Media Releases

December 2022

• Board of Education Approves the Hiring of Directors of Curriculum & Instruction (Zoila Correa), Human Resources (Tunde Adedoyin) and Access & Equity (Kerri Weibel) for SOMSD (12/16/22)

November 2022

• South Orange Middle School (SOMS) the First School in Essex County to Attain River-Friendly Certification (10//27/22)

October 2022

• Fifteen Columbia High School (CHS) Students Awarded with Academic Honors from College Board National Recognition Programs (10/14/22)

September 2022

• Columbia High School Senior, Reeves, Named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists; Twenty-one CHS Seniors Named Commended Students (9/22/23)

August 2022

• Long-Time SOMSD Staff, Ann Bodnar Appointed as New SOMSD Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction Effective Immediately (8/30/22)

June 2022

• Jefferson Elementary School Renamed to Delia Bolden Elementary School (7/1/22)
• CHS Hall of Fame Committee Announces Four New Inductees Into the 2022 Hall of Fame:  CHS Ultimate Frisbee Founders, Bernard “Buzzy” Hellring, Jr. (CHS ‘70), Joel Silver (CHS ‘70)  and Jonathan H. “Jonny” Hines (CHS ‘70); and former Vogue, Editor-in-Chief, Grace Mirabella (CHS ‘46) to Join the Hall of Fame (6/7/22)

May 2022

• SOMSD Earns 2022 Best Community for Music Education Designation for Another Year from the National Association of Music Merchants - NAMM (5/4/22)

April 2022

• Columbia High School Ranked Among the Top 100 Best High Schools in NJ in the US News & World Report Ranking (4/27/22)

March 2022

• SOMSD Board of Education Reaches Agreement in Principle with Teachers’ Union, SOMEA (3/25/22)
• Media Advisory:  SOMSD to Hold Monumental Groundbreaking Ceremony at South Mountain Elementary School Annex on Monday, March 28 (3/24/22)
• Media Advisory: South Mountain Elementary School Ground Breaking Ceremony to take place on March 22 (3/17/22)
• SOMSD Announces Finalists in 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program:  Ten Columbia High Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists (3/15/22)

February 2022

• CHS Junior, Lindsey Minor, Wins 3rd Place @ 2022 NJSIAA Fencing Competition (2/18/22)

October 2021

• District Statement Regarding Allegation of Discrimination (10/7/21)

August 2021

• BOE President, Joshua Thair Releases Statement on New Contract for Superintendent, Dr. Ronald G. Taylor (August 27, 2021)
• SOMSD Launches Atlas, First-Ever Public-Facing Website for the District’s K-12 Curriculum (August 10, 2021)

July 2021:

• Five Candidates Submit Materials to Fill SOMSD Board of Education Vacancy Seat (July 12, 2021)

June 2021:

• South Orange & Maplewood School District Partners with the Kean University Scholar Academy to Offer Dual-Enrollment Program to Students (June 17, 2021)

May 2021:

• The South Orange & Maplewood School District along with the Township of Maplewood and the Village of South Orange to honor local LGBTQIA+ and allied High School Graduating Seniors from 2021 and the class of 2020 (May 13, 2021)

April 2021:

• CHS Named One of the Most Influential Public High Schools by Academic Influence (April 28, 2021)

March 2021:

• Cougars Varsity Girls Basketball Team named Essex County Team of the Year and Coach Keegan named Coach of the Year (March 24, 2021)
• SOMSD Grade 6 & 9 Students to Return for Hybrid In-Person Learning (March 16, 2021)
• Columbia High Announces 108 Students from the Class of 2022 for National Honor Society Induction (March 11, 2021)

February 2021:

• South Orange & Maplewood School District Hopes For A Positive Outcome in SOMEA Disagreement (February 19, 2021)