SOMSD School Reopening Updates

Click here for all updates regarding the District's return to in-person instruction.

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A District That Celebrates

Tuscan

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

New! Dates for Virtual to Hybrid Change of Request

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Please see below for revised dates to the instructional request changes for families who wish to change their preference from virtual to hybrid. Parent/guardian request for changes should follow the deadlines and request format below:

  1. Monday, February 22, 2021: Parent/guardians must submit change requests to their building principals/administrators (you must provide your child’s name, teacher, and ID #). Please note all requests are based on space capacity.
  2. Starting the week of March 8: Students approved for a change request will begin hybrid instruction

Transportation Request Forms for Return to School: Requests Due Tuesday, January 12

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Dear SOMSD Families,

With the return of in-person instruction scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the district wants to remind you that if your student(s) is eligible for transportation to their school you must submit a Transportation Request Form to the Transportation Department by Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

If the Transportation Request Form is not submitted to the Transportation Department by January 12, 2021, the district cannot guarantee transportation will be available for your student on Tuesday, January 19th.

Please submit the completed application via the options listed below:

  1. Email:  Fill out and sign the transportation request form and scan or take a photo on your phone and email to:  Tammy Talmadge, ttalmadg@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us
  2. Fax:  Fill out and sign the transportation request form and fax to SOMSD business office:  973-378-9310
  3. Mail:  South Orange & Maplewood School District | 25 W. Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040

If you do not receive a 2020-2021 bus pass by Tuesday, January 19, 2021, do not place your student on the bus your child would be assigned to. The bus drivers are instructed to verify that students have bus passes for the current school year. Until you receive a 2020-2021 bus pass you will have to transport your student to school.n

If you need a copy of the 2020-2021 Transportation Request Form please click the link here to access the form:  http://bit.ly/3s5bSDd

Thank you for your cooperation.

SOMSD Pre-Recorded Return to School Town Hall WebEx Ready to View

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Superintendent, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, District administrators, and other key experts share updates regarding facilities, hybrid and virtual scheduling details for January 2021, health & safety, technology, special services and provide an overview to help parents make an informed decision for their child(ren's) January 2021 return to school.

Click here to:

You can follow the video in full or watch key areas of interest by following the timestamps found below the video:

 

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00    Introduction & Overview (Dr. Ronald G. Taylor)
  • 1:13    Reminder:  What Returning to School Will Look Like (from 8/8 Restart & Recovery Plan)
  • 17:30   School Closure Guidelines
  • 19:11   Key Considerations
  • 27:30   HVAC & Facilities Update (Paul)
  • 33:55   Health & Safety Update  (Julie Porter)
  • 45:44   Special Services Update (Dr. Melody Alegria)
  • 53:40   Technology Update (Keith Bonds)
  • 1:08:42 Staffing Update (Stacey Robinson)
  • 1:10:43 Scheduling Updates (Dr. Matt Friedman, Leroy Johnson, Ann Bodnar and Frank Sanchez)
  • 1:11:36 Instructional Models: Hybrid vs. Virtual
  • 1:19:07 Preschool Program
  • 1:22:34 Elementary Schools
  • 1:25:14 Middle Schools
  • 1:25:50 CHS
  • 1:35:20 Closing (FAQs, Upcoming Deadlines) - Dr. Ronald Taylor

Additional Information:

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