SOMSD School Board Meeting Recap
April 25, 2024 Public Meeting | Vol. 3, Issue 8
Highlights from the April 25, 2024 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
(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.
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
Pledge of Allegiance
Notice of the Meeting
Approval of Board Minutes: Special Meeting - Budget Workshop - March 14, 2024
Regular Public Board of Education Meeting - Agenda and Attachments
Acting Superintendent Gilbert's Report To The Board of Education
Click on the photo to watch the report.
Business Administrator Eric Burnside's Report
Click on photo to watch the report.
Board President Telesford's Monthly Update
Click on photo to watch the report.
Regular Session Board of Education Meeting - April 25, 2024
Click on picture to watch the meeting.
Key Action Items
- A full list of action items and associated resolutions is available here.
Approved Resolutions:
- 4594: Personnel Resolutions
- 4595: Substitute Resolutions
- 4596: Out of District Placements For The 2023-2024 School Year
- 4597 A-X: Financial Reports
- 4598: Field Trip Resolution
- 4599: Transfer or Removal of Non-Domiciled Students
- 4600: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Investigations For The Month of March 2024
- 4601 A-C: Confidential Settlement Agreements
- 4602 A-E: Adopt Board Policies
- 4603: Approve 2023-2024 Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement Between Education & Law Enforcement Officials
- 4604 A-B: Approve Sidebar Agreement With SOMEA for the 2023-2024 School Year
- 4605: Approve Shared Services Agreement With Township of Maplewood For The Greenway Area
- 4606: Greenway Construction Easement
- 4607: Approve HIB Appeal #258380_SME_01182024
There were first readings of the following policies:
- 1530: Equal Employment Opportunities
- 1550: Equal Employment/Anti-Discrimination Practices
- 3211: Code of Ethics
There were second readings of the following policies:
Upcoming Meetings
On Thursday, May 9th, 2024, 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education is scheduled to hold a regular public meeting at the Central Office Building, 525 Academy St., Maplewood, N.J.
Current BOE Members
Note: to email all board members, please email boemembers@somsd.k12.nj.us.
Qawi Telesford
Board President
Term: 2022 - 2024
email: qtelesfo@somsd.k12.nj.us
Arun Vadlamani
1st Vice-President
Term: 2022 - 2024
email: avadlama@somsd.k12.nj.us
Nubia DuVall Wilson
2nd Vice-President
Term: 2023 - 2025
email: nwilson@somsd.k12.nj.us
Elizabeth Callahan
Term: 2024 - 2026
email: ecallaha@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
William Meyer
Term: 2024 - 2026
email: wmeyer@somsd.k12.nj.us
Shayna Sackett-Gable
Term: 2024 - 2026
email: ssacket1@somsd.k12.nj.us
Kaitlin Wittleder
Term: 2022 - 2024
email: kwittled@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
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, 07040
Phone: (973) 762-5600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somsdk12/
X (Twitter): @SOMSDK12
Instagram: @somsdk12