South Mountain Annex
Superintendent’s Message: SOMSD School Reopening Postponed to January 19th
DOWNLOAD LETTER: Superintendent’s Update: School Reopening Postponed to January 19
Dear SOMSD Family,
We hope this correspondence finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. As we shared late last week, a facility walkthrough and review of some of our schools resulted in some concerning discoveries as it relates to our ventilation upgrades.
We were unable to provide more specificity at the time because a detailed investigation of the concerns was needed. After a thorough review, our investigation revealed that while much work towards our reopening was completed (removal of carpet, installation of hand sanitizer stations, mitigation signage, plexiglass installation, etc.) an important component was not completed despite having been verified as successfully finalized. We are aware that sharing this information may create additional concerns among our staff/families, however, in this case, we believe transparency is vital in earning our community’s confidence. We are unable to provide details related to personnel matters; however, please know that we hold our administration to the highest level of accountability and integrity, as we view ourselves as servant leaders to our community. We also preface this message by acknowledging responsibility in our chain of command including oversight that ultimately ends with me as the Chief School Administrator/Superintendent of Schools.
Specifically, during our October 19, Board of Education meeting, after verification from our Facilities Department lead, we shared that our univents (unit-ventilation boxes in each classroom) had been updated with filters with a Merv 16 rating. Unfortunately, our extensive inspection and investigation revealed that this was simply not true. Filters were not installed as had been reported throughout all District classrooms. In fact, the vendor was not contacted until after verification paperwork was submitted to the District. In order to prepare for students/staff to return to our buildings, every uninvent (approximately 1000) will need to be reviewed and reassessed to ensure all units have been updated; additionally, the univents are only capable of using a filter with a maximum Merv 8 rating.
We have had extensive conversations with our vendor and have been informed that the filters are inexpensive and can be quickly installed once received. However, as you can imagine, the filters that we seek are in great demand. Our vendor believes we can complete our project, which also includes repairing motors and blowers in each univent as needed, in between six-to-eight weeks. Please remember that the repair/replacement of our HVAC systems is a part of our planned district-wide construction improvement project.
To that end, the estimated timing of this work resets our potential reopening, which will now take place on approximately January 19. The preparation timeline for this reopening will also include action steps that ensure increased monitoring and communication of our progress. Given the upcoming holidays and the difficulties many are facing (and will face due to staff quarantines), this date also allows for personal quarantining for any in our school community who travel for the winter break without the need for substitutes and the accompanying disruption to educational services.
We will also be closing our return to school parental survey and relaunching it at a date closer to our opening (prior to winter break). All parents will have the opportunity to resubmit their hybrid/virtual preference at a time much closer to our reopening. Additionally, our Academic Town Hall events will be rescheduled to December.
As we have stated repeatedly, the health and safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we are prepared to be nimble during a time that is more fluid than ever. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Educationally yours
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
2020-2021 Free & Reduced Lunch Applications Now Available & Due October 20th (English, Spanish, Creole)
- Click here to complete the 2020-21 Free & Reduce Lunch Application
- Clique AQUÍ para completar la solicitud para comida escolar gratis o a precio reducido
- Klike la a pou konplete aplikasyon pou manje midi gratis ak pri redwi 2020-21
2020-2021 Free & Reduced Price School Meal Applications Now Available & Due by October 20
The 2020-2021 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals is a family/ household application. Therefore, only one application per household needs to be completed and submitted. This year’s application must be submitted by October 20.
A new application must be completed and submitted before October 20, 2020. If you qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the 2019-2020 school year, your child’s benefits will continue only until October 20, 2020, or upon processing a new application. A new application must be completed each school year.
In order for Food Services to process your application as quickly as possible, please return only one application per household to the Administration Building. Applications are available in English and Spanish. Click HERE to complete the 2020-21 Free & Reduced Price Lunch Application.
Ways to Submit Applications:
- Mail-in: Download the application from the website and mail it to the Administration Building, Attn: Attn: Business Office, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (faxed applications will not be accepted)
- Fill out Application Online: https://f-r-lunch.
somsd.k12.nj.us/ - Pick-Up: Families can pick-up paper applications at Columbia High School or Seth Boyden Elementary from 12pm – 2:15 pm during Grab and Go lunch pick-ups
Solicitudes para Comida Escolar gratis y a precio reducido 2020-2021 están ahora disponibles y se han de entregar antes del 20 de octubre.
Las solicitudes para comida escolar gratis y a precio reducido del 2020-2021 son una solicitud por familia/hogar. Por lo tanto, solo se ha de cumplimentar y entregar una solicitud por hogar. La solicitud de este año debe enviarse antes del 20 de octubre.
Se ha de completar y entregar una nueva solicitud antes del 20 de octubre, 2020. Si usted calificó para comidas gratis o a precio reducido en el año escolar 2019-2020, los beneficios de su hijo sólo continúan hasta el 20 de octubre, 2020, o al procesar una nueva solicitud. Debe completarse una nueva aplicación cada año escolar.
Para que los Servicios de Alimentación procesen su solicitud lo más pronto posible, por favor envíe sólo una solicitud por hogar al edificio de Administración. Las solicitudes están disponibles en inglés y español. Clique AQUÍ para completar la solicitud para comida escolar gratis o a precio reducido.
Formas de presentar las solicitudes:
- Por correo postal: descargue la solicitud de la página web y envíela por correo postal a Administration Building, Attn: Attn: Business Office, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (no se aceptarán solicitudes enviadas por fax)
- Complete la solicitud en línea https://f-r-lunch.somsd.k12.nj.us/
- En persona: se pueden conseguir solicitudes en papel en Columbia High School o Seth Boyden Elementary de 12 del mediodía a 2:15 de la tarde durante la hora de recogida de almuerzos “Grab and Go”
2020-2021 Gratis & Pri Redwi Aplikasyon pou manje lekòl la kounye a disponib & dwe remet 20 oktòb
Aplikasyon 2020-2021 pou manje gratis ak pri redui se yon aplikasyon fanmi / kay. Se poutèt sa, se yon sèl aplikasyon pou chak kay ou bezwen ranpli epi soumèt. Aplikasyon pou ane sa a dwe soumèt a pati 20 oktòb.
Ou dwe ranpli yon nouvo aplikasyon epi soumèt li anvan 20 oktòb 2020. Si ou kalifye pou repa gratis oswa a pri redui pandan ane lekòl 2019-2020 la, benefis pitit ou a ap kontinye sèlman jouk 20 oktòb 2020, oswa lè w ap trete yon nouvo aplikasyon. . Ou dwe ranpli yon nouvo aplikasyon chak ane lekòl.
Nan lòd pou Sèvis treteman aplikasyon ou pi vit ke posib, tanpri retounen yon sèl aplikasyon pou chak kay nan Bilding Administrasyon an. Aplikasyon yo disponib nan lang angle ak panyòl. Klike la a pou konplete aplikasyon pou manje midi gratis ak pri redwi 2020-21.
Fason pou soumèt aplikasyon yo:
- Posté: telechaje aplikasyon an sou sit entènèt la epi poste li nan bilding administrasyon an, Attn: Attn: Biwo Biznis, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ (aplikasyon ke ou faks yo pap aksepte yo)
- Ranpli Aplikasyon sou Entènèt: https://f-r-lunch.somsd.k12.nj.us/
- Al Chèche: Fanmi yo ka al chèche aplikasyon an papye nan Columbia High School oswa Seth Boyden Elementary soti nan 12pm – 2:15 pm pandan nap ale ak pran manje midi.
Fall 2020 Food Support Programs: Updated Pick-Up Times for SOMSD Grab and Go Lunches (Spanish/Creole Translations incl.)
Parenting Center – Crisis Support Series: SCREEN TIME & SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE PANDEMIC
THE PARENTING CENTER AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTAs PRESENT:
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL/ACADEMIC CRISIS SUPPORT SPEAKER SERIES
SCREEN TIME & SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE PANDEMIC
Thursday, October 8, 2020 | 7:30pm – 9pm
JOIN WEBEX MEETING:
- https://somsd.webex.com/somsd/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6b1c3cd123037be656c7f7b2a9f30827
- Event #: 173 983 1858 | Event PW: epVsPnKd47
JOIN BY PHONE:
- Call-in #: 408-418-9388
- Event ID: 173 983 1858 Event PW: 37877653
SOMSD Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month
The South Orange & Maplewood School District celebrates the positive impact that Hispanic Americans have left on our country. We especially want to recognize and celebrate all of our staff, students, and community members of Hispanic/Latin ancestry.
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America," according to the official government website. It takes place from September 15-October 15 every year.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. In Presidential Proclamation 3869, available via the Library of Congress, President Johnson wrote, “Wishing to pay special tribute to the Hispanic tradition, and having in mind the fact that our five Central American neighbors celebrate their Independence Day on the fifteenth of September and the Republic of Mexico on the sixteenth, the Congress by House Joint Resolution 1299, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.”
The observation was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.