Superintendent

Uvalde School Tragedy: Message from Superintendent Taylor

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Good Morning South Orange & Maplewood School District Community,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this morning.  The senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX stole the lives of 19 students and I believe we all woke up this morning feeling more burdened and saddened at yet another school tragedy inflicted by gun violence.    Please know this morning resources and talking scripts were shared with our staff members so that they are able to help students process this tragedy.  In addition our school social workers and counselors are on hand to offer support to students and staff who are struggling today and will be available to offer support in the coming days.

As a District, we want to assure families that the safety and security of our students and school facilities is always our top priority. We continue to work in partnership with our Board of Education and local police departments to  improve our safety practices and protocols.  Below is a list of resources that may help aid you in how to speak and support children in the aftermath of school violence.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s School Counselor or Principal if you feel further assistance is needed. Thank you.

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools

Virtual Instruction for All Students Effective 2/16/21

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Dear SOMSD Community,

We are in receipt of SOMEA’s email indicating that they are once again refusing to report to the school buildings. As per the Community Reopening Update of only a few hours ago, the District was making progress in its Phase 3 reopening with no evidence of in-school transmission. We felt that the Sidebar Agreement with SOMEA was working as intended. Notably, the initial walkthroughs resulted in agreement on numerous classrooms as being fit for use. Ultimately, it appears that disagreement over 34 workspaces, more than a dozen of which were brought to our attention as recently as Saturday, has led to this reaction. We are disappointed that our Phased reopening plan has again been disrupted. As we will lack the faculty necessary to staff the buildings, the District will resume virtual-only instruction indefinitely pending discussion with SOMEA’s representatives and consultation with our labor counsel as to remedies that will facilitate the resumption of our hybrid reopening plan. Central office employees will also work virtually.

The South Orange & Maplewood District

Superintendent’s Reopening Update to Families, July 31, 2020: Taskforce Updates, New Learning Management System, Canvas; Return to School Instructional Model Options; Back to School Planning

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July 31, 2020

Dear Parents / Guardians, Students, and Community Members,

I hope this correspondence finds you and your family well.  I am writing to follow up on my letter to the community from July 15 (bit.ly/3j8ivQw) and to share a few updates on our Reopening efforts. 

As we continue to work on finalizing our district’s Reopening Plan, please know that we are committed to adhering to behaviors that prevent the spread of COVID-19.   Our goal is for all students to be in school as much as possible while preserving the safety of all students and staff in the school environment.  However, our plans are guided by the provisions of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) which reflect recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and are informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.   To note, cloth face coverings for students and staff will be an important part of our plan as well as six-feet social distancing, hand hygiene, and regular cleaning and disinfecting of buildings and classrooms.  

Also, creating a plan for a situation that may shift is very challenging.   Therefore, in order to best prepare the community for what the future may hold, the final Reopening Plan that we share with the community will be fluid and will change as necessary based on guidance from the state, CDC, and considerations to our students, staff, families and community. We obviously don’t want to have a COVID-19 case at one of our schools in the fall but it is a possibility, and we will be ready to react if and when it happens.

In this correspondence, I will:

  • Provide updates on the work that the Reopening Taskforce has been engaged in;
  • Provide updates on the instructional model options that we will be providing to families;
  • Share information on a “Return to School Preference” form which will be sent to families early next week;
  • Share information on the new learning management system, Canvas that will be used starting in fall 2020 to support all virtual instruction;
  • Share the important “Back to School Preparation Checklist” for families.

These continue to be very challenging and unpredictable times, but we will get through this together! Thank you for your partnership and we will be sending more detailed information on our scheduling framework in addition to our district’s Reopening Plan shortly.

Please feel free to email any feedback or concerns to: info@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us.

Educationally Yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

Superintendent of Schools

Reopening Taskforce Updates:

As shared in our July 15 communication, to engage multiple voices and perspectives in our planning process, we established the SOMSD Rethink-Reopen Taskforce to weigh state recommendations, identify reopening strategies across the world, identify community concerns and needs, and to make realistic recommendations for reopening. The Taskforce is composed of 14 sub-committees and consists of over 100 members of our District community.  The District continues to monitor updates from the NJ Department of Education as information is released and as we get closer to school reopening. Below are key updates:

  • The District is in compliance with the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) timeline for local Reopen Plan completion (one-month before schools reopen);
  • The Taskforce continues to meet Tuesday’s and Thursday’s with a final review of the draft plan set for Tuesday, August 4;
  • The return models being recommended will address students’ developmental and learning needs;
  • The District has purchased a new virtual learning platform (more information is below) and the first stage of training on this platform is scheduled for next week.;
  • Each district school has established a pandemic response team to monitor implementation of the district’s Reopen Plan;
  • Dr. Taylor continues to obtain feedback on plan specifics from key stakeholder groups among them:
    • Multiple virtual meetings have been held with the BOE members to review and discuss the draft Reopening Plan
    • Parental Voices:  The first parent panel focus group with the Superintendent and Parenting Center was held on 7/29 with parents/guardians and key learnings and insights were brought back to the Taskforce; a follow-up meeting will be held on August 5; multiple meetings have also been held with the President’s Councils and PTA, as well as other stakeholder groups in the past two weeks to hear concerns and address questions that parents have.
    • The return to school survey for families was sent out to all District families on July 7, 2020; 5,454 responses were collected between July 7 - 24. 
    • Student Voices: The return to school survey for students was sent to all CHS students and middle school students and their parents/guardians on July 16;  1,496 responses were collected between July 16 - 24.
  • A more user-friendly  School Reopening and COVID-19 Information microsite is being developed to help families/staff/students find information more easily and will be launched when the Reopening Plan is shared with the community.

Instructional Learning Options:

First, we know that school will look different and many families are apprehensive about sending their children back to school during this pandemic. Knowing this, we will be offering options for instruction for all students.  

As per the recent state guidelines, we are providing two instruction options for families. Parents will have the option of choosing between an all-virtual or hybrid instruction for their child(ren).  Special Services instruction summary is also provided.

  • Option 1:  Virtual Instruction (online/remote):
    • Selecting this option means your child will learn at home. Virtual instruction will be provided online via the District’s new learning management system, ‘Canvas.’ Students will be provided virtual lessons with teachers and classmates, as well as self-paced activities, projects, and assignments. Daily attendance will be taken and students will have a full course-load of instruction.  Teachers will use Canvas to provide distance learning for students.
  • Option 2: Hybrid Instruction (combination in-person/online):
    • Selecting this option means your child will attend school in person two* days per week on an alternating schedule and will learn from home virtually using Canvas during the remainder of the week. This will allow for much smaller class sizes to meet the social distancing requirements. Students would be assigned specific days to attend each week. SOMSD will make every effort to schedule students from the same family on the same days.  In both hybrid and virtual learning models, your child will have access to live support and conferring sessions with SOMSD instructors.

*Due to the complexity of high school master scheduling and our desire to continue offering our CHS students the robust and diverse course offerings that have made Columbia a unique institution, we are considering modified methodologies.  More details will follow with the District’s Reopening Plan.

  • Special Education Information:
    • Special Education programming will be based on each child’s IEP and may entail supplemental and extended programming. IEP’s will be implemented to the greatest extent possible.  The focus on IEP implementation is to provide as many in-person opportunities as possible for our most vulnerable students. The Special Services plans address both in-person/virtual models.
      • In addition to the scheduling considerations in the Elementary, Middle, and High School level, students with the highest IEP needs will be provided additional in-person instruction, as feasible
      • Related Services (Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies as well as paraprofessional supports) will be provided virtually and in person, as scheduling allows
      • Evidence-based Reading (EBR) will continue to be provided virtually and in person, as scheduling allows

Return to School Preference Form for Families:

To best prepare for your child, early next week the District will send via email, a Return-to-School Preference form to all families.  This form needs to be filled out for each child that will attend school for the 2020-2021 school year to indicate your choice for each child’s instruction. This will help us with our staffing needs and instructional planning.

Canvas Learning Management System: 

At the July 2020 Board of Education meeting, the District approved the purchase of a new Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas. Canvas will be used by all students and teachers in the South Orange Maplewood School District. Using the new LMS, students will be able to interact during classes, actively engage in assignments, take quizzes, collaborate with peers, communicate with teachers, and more.

All courses will be housed in Canvas. This includes core content, as well as electives and specialized courses. This will enable us to shift to fully virtual instruction if additional school closures are required. Canvas will be for every student, every day regardless of their selected mode of instruction. Face-to-face students will participate in blended learning through the system while fully remote students will be able to access all coursework. Teachers will be able to host their lessons through district-provided web conferencing platforms (Cisco WebEx, Google Meets, etc.) and house them in Canvas as well as document attendance, assignments and all communication to students and parents. Canvas offers one location for parents to check student's work and associated grades. Many of the online resources that our teachers use are compatible with Canvas, seamlessly integrating with the platform. 

In the coming weeks, more information will be provided about the District's journey launching Canvas and the next steps for families. Please take a moment to watch this brief video regarding Canvas: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2GMkW7OPQE

Back to School Preparation Checklist for Families

Below are some actions to take or things to consider from our District nurses and the CDC to help you prepare your children to take care of themselves and others if you choose the hybrid model (which includes in-person instruction) for back to school.  

Checklist
Face Masks
  • Begin to create face coverings/masks endurance with your children. Model proper wearing of face covering: make sure it covers your nose and mouth, keep hands away from face. To remove, stretch ear loops/strings forward and hold by loops/strings, then fold outside corners together.  Clean your hands after removing face covering.
  • Have multiple cloth face coverings so you can wash them daily and have back-ups ready (if possible, at minimum have at least 2 reusable face masks ready for your child for back to school)
  • Label your child’s cloth face covering clearly in permanent marker so that they are not confused with those of other children
  • Find reusable/washable face coverings that your child is comfortable wearing and gradually build up the amount of time they can tolerate wearing them (especially for our younger students). 
  • Begin conversations with your children, explain the importance of masks and how it protects others from getting sick
  • Consider talking to your children about other people who may not be able to wear cloth face coverings for medical reasons
  • If you have young children, help build their comfort wearing a cloth face covering and become comfortable seeing others in face covers. Consider drawing pictures of people with face coverings as well as putting face coverings on stuffed toys, dolls, and action figures.
  • As always, remind your child to sneeze or cough into a sleeve or elbow, even when wearing a face covering.
Thermometer 

at home
  • If possible, please ensure that you have a working thermometer in your home
  • If this is a hardship, please email Karen Weiland at kweiland@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us Please include your name and phone number and we will contact you with details.
  • Please note that the definition of a fever is 100 F according to NJDOH and CDC guidelines for schools.  If your child has a fever of 100 or greater, your child should not come to school.
Personal Supplies/Hand hygiene
  • Consider having personal supplies of hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol-based) and a packet of tissues included in your child’s bookbag.
  • Practice hand hygiene:  wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds: remember wrists and thumbs! If washing with soap and water is not possible, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/wipes.
Six-feet Social Distancing
  • Practice social distancing.  An outstretched pool noodle is a great visual for what six feet looks like.
  • Practice ways of greeting and feeling connected with thumbs up or waving instead of high-fives.

We are also including a PDF attachment of the CDC’s, “Back to School Planning for In-Person Classes” checklist.  It includes additional actions to take and points to consider regarding mental health & social-emotional well-being, ensuring your child(ren)’s information including emergency contacts are updated/current, reinforcing concepts of social distancing, transportation considerations and more.

Joint Message from SOMSD Concerning Social Justice Crisis Sweeping Across our Country

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On behalf of the South Orange & Maplewood School District Board of Education, Superintendent Taylor, and Administration, the following message is a reflection on the social justice crisis sweeping across our country.

“In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.”
― Toni Morrison

We as community educational leaders are compelled to reiterate our commitment to Equity. However, we must first acknowledge the pain, anger and angst that so many in our district, community and society are currently experiencing. We must not be fearful to make space in our conversations around the genesis of the conflict and uprisings that we are experiencing. We must be intentional. We cannot turn a blind eye to the scourge of racism and bigotry in our country and how its legacy is compounding. Exponentially compounding, not just singular atrocities that reduce people of color to hashtags, but the hard to describe micro-aggressions, privilege, embedded prejudice and intolerance that is a part of our daily lives.

Now is the time to have conversations with our children and communities.  We must discuss not only the images we see on our televisions and social media but more importantly, the complex truth behind the outrage and how it is connected to all of us.   Below are some resources to help in your discussions with your children and/or community.

Also, we are very proud of our commitment to anti-bias, anti-racist, and culturally inclusive education to all we serve.  The district has demonstrated this commitment most recently through our:

  • Deliberate thoughtful progress with regards to our Intentional Integration Initiative (III);
  • Partnership with Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), for both educator professional development and student counseling in support of equity for our LGBTQ+ community;
  • Restorative Practices & Equity centered job-embedded professional development for our educators, in partnership with renown scholarly experts on this topic; and,
  • Recently approved curriculum revisions to 39 (and counting) curriculum guides, that include connections to the New Jersey Amistad Commission and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.

We are proud to be a part of a progressive diverse community where being an advocate and an upstander is widely accepted as the norm.  We are proud to have a positive relationship with our community Police partners. We need each other now more than ever. Please know that your school district is committed to providing our students with an education that prepares the next generation to lead us to a future that not only acknowledges our differences with empathy and dignity but embraces our diversity as the strength that has the power to truly transform our society.

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor

South Orange & Maplewood School District, Board of Education

Teacher Appreciation Week: A Thank You from Superintendent Taylor

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“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ― W.B. Yeats

May 5, 2020

SOMSD Staff,

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day (Week)! As we celebrate this annual acknowledgment of the individuals in our society who have chosen as a profession one of the most important, challenging, and satisfying undertakings ever known, please allow me to say ‘Thank you’. Whether you teach Pre-K or AP Chemistry, being a great teacher is an important, challenging, and satisfying role.

The importance of our profession does not just rest solely on the academic outcomes and skill mastery that we are held accountable for. What is truly important is that our students may be profoundly impacted by not just our formal lessons, but by literally every word that comes out of our mouths on any single day. When we remember our teachers, we often remember the toughest ones…the most challenging. The importance of those tough (but fair) instructors was most likely not the lesson’s content but the overall expectations. We learned about our own personal capacity for excellence. We learned that grit and tenacity resided inside of us. This is not only important, but it is also life-changing!

The challenge of being a great teacher lies in the effort we put forward as we always yearn for the ‘perfect lesson’. The lesson that is differentiated, to engage all learners, with their variety of learning styles and outside interests. The lesson that is equitable and culturally competent, yet fun and captivating. The lesson that has rigor and common sense fair evaluations of its effectiveness. The challenge of that perfect lesson lies in the fact that its attainment only makes you strive to replicate it for the next 5 hours of the day!

The satisfaction that we experience when the perfect lesson is executed is euphoric! We see that our lesson plans, curriculum, and PLCs were not just adhered to as a mandate by our supervisors, but these tools truly link to how we TEACH! For neophyte teachers in our profession, this is satisfaction;  for seasoned educators, we know that true unmatched satisfaction comes from our students when they return to us years later as fully formed human beings who actually remember ‘us’! Euphoria is knowing that ‘we’ contributed to this ‘person’. That is the true ‘Teacher Appreciation’ moment.

Please know that you are valued and appreciated by your Board of Education, Superintendent, School Leadership Team, Principals, and District Administration Team. We know, as research tells us, the most important variable linked to the success of a student is an excellent teacher. Our current distance learning circumstances are no different, and our students need you more than ever.

Though it may be challenging, continue to push forward, because we understand that the work we do is even more important during these times. Wishing you and your families well, be safe!  Onward and upward…

Educationally yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor,

Superintendent of Schools

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SOMSD Schools Closed Indefinitely – Distance Learning to Continue Until Further Notice

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April 7, 2020

Dear SOMSD Community,

Thank you for your support and all that you have done and continue to do as our District has shifted into distance learning.

As of, Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Governor Phil Murphy has ordered the closure of all NJ schools indefinitely. While we initially anticipated the tentative reopening of schools in our district on April 20 (this was based on previous updates from the Governor’s office); all schools will now operate virtually until further notice.

We will proceed with our distance learning methodology and keep you abreast through our communication platforms, regarding any academic or operational updates. As we head into Spring break, we hope that staff, families, and students are able to receive some respite and return somewhat refreshed mentally and emotionally as we continue with distance learning on Monday, April 20.

If you would like to email us closure-related questions please use: info@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us. Also, please visit our district COVID site for additional resources for families on mental health resources.

Again, thank you for your continued flexibility and cooperation during this unprecedented time.

Educationally Yours,

Dr. Ronald G. Taylor
Superintendent of Schools

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