Wednesday, October 17, 2012
New pool and fitness center, plus expanded classroom space, is option BOE is leaning toward.
The South Orange - Maplewood School District will consider building an addition to Columbia High School (CHS) that would house a new aquatic center with a six-lane pool and a fitness center, according to the Board of Education (BOE) discussion on Monday night. The aquatic center is one option the board is discussing to refurbish the existing pool -- which is currently closed because the ceiling is structurally unsound -- while gaining additional classroom space. The plan was presented by the district's Business Administrator Cheryl Schneider, who showed the board blueprints of the proposed addition. The aquatic center would be built in the current gym parking lot, with an entrance on Valley Street. That plan would also construct a new, 2…
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The district completed key repairs and renovations to schools throughout the district, in preparation for the 2012-13 school year.
- SCHOOLS
-
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
During the summer months, the South Orange - Maplewood School District caught up on renovations and maintenance to ensure the schools were ready for students in the fall. At the most recent Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Brian Osborne gave the board and the community an update of the work that had been completed or was in the process of being completed. Business Administrator Cheryl Schneider provided a complete list:
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
New method emphasizes concrete, hands-on experiences in lieu of rote memorization.
Kindergarten through 2nd grade students in the South Orange - Maplewood School District (SOMSD) will experience a different approach to learning math this year, as the district implements Math in Focus: Singapore Math. The term “Singapore Math” refers to the coherent progression and specific instructional strategies used by all teachers in Singapore, a country that consistently scores at the top on international math tests. The district announced the new program to the community last year. It replaces the former curriculum, Everyday Math. Math in Focus will be implemented in grades 3-5 in the 2013-2014 school year. The program adds concrete or hands-on experiences to the math curriculum, rather than emphasizing only abstract learning …
Monday, September 17, 2012
Here's a look at what's coming up this week in town.
The South Orange - Maplewood School District is closed for Rosh Hashanah on Monday, Sept. 17, and Tuesday, Sept. 18. The Maplewood Farmers Market is open today from 2-7 p.m. on Springfield Avenue at Indiana Street. Tonight at 7:45, the Maplewood Men's Glee Club will be accepting new members as rehearsals begin for the fall season. DeHart Community Center, 120 Burnett Ave., Maplewood. The Maplewood Township Committee will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting is back at the Maplewood Municipal Building after a summer hiatus at the Maplewood Police Building. Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors and networking for people seeking employment, will meet at the Maplewood Memorial Library on Wednesday, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Members disagree on how district should pursue the issue of non-resident students.
8/31 Update from the South Orange-Maplewood School District: Since the July residency report, 21 of the removed students and 7 of the siblings have proven residency and re-enrolled, according to a memo the district released today. The memo is attached as a PDF to this article. The remaining 8 families will not be re-enrolled until they can prove their residency. "We expect to know by October 15 whether any of these families will prove residency," said district communications director Suzanne Turner. That is the state deadline for schools to report a "snapshot" of enrollment numbers. South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education members continue to be concerned about students attending their schools who live out of district – but they can’t …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
District is almost fully staffed for upcoming school year; will hire new Marshall principal.
The South Orange-Maplewood school district (SOMSD) appointed Janine Gregory as its new supervisor of English Language Arts, Grades 6-12 at Monday night's board meeting. Gregory replaces Gary Pankiewicz, who resigned in June. Dr. Lydia Furnari, the district's recently-hired Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, welcomed Gregory as a "collaborative leader" who will bring a "fresh" look at the ELA curriculum. Superintendent Brian Osborne said that the district is now "all but 100% staffed for the fall." SOMSD is currently searching for a candidate to replace Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, the principal of Marshall Elementary School who recently resigned and will be leaving her position on October 1.
Monday, August 27, 2012
The South Orange - Maplewood Board of Education passed a measure that outlines "acceptable" use of computers and the network
The South Orange - Maplewood Board of Education adopted a new policy at its Monday night meeting governing the use of computers and computer networks for students, staff, and teachers. The policy includes consequences for violating the new rules. Consequences include suspension from school; expulsion from school; and/or legal action and prosecution by the authorities. Policy 2361 Acceptable Use Of Computers Networks/Computers And Resources notes that new technology and media "allows pupils access to information sources that have not been pre-screened by educators using Board approved standards." The previous policy is dated 2002. "The Board provides access to computer networks/computers for educational purposes only. The Board retains the …
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Dr. Lydia Furnari is the South Orange -Maplewood School District's new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
The South Orange Maplewood Board of Education approved the appointment of Dr. Lydia Furnari as the district’s new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction on Wednesday. Dr. Furnari is currently Director of Curriculum in the Montclair Public Schools (MPS). In recommending Furnari for the position, Superintendent Brian G. Osborne said: “Throughout her career, Dr. Furnari has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, dedication to all students, and an ability to consistently put students first in every decision or situation. She will be a tremendous addition to South Orange Maplewood School District as we continue our work to expand learning opportunities and engage and challenge all students to reach their fullest potential…
Nancy Heins-Glaser
1:00 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Could funds for a pool be held in abeyance? Cant we prioritize upgrades to the BOE building to get decent TV/digital transmission of meetings? For years BOE meetings are of poor quality for TV viewers. Tho they are no longer edited (good news) why watch when you cant hear/see? Is no one else bothered? Meetings are documented for the BOE/SOMSD; broadcasts are for the public. The only way to hold … more ›