2018-2019
2019 Diversity Job Fair
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Columbia High School – Cougar Café
17 Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ 07040
To pre-register, please go to: www.applitrack.com/somsd/onlineapp
Complete and submit the Job Fair Quick Form which can
be found under External Applicants by April 12, 2019.
The South Orange and Maplewood School District is committed to building a
teaching and administrative staff reflective of the rich racial, cultural and
linguistic diversity of our students. We are recruiting educators from diverse
backgrounds who share our commitment to an inclusive culture where
students and staff can thrive!
Middle School Math Course Selection – Parent Info Nights
South Orange Middle School Presents Hello Dolly!
South Orange Middle School is proud to present Hello Dolly! Please click here to view the show flyer!
2019 Extended School Year – Letter To Parents
Please click here for the ESY registration letter and form.
Is it hard to believe how quickly the end of the school year is approaching and we have been quite busy planning for ESY
2019. The District’s ESY Program will provide additional time for students, beyond the school year, to help sustain and
develop their academic and social skills. Students will be exposed to language arts, mathematics and social skills
instruction. Unlike previous years, social skills will be a critical component of the program for all participating students.
An extension of related services, as stipulated in the student’s IEP, will be provided.
The ESY Program will be in session from June 27, 2019 – August 8, 2019 Monday through Friday
We encourage every parent/guardian who is considering ESY for their child to register early written confirmation for us
to be able to secure staff and transportation services.
The academic portion of the program will focus on mathematics and reading skills as stipulated in students’ IEPS.
Students in the autism program will continue to follow their individually designed programs incorporating specialized
strategies. Furthermore, the District’s ESY Program will incorporate a social skills curriculum. Instruction will be
supported by the use of online resources proven to be effective in strengthening reading skill development. Progress
reports will be shared with parents at the end of the program.
Our special education teachers may not work during our ESY Program, so it is likely that your child may not have the
same teacher as his/her classroom teacher from the 2018-2019 school year.
Kindly complete the attached Extended School Year Application 2019 and return it to your child’s teacher, no later than
Friday, March 22, 2019.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to your child’s case manager.
Update on the Superintendent Search Process
At the November 2018 meeting of the Board of Education, Elizabeth Baker, President of the Board of Education, provided an update on the Superintendent Search, including an overview of the Search Criteria which have been developed, with community input, in the following areas:
- Leadership
- Management/Operations
- Curriculum & Instruction
- Human Resources
- Community Engagement
The full PowerPoint, including search criteria and timelines, is available here.
The Board anticipates beginning interviews in January. Ms. Baker will continue to keep the community informed of the progress of the Search.
* * * * *
At the October 2018 meeting of the Board of Education, Elizabeth Baker, President of the Board of Education, provided an update on the Superintendent Search. Search Consultant Dr. William Librera met with many different constituents and constituent groups, and hundreds of community members completed the survey, to identify the skills and qualities which are most important for SOMSD’s next Superintendent. Dr. Librera has compiled all this feedback into a report the the Board, which will be used to help create a leadership profile.
* * * * *
In August 2018, the SOMSD Board of Education launched the search for our District’s next Superintendent, and hired Dr. William Librera of West Hudson Associates as the Superintendent Search Consultant to assist in the search process.
The Board chose Dr. Librera based on his expertise as an educational leader, and his two decades of experience as a search consultant, both nationally and within the state of New Jersey. Dr. Librera is a former NJ Commissioner of Education and served as Principal of Columbia High School from 1980-1983, before serving as Superintendent of four different school districts, including Montclair.
Over the next several months, the Board plans to engage in the following search process to hire a Superintendent:
September-October 2018: Development of a Candidate Profile, utilizing inputs from community, parent, and staff. The Board plans to finalize the profile and search criteria by the end of October, and share with the community.
November 2018: Place Advertising for Superintendent position in key publications and outlets.
Winter 2018-2019: Candidate Screening and Interviews, including reviewing resumes, screening and narrowing candidate pool, and conducting interviews of candidates.
Spring 2019: Final Selection of a Superintendent, including reference checks, community engagement and final selection. The Board’s goal is to appoint a new superintendent in Spring 2019.
The Board invites stakeholders to share your input to help the Board define the ideal candidate profile. In order to hear from a wide range of community members, three methods of soliciting input are being utilized:
- An online survey that will remain open through October 11. You can access the survey online by clicking here or via the link on the flyer below.
- Open community meetings, facilitated by Dr. Librera. Please see the flyer below for details.
- Forums for District staff and Columbia High School students to provide input, facilitated by Dr. Librera.
Please consider providing your input, digitally and/or in person. The SOMSD Board of Education looks forward to engaging with the public as it fulfills its most important role – hiring the next Superintendent. The Board will continue to report on the search process as it proceeds.
