March 26, 2026 - Regular Session

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Dates: 
Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 6:30pm
BOARD OF EDUCATION
School District of South Orange Maplewood
525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Thursday, March 26, 2026 6:30 pm
In-Person and Using online video conference platform
(The instructions are placed at the end of the agenda)
  
  1.  ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
  1.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  1.  NOTICE OF THE MEETING:  Please take notice that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner:
 
  1. That written notice was sent from the Office of the Secretary of the Board at 7:58 a.m. on January 6, 2026.
  2. That said notice was sent via email to Maplewood and South Orange Township Clerks and the Editors of the News Record, Star-Ledger, TapintoSOMA, and the Village Green.               
  1.  EXECUTIVE SESSION:
 
WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-11, permits the Board of Education to meet in closed executive session to discuss certain matters, and
 
WHEREAS, the length of the Executive Session is estimated to be seventy-five (75) minutes after which the public meeting of the Board shall (select one) □ reconvene and immediately adjourn or X reconvene and proceed with business where formal action will be taken, now, therefore be it
 
RESOLVED: The Board of Education adjourns to closed session to discuss personnel, legal, and miscellaneous confidential matters.  Be it further
 
RESOLVED:  The minutes of this closed session will be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.
 
 
  1. SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE:
  •  Rutger’s Equity Audit Update
  1. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE:
  •  
  1.  FIRST HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS AND DELEGATIONS:
 
            Public participation in board meetings is governed by Policy 0167.  The
first public comment period may be limited to 60 minutes.  Statements are limited to three (3) minutes, except that if it appears public comments may exceed 60 minutes, statements may be limited to two (2) minutes.  (Instructions for remote participation can be found below.)
 
  1.  ACTION ON BOARD RESOLUTIONS
4934
Approve:  A) Retirements; B) Resignations; C) Leave Replacement Appointment; D) Change in Start Date; E) Change in End Date; F) Leaves of Absence; G) Stipend; H) Rescind Stipend; I) Title I Stipend Payments; J) Salary Adjustments
4935
Approve:  A) Appointment of Substitute Teachers for the 25/26 SY at $175/Day; B) Appointment of Substitute Nurses for the 25/26 SY at $215/Day; C) Appointment of Out of District Coaches for the 25/26 SY; D) Rescind Appointment of Out of District Coaches for the 25/26 SY
4936
Approve:  25/26 SY Out of District Placements
4937
Approve:  A) Financial Reports; B) Board of Education’s Monthly Certification; C) Attendance and Work Related Travel and/or Workshop Expenses; D) Use of Vendors; E) Amend Resolution #4920E to Approve Affiliation Agreement w/ Teacher’s College, Columbia University; F) Clinical Affiliation Agreement w/ Seton Hall University; G) Submit and Accept Carry Over Unexpended FY 2025 Federal Individuals w/ Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Part-B Basic and Preschool Funds; H) Accept State Nonpublic Auxiliary and Handicapped Services (Chapters 192 & 193) Entitlement for 2025-26; I) Accept Donation to Parenting Center; J) Renew Towing Agreement w/ Essex County Towing; K) Authorize Insurance Coverage for District Clubs, Parent Organizations, and PTAs; L) Authorize Disposal of District Property; M) Procurement Consulting Agreement; N) Additional Contract Extension with Epic Management, INC. for Construction Management Services; O) Accept Donation to Columbia High School Orchestra Program
4938
Approve:  Transfer or Removal of Non-Domiciled Students
  1. Student ID#2414736248             
  2. Student ID# 4237508051
4939
Approve:  Affirmation, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Investigations for the Month of February 2026
4940
Abolish and/or Adopt Board Policy/Regulations - 2nd Read
 
  1. Policy 0142.1 Nepotism
  2. Policy 2422 Statutory Curricular Requirements
  3. Policy 5111 Eligibility of Resident-NonResident Students
  4. Policy 9163 Spectator Code of Conduct for Interscholastic Events
  5. Regulation 2535 Library Materials
  6. Regulation 5530 Substance Abuse
4941
Abolish and Adopt Board:  Policy/Regulations - 1st Read
 
  • Policy 1220 Employment of Superintendent
 
4942
Approve:  South Orange–Maplewood Board Of Education Resolution Acceptance Of Sidebar Agreement With The South Orange–Maplewood Education Association
4943
Approve:  Resolution Recognizing International Transgender Day of Visibility
4944
Approve:  Discontinuation of Courtesy Transportation For Non-Remote Students Beginning The 2026–2027 School Year
4945
Approve:  South Orange Maplewood Board of Education Resolution Approving Sidebar Agreement Freshman Academy Program
 
  1.  SECOND HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS AND DELEGATIONS
 
            Public participation in board meetings is governed by Policy 0167.  The
second public comment period may be limited to 30 minutes.  Statements are limited to three (3) minutes, except that if it appears public comments may exceed 30 minutes, statements may be limited to two (2) minutes.  (Instructions for remote participation can be found below.)
  1. NEW BUSINESS
  1.  FUTURE MEETINGS
 
The Board of Education will meet in Public Session on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 6:30 pm in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ.  Immediately following the opening of Public Session, the board will move to go into a Closed Session in the Superintendent’s Office, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ, as well as using an online video conference platform to discuss personnel, matters within the attorney-client privilege, legal, negotiations, and other matters that may arise and require discussion, to be announced at a later date.  Immediately following the Closed Session, the Board of Education will meet in Public Session (estimated to be 7:30 pm) in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ in person, utilizing an online video conference platform which will include Hearing of Individuals.  The community can view the meeting by following the steps which will be listed on the agenda. If there are members of the community who would like to attend the meeting in person, please note that masks and social distancing are optional in accordance with the guidance received from the local DOH and the CDC. Action will be taken.
  1.  ADJOURNMENT
 

JOIN OUR BOARD MEETING REMOTELY
 
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Choose one of three options:

Board of Education Meeting

Date: March 26, 2026 | Time: 6:30 PM

Quick Join Details

  • Webex Link: Click Here to Join
  • Event Number: 2333 022 8025
  • Event Password: Orange20Maple
  • Join by Phone: 408-418-9388 (US Toll)

How to Participate in Public Comment

If you would like to address the Board during the Hearings of Individuals and Delegations, please follow these three steps:

Step 1: Register to Speak

To be added to the speaker list, you must complete the signup form prior to the start of the session:

Step 2: Set Up Webex

Ensure your device is ready by installing the Webex app in advance:

Step 3: Connect and Comment

  • Join the meeting using the WebEx meeting links above to enter the virtual room.
  • Stay Ready: When it is your turn to speak, the moderator will unmute your microphone.
  • Deliver Your Message: Speak clearly into your microphone or headset. Once your allotted time has concluded, your microphone will be muted to allow the next speaker to begin.

Note: For the best experience, we recommend joining via a stable Wi-Fi connection and using a headset to minimize background noise.
 
 
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