS Choir
Special Board Recognition and Appreciation for Board Member Service
- Thair Joshua
- Erin Siders
- Johanna Wright
- Approval of Board Minutes: Executive Session and Regular Meeting Minutes - November 17, 2022
- BOE Student Representative Report
Superintendent's Monthly Report
- Watch the Superintendent's School Reopening Update (cued to begin at 1:19:56 minute mark): https://youtu.be/jA9gBNXF-y4?t=4795
- Access and Equity Presentation - Intentional Integration and Student Enrollment in Higher Level Classes
The District Bids Farewell to Outgoing BOE Members
On Thursday, December 15 during the last BOE meeting of year, Superintendent, Dr. Ronald Taylor thanked and bid farewell to Board President Joshua and Board Member Siders as they completed their three-year terms as Board of Education members and Board Member, Johanna Wright who served three- terms on the BOE from 2014 - 2022 (she attended virtually). Taylor thanked them for their service and behalf of the District presented them with plaques of service and flowers, in addition fellow Board Members, Qawi Telesford spoke on behalf of Johanna Wright, Board Member Courtney Winkfield spoke on behalf of Erin Siders and Board Member and 1st VP, Susan Bergin spoke on behalf of Thair Joshua . Both Joshua and Siders thanked the community for their support and shared that it was an honor to serve the SOMSD community. Click here to watch the BOE appreciation ceremony.
Board President Monthly Report/Update:
- Board President Monthly Message/Update (cued to begin at 2:46:51minute mark): https://youtu.be/jA9gBNXF-y4?t=10008
Key Action Items
- A full list of action items and associated resolutions is available here.
- Board of Education Approves the Appointment of Three Key Roles to District Leadership: Zoila Correa, Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Tunde Adedoyin, Director, Human Resources and Kerri Waibel, Director, Access & Equity
Approved Resolutions:
- 4377: Personnel Fiscal Resolutions
- 4378: Personnel Substitute Resolutions
- 4379: 2022 ESY OOD Placements | B) 2022-23 SY OOD Placements
- 4380: Financial Reports
- 4381: New/Revised Curriculum
- 4382: Transfer or Removal of Non-Domiciled Students - Student ID# 9400898490
- 4383: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Investigations for the Month of November 2022
- 4384: Abolish and Adopt Board Policies
- 4385: Special Education Settlement Agreements
- 4386: 22/23 SY Nursing Services Plan
- 4387: School Field Trip Destinations
- 4388: Teacher-Student International Exchange Program
- 2260.1 Cultural Competency
- 5450 Athletic Award
- 5530 Substance Abuse
- 6470.01 Electronic Funds Transfer and Claimant Certification
There were first readings of 5 policies:
Current BOE Members
Note: to email all board members, please email boemembers@somsd.k12.nj.us.
Thair Joshua
Board President
Term: 2020 - 2022
email: tjoshua@somsd.k12.nj.us
Susan Bergin (1st Vice-President)
Term: 2021 - 2023
email: sbergin@somsd.k12.nj.us
Kaitlin Wittleder (2nd Vice-President)
Term: 2022 - 2024
email: kwittled@somsd.k12.nj.us
Elissa Malespina
Term: 2021 - 2023
email: emalesp1@somsd.k12.nj.us
Erin Siders
Term: 2020 - 2022
email:esiders@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: 2020 - 2022
email: johannawright@somsd.k12.nj.us
Student Representatives to the Board of Education
Noah Morros
Term: 2021 - 2022
email: boestudentrep1@somsd.k12.nj.us
Vanessa Previlon
Term: 2021 - 2022
email: boestudentrep2@somsd.k12.nj.us
South Orange & Maplewood School District
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