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

• Performance by: Maplewood Middle School Chorus 7th and 8th Graders, led by Director Regina Bradshaw.

• Notice of the Meeting

• Approval of Board Minutes: Regular Meeting - September 28, 2023

• BOE Student Representative Report

• Regular Public Board of Education Meeting - Agenda and Attachments

Click on the above photo to see the Maplewood Middle School Vocal Ensemble's performance at the October 18th Board of Education meeting.

• Watch the Superintendent's Update (cued to begin at 2:05:03 minute mark): https://youtu.be/2crn_1eyJ1Y?t=750

• 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:

• 4523: Personnel Resolutions
• 4524: Substitute Resolutions
• 4525 A&B: Extended School Year Out of District Placements Public 2023-2024
• 4526 A-M: Financial Reports
• 4527: Affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Investigations For The Month Of September 2023
• 4528 A-C: Confidential Special Education Settlement Agreements
• 4530: Sidebar Agreement with SOMEA for the 2022-2023 School Year
• 4531: Sports And Extracurricular Activities Training
• 4532: Submission of Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABR) Self-Assessment to the NJDOE for the 2022-2023 SY
• 4533: HAND CARRY Approve Sidebar Agreement with ASCA for the 2023-2025 school years.
• 4534 HAND CARRY HIB Appeal - 4468 - Hand Carry
• 4535: HAND CARRY Resolution of Support from South Orange Maplewood Board of Education Authorizing the Trees for Schools Grant Application

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
5. 5330.05 Seizure Action Plan
   
6. 5337 Service Animals
   
7. 7441 Electronic Surveillance of 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
    
11. 8310 Public Records

There were first readings of 9 policies:

1. 0164.6 Remote Public Board Meetings
2. 1642.01 Sick Leave
3. 2419 School Threat Assessment Teams
4. 4161 Examination for Cause
   
5. 4281 Inappropriate Staff Conduct
   
6. 5116 Education of Homeless Children and Youth
   
7. 5120 Assignment of Students
   
8. 5124 Internal Student Transfers
   
9. 5460.02 Bridge Year Pilot Program

On Monday, October 30, 2023, 6:30 p.m., The Board of Education will hold a public meeting of the

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

Instagram: @somsdk12

LinkedIn: @South Orange & Maplewood School District