The South Orange/Maplewood Board of Education is one of many stakeholders that impact the experience students have in schools. It sets policy; hires, supervises, and collaborates with the superintendent, approves staff hirings, transfers, terminations etc.; approves curriculum; is responsible for ensuring the quality of facilities and equipment; and approves the budget. The school board can also ask for raises in property taxes (e.g. to fund capital projects), but these hikes must be approved by the Board of School Estimate, which is made up of elected leaders from both towns. The school board is constrained by state and federal legislatures, which determine overall school funding levels as well as setting some policies that override those of local school boards.

Although the school board is responsible for general oversight of the district, it is not permitted to be involved in day-to-day operations and “administer” the district. They supervise the superintendent who, in collaboration with district administrators, is the one responsible for day-to-day management: setting goals for the district, proposing policies for approval, making staffing and curriculum recommendations, developing staff training, etc. Building administrators, such as principals and assistant principals, support teachers/other staff members and respond to families’ complaints. Teachers provide instruction and create a classroom culture where all students are safe, welcome, and able to learn. Community members also play a significant role in students’ experiences, ranging from participating in Parent Teacher Associations that provide enrichment opportunities for students to working as a community to improve school culture and address concerns.

General Academic Achievement and School Climate

Educating students and ensuring that all students thrive is a complex and ongoing task for any school district. Detailed state reporting on academic achievement and school climate is  available here. The district’s goals and progress from last year can be found here and on the district website. The report on goals for the past year should be available in September. In a preview, Superintendent Bing reported that the three major goals for the district upcoming will be student achievement, mental health, and infrastructure (see here, starting at 3:24:00).

Budget Sustainability

Superintendent Bing has repeatedly warned the community that a fiscal cliff is here (presentation starting at 3:05:03 here). Rising costs for utilities, transportation, and healthcare have combined with underfunding from the state, instability in federal funding, and spending down the district’s reserves to create a dire budget picture for the upcoming years. The district has been rebidding contracts; reducing staffing via not filling vacancies, some reductions in force, and cutting underenrolled courses; changing school start times to reduce transportation costs, switching off the state health insurance plan and using one-time measures to close the budget gap for the upcoming school year. In response to advocacy from SOMA Action, district and municipal environmental teams, and CHS students, the district is also accelerating plans for installing solar panels at no cost to the district in order to help reduce energy costs. However, discussions about the budget for the 2027-2028 school year are starting now, and the district has a nearly $9 million gap to close. BOE members will be needing to have difficult discussions about painful cuts on the order of potentially shutting down the administration building and cutting programs. Starting in September, the district will be making available a public dashboard and monthly budget report to provide transparency and enable informed and thoughtful input from the community about what tradeoffs best align with our towns’ values. Superintendent Bing is also encouraging residents to advocate for increased funding from the state.

Integration

SOMA is one of only a handful of stably integrated suburban school districts in the entire NYC metropolitan area. Rail commuters into NYC who want integrated schools for their children are limited to SOMA, Montclair, Hackensack, and half a dozen towns in Westchester County and Long Island out of the over four hundred suburbs surrounding NYC. According to the lead consultant who manages the III, SOMA is not just an integrated district, but may have the highest level of elementary integration in the country (presentation here, 3:03:20). 

SOMSD has maintained its integrated status through a decades long history of intentionally seeking to provide an integrated learning environment for all students, culminating in the current Intentional Integration Initiative (III). The III assigns kindergarteners to schools based on the socio-economic tier of their neighborhood (race is monitored, but not directly used to decide placement), with sibling priority and travel distance taken into account. The III target is for schools to have no more than a 5% variance from the district’s overall demographics for each school. In prior years, the III was used to assign rising 6th graders as well, but that was discontinued for the upcoming school year  The most recent presentation on the III is here (starting at 1:51:23).

The III has created more integrated schools, but it has also received pushback due to students needing to travel to farther away schools, especially with busing problems in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years. There have also been concerns raised regarding racial isolation and student isolation from friends. This past year, the target for student bus times was reduced to 30 minutes, the Alves Group started working directly with the transportation service when assigning students, and the number of students placed at their closest school increased. The district also approved a student transfer policy.

Currently, potential changes are being considered that could include creating a two-zone model (north and south) where students can be assigned only to the three schools in their zone (see presentation and discussion here starting at 2:14:56). Potential changes are also being considered that to  increase the variance by which schools can diverge from district demographics.

Equity

Work is also ongoing to implement recommendations from the 2023 Fergus Equity Audit in order to ensure that students are treated well and thrive within an integrated environment. The report found stark disparities in access to advanced coursework, experience of the school environment, discipline, and academic achievement within schools. Some information on progress is available via the district’s goal tracking (for prior year, current year incoming) and state reporting. Additional information on the district’s current initiatives is available here (new updates should be available soon). There has also been ongoing debate in the community about deleveling classes.

Facilities

Columbia High School is the 17th oldest still-operating high school in the United States, with a building approaching its centennial. Extensive work is being done and continues to need to be done both to it and to other district buildings. In recent years, facility needs have become particularly pressing with the collapse of a ceiling at Maplewood Middle School, rigging issues that rendered the CHS auditorium unsafe, and ongoing student complaints of non-working bathrooms at CHS. Facilities investments are one of the district’s top three priority areas for the upcoming year. There has also been significant convention over proposals to replace the grass on Ritzer field at CHS with artificial turf. After several years of controversy (including multiple prior attempts and related 2021 ballot referendum), the Board of Education voted to turf the field in July 2025. However, the Board of School Estimate, which has to improve bond requests, rejected the proposal citing the estimated $8 million price tag.

Potential Special Education Changes

Recent efforts to rebid contracts resulted in significant pay cuts for paraprofessionals (update here), and renewed calls for a special education advisory committee for the district. Previously, the district has also explored significant changes to the elementary Special Education model, including possibly ending full time inclusion classes (a model where a general education and a special education teacher co-teach their class for the entire day), though those plans were tabled for the 2025-26 school year.

Other Changes

In addition to the areas outlined above, there have been a variety of changes as the district attempts to negotiate budget cuts and optimize instruction and mental health. These include changing to a block schedule at CHS, moving administrators, and requiring enrollment of at least 17 students in order to run a class at the high school. 

Note: these criteria are based on what efforts are active within SOMA Action and allied organizations. Many additional issues are important but are not listed here because we are not actively working on them.

Several SOMA Action committees are working on initiatives relevant to the school district. While many other issues are also important, we limited our evaluation of candidates to areas where SOMA Action is currently doing work. We look forward to adding more initiatives, please join our committees to get involved!

Protect Students from ICE Raids

The New Jersey Department of Education has clear guidelines here supporting the right of students to safely attend school regardless of their education status. Both South Orange and Maplewood are sanctuary cities (though Maplewood does not use the formal name), and town leaders consistently support keeping ICE out. In January, the school district reaffirmed its commitment to supporting immigrant students. SOMA Action is looking for school board members who will actively help organize and protect our school community from ICE. (FAQ on what to do here.)

Protect Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Trump administration has threatened to target educators and withhold federal funding from schools that teach about racism or support trans students. The NJ Department of Education has refused to comply, and so far we are aware of no SOMSD curricular or policy changes. SOMSD also sent a letter to families reiterating its commitment to trans students. The district is supported by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which includes race and gender identity. SOMA Action is looking for school board members who will ensure that our diverse student body is included and welcomed in all schools, classrooms, and curricula even in the face of possible retaliation from the federal government.

Promote Integration and Equity

Tensions around transportation have raised the possibility that the school district’s progress on integration will be rolled back. At the same time, physical integration is only the first step toward ensuring that classrooms are integrated and all students are able to thrive. SOMA Action is looking for school board members who will prioritize integration and also have a deep understanding of the additional steps students need in order for an integrated experience to be a positive one.

Promote Sustainable, Climate Friendly Schools

In the face of worsening storms, heatwaves, and wildfires, SOMA Action believes government leadership on climate is an existential priority. As one of the largest land owners in town and custodians of a $200 million budget, the school board must meet this responsibility by reducing carbon emissions from our buildings and transportation system. SOMA Action seeks a Board that raises the priority of environmental issues in long- and short-term planning.

Maintain Grass Fields and Green Spaces

SOMA Action has long advocated for well-maintained grass fields and green spaces for the reasons outlined in these letters. We are looking for school board members who will support investing in and maintaining grass fields and will oppose covering any more fields with plastic turf.

Reimagine Safety

SOMA Action’s Reimagining Safety committee is working on strengthening the use of restorative practices within the SOMA community, including schools. Part of this involves shifting away from the assumption that the only way to create safety and a good learning environment is to segregate, coerce, and expel students who are acting out. Instead, SOMA Action is looking for school board members who thoroughly understand how to build a safe and positive learning environment using relationships, communication, and creativity.

Provide Inclusive and Effective Leadership

Being a member of the Board of Education is an emotionally challenging role that frequently involves managing conflict and confronting difficult problems. Being able to stay focused on student needs, work with community members even when criticism feels unfair, and find creative solutions that will work are all key skills for governing effectively. SOMA Action is looking for candidates who have demonstrated initiative and a deep understanding of the system they’re working in as well as candidates who are able to manage their own nervous system and stay regulated under pressure. We are furthermore looking for candidates who are able to productively engage with people they disagree with and, in particular, who are skilled at addressing issues involving race.

Contested race. Four candidates are competing for three seats: Liz Callahan and Will Meyer (incumbents), as well as Trish Azeez and Kevin Diaz. Incumbent Shayna Sackett-Gable is not running for reelection.

Joint Appearances:

• Hilton Neighborhood Association Forum - Thursday, Sept 17th at 7:30 (DeHart Community Center)

• Community Coalition on Race Forum - Tuesday, Sept 29 at 7:30 (School Admin Building)

• League of Women Voters - Thursday, Oct 8 at 7:30 (School Admin Building)

Trish Azeez

• Website

• Instagram

• Village Green announcement

• Has not interviewed with SOMA Action

Liz Callahan & Will Meyer

• Website

• Village Green announcement

• Facebook

• Liz Callahan’s SOMA Action interview and transcript

• Will Meyer’s SOMA Action interview and transcript

Kevin Diaz

• Website

• Village Green announcement

• SOMA Action interview and transcript

Coming soon