District Results of NJAsk Test “Disturbing”

Test results indicate pronounced achievement gap between black and white students in the district.

The results of a the statewide standardized test NJ Ask showed a clear achievement gap between white and black students in the South Orange Maplewood school district, with white students outpacing black ones in almost all categories in both Language Arts and Math. While there was some positive news, Schools Superintendent Brian Osborne and members of the School Board focused on the achievement gap data after the report was presented in a slide show at the Sept. 21 meeting. Osborne emphasized that the data was new and cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from it now. He did, however, have strong words about the achievement gap data. “The gap numbers continue to be disturbing,” Osborne said, adding that the district needs to “take …

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CHS Top Earner for Charity Run

Columbia Students raise money for cancer in a charity run.

Columbia High School generated the most money among groups in the company category in this weekend’s Relay for Life race benefiting the American Cancer Society. The race, the signature event for the American Cancer Society, took place in West Orange on June 19.  Columbia beat out seven other companies in their fundraising, including Newark Academy and American Airlines. Columbia had 22 teams, with names like Cougar Cancer Crushers and 2012 For A Cure (the top-earning team overall), participating in the race. Some teams were as small as four people, but most teams rosters were between seven and the maximum number of 15. Collectively, the Columbia teams raised $42,369, which, as a point of comparison, was almost 10 times as much as host high…

Run for a Reason on Saturday

Maplewood parents co-organize a benefit race for Sudden Unexplained Death in Children.

Owen and Betty Lipnick’s son Levi died on March 11, 2007. He was just over 21 months and seemed in perfect health; the death was later attributed to Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC). The Lipnicks, along with other New Jersey families who have lost children to SUDC, have joined together to bring attention to the disease, which affects between 30 and 40 children in America each year. Tomorrow, they are hosting a 5k run in Verona as a benefit for an SUDC program. “The reason we’re doing the run is to raise funds and awareness for SUDC,” Betty Lipnick said. “It’s a fun family day,” Lipnick said. “It’ll be a great time for kids, assuming it doesn’t rain.” Proceeds from the day will go to the SUDC program, which offers support …