JUNE SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE

From the South Orange Maplewood School District website:

Board of Education Update

The Board meeting is available to view on demand.
Superintendent Brian G. Osborne updated the Board and the community on Progress towards District Goals. Highlights included pilots of 1 to 1 computing across the district, professional development around racial and gender discipline gap, new 8^th to 9^th Grade Transition Night, and construction plans for Columbia High School and the Montrose Early Learning Center. 

The board meeting agenda included discussion of:

• Stakeholder Satisfaction SurveyStakeholder Satisfaction Survey 
• Capital Plan – CHS7
• District Goals 2014-2015 – 2016-201

The Board honored students and staff for significant accomplishments during Board Recognitions. The Board also recognized the many contributions Dr. Brian Osborne has made during his seven year tenure in SOMSD.

In addition Assemblywoman Mila Jasey presented a special proclamation on behalf of the New Jersey State Legislature commending the CHS Girls’ Track Team. 

The next meeting of the Board of Education will take place on Monday, July 21, 2014 in the District Meeting Room at 525 Academy Street in Maplewood.

PAJAMA STORY TIME TONIGHT

Pajama Storytime

Ages 2 - 10 * Drop In

Tues 6/24 @ 7pm - Hilton Branch

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

BURGLARIES AND THEFTS MARK POLICE WEEK: LOCK THAT CAR DOOR

From Maplewood Police today:

June 16, 2014; Burglary; During the daytime hour entry was made into a home on Jacoby St.  Documents and a video gaming system were reported stolen.
 
June 16, 2014; Theft from Auto; An unlocked vehicle parked at a residence on Jefferson Ave was entered and the vehicle manual was reported missing.
 
June 17, 2014; Trespass; During the overnight hours multiple unlocked vehicles on Durand Rd were entered, but nothing was reported missing. 
 
June 15, 2014; Burglary; During the late afternoon/ early evening hours an apartment on Chancellor Ave was entered and a television stolen.
 
June 20, 2014; Bicycle Theft; Between 6-8 PM a bicycle was stolen from the Maplewood Pool.
 
June 22, 2014; Theft; At approximately 815 PM a pedestrian was approached by three males in their late teens or early 20s.  The pedestrian felt that they wanted his wallet and handed them cash.  The group then walked away.  The victim was not threatened or injured.

FORMER SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE FILES COMPLAINT ALLEGING IMPROPER PROCEDURES

South Orange Maplewood Schools are facing a complaint filed with the Department of Education by a former speech counselor that contends the district did not follow state-mandated policy when dealing with some disabled students.

Among the findings, the district did not communicate properly with the former employee with regard to some procedures and "did not consistently conduct multidisciplinary initial evaluations" of some students and did not "consistently obtain parental consent" for such evaluations. 

See the complaint and results of the state review HERE.

The district has declined to comment and is required to prepare a response to the complaint within a set timeline.

We will update when that response is filed.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUT DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO LATE?

As if you didn't know, today is the last day of school, and only  half-day at that.

It seems that the last day gets later and later and as many parents know, there are students skipping these two days for summer camps and vacations, that is how late it is.

It would seem there could be a way to move it up and start school earlier. A look ahead at next year's calendar finds we do start sooner, on Sept. 4 and 5, but end on the same date, June 24.

School board, let's take a look.

In honor of the last day, a little Alice Cooper......

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL THREAT PROMPTS PRINCIPAL LETTER

From Columbia High School Principal Kirk Smith tonight:

Good Day Parents,

Shortly before dismissal I was made aware of an unsubstantiated comment involving a threat to staff members at CHS.  

This comment was very vague and most likely not real.  However; in today's world I must take comments very seriously.  

I am currently working with the Maplewood Police Department to make the last two school days safe for students and staff.  I deeply regret that this matter has occurred given the great school year that we have had.  Thank you.

Kirk E. Smith
Principal
Columbia High School
"Home of the Cougars"

MAPLEWOOD GREEN DRINKS TONIGHT

FARMER'S MARKET TODAY

Farmer's Market is on today as usual from 2 p.m. to 7 pm. at Indiana and Springfield avenues.

Stop by and take home some freshness.