SOMA BOE: Each Member Shared Their Committee Report at Meeting

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood (SOMA) Board of Education (BOE) members shared committee reports at the July 25 meeting.

Elizabeth Callahan began with the Special Education Committee report. She thanked Sue Ellis and Dr. Kevin Gilbert for all of their help. “We started with a paraprofessional audit update from Dr. Gilbert. Mr. Mullin conducted an internal audit on paraprofessionals this past school year, and he's currently socializing and discussing those findings with principals to compare with their experience and observations in their schools.”

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Callahan stated that the internal audit highlighted growth areas that were consistent with the results of federal monitoring and private audit results, including the need to improve the paraprofessional determination usage and fading processes. “To address this, we discussed a multi-pronged plan that the district will be implementing that includes student-centric strategies like enhancing the INRS [Intervention and Referral Services] systems, increasing teacher training and instructional and social emotional strategies, plus multi-sensory curriculums,” she relayed.

Callahan also mentioned that community forums will be held to explain to residents how the Special Services Department will be improving. It’s handling staff changes. She said that SEPAC (Special Education Parents Advisory Council) members will be attending BOE meetings.

Regina Eckert recapped a Personnel Committee meeting. “We kicked off reviewing the personnel resolution, and Mr. Adedoyin provided more details around the following Marshall building administration coverage for the ’24-’25 school year.” She added, “Earlier this week, as we went through some of the resignations, we discussed exit interviews and some of the challenges in getting them completed, the biggest one being that it's voluntary.”

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Eckert commented that the committee decided that retention is a priority, so the committee will focus on engaging with current employees. She listed some of the positions for which the district is interviewing candidates: “Business Administrator, Columbia High School [CHS] Assistant Principal, Athletic Director, Supervisor of Special Services at CHS, and we are currently wrapping up interviews for the assistant of special services.”

She reported that the committee brainstormed about district goals for the ’24-’25 school year in preparation for the August retreat. “The biggest theme that came up was creating a sense of belonging and fostering relationships for staff members, which, of course, is directly connected to students having a trusted adult they can go to in the schools.”

Eckert also announced that they will be posting “public-friendly” Personnel Committee meeting minutes on the website (as well as for other committees).

President Qawi Telesford spoke about The FFT (Finance Facility Transportation) Committee. “The first thing we discussed was the LRFP [Long Range Facility Plan]. They've begun the process of beginning our next five year outlook.” The committee is speaking to principals about what needs to be done, and they will draft a report in several weeks. Telesford said they also reviewed change orders and determined how to cover costs. Abatements and needing higher pressure water were some of the issues.

Funding will come from the CHS general allowance if the change order is for CHS, and emergency funds for other buildings. The committee checked Seth Boyden’s boiler room, which floods. Delia Bolden has issues with voltage drops. They examined the CHS Auditorium to discuss lighting and rigging. The Auditorium also needs abatement and to be painted.

Telesford reported that vandalism policy 7610 is up for first read. He also shared that Superintendent Jason Bing is in discussion with YMCA to see if there is more availability for aftercare. The committee talked about fundraising as well.

Bill Meyer talked about the Policy Committee. They are updating a statute on “consuming student records” to conform to the most recent statute that was passed in first read last month. He referred to the vandalism policy, too. “We decided to move forward tonight for adoption policy 7610 on vandalism. It has been updated in recommendations from our policy vendor’s estimate to incorporate updates of the statute regarding additional remedies available for individuals who vandalized school property.”

The committee is also updating gender inclusion within academic programs and bathroom use. “Among other things, and adequately representing all of the different protected groups, including ethnicities as well as groups such as persons with disabilities, for whom there are mandated curriculum requirements, and noting that we do have a policy of working to present curriculum for each of those, notably, for those who are reviewing that policy.”

Meyers communicated that the committee is working on objectives for the upcoming school year. “We're looking at expanding the scope of the committee to also have a specific look at actual governance and looking at best procedures for our board, which is a trend right now that other boards are taking on.” He added that they are developing a “formal cadence” for reviewing the entire policy manual, not just items that have come up for review.

Shayna Sackett-Gable gave the CNI (Curriculum and Instruction)

Committee update, “Ms. Bodner and Dr. Correa shared [pass, fail and no credit] data, which I shared with the full board. It showed that the district saw a 20% decrease in the number of classes failed.” The district believes the decrease can be credited to the administration team using data every two weeks to figure out the top six reasons students weren't passing classes, and checking in with the students.

Sackett-Gable spoke of LinkIt software that supports the administrators’ ability to look more deeply into trends. “There was a big drop in the number of no credits received this past school year. For comparison, about 3,300 students had issues with no credit, receiving no credit in the ’22-’23 school year, while this year there were about 730, and 325 were cleared.” The district attributes that to more efficient systems put into place for coding absences and monitoring students’ progress throughout the year with software called Ingenuity. Saturday sessions were offered mid-year as well as time during exam days.

She also said the committee wants to develop a goal that can be driven by student outcomes. “There was a lot of positive energy around centering a goal around MTSS [Multi-Tier System of Support] providing strong, tiered support could hit many aspects of our districts, such as K5 math, Freshman Academy, social emotional learning supports and even lowering the failing rates and more.”

Sackett-Gable spoke of the Anti Bullying Bill of Rights Act, for which there's an opportunity to receive state and federal funding to support the district's anti bullying efforts through a resolution. “The money will be spent on Professional Development and community building. Board member First VP, Duvall-Wilson will work with Shannon Cuddle, former board member and Bullying Task Force Chairperson, on the resolution template based on best practices from other districts, and we'll share with the full board.”

She concluded with technology. Excel has replaced Star Renaissance with a cost savings, and LinkIt is now finalized. “We discussed the Title 1 status, [which] Clinton qualifies for. This is the last year for Maplewood Middle School to have the Title 1 designation,” Sackett-Gable said, adding, “The district is determining how best to use resources to provide support to students.”

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