Superintendent's Corner
Dear SOMSD Families,
I’d like to share the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) data presentation from our October 21 Board of Education meeting (please click here to view). While standardized exam results are only one benchmark that we use to evaluate our student achievement progress, they are an important tool to inform our classroom instruction. In compliance with New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) mandates, the purpose of the presentation was to share with the public and Board our district’s spring 2019 NJLSA data, including grade year-to-year comparisons, multi-year comparisons for single class years, and subgroup comparisons.
Yours in education,
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor
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| SOMSD teachers participated in a day of professional development training hosted by the Curriculum & Instruction department at Clinton School on November 5. | Teachers working on a group project at the November 5, professional development training led by the Curriculum & Instruction department. | Teachers attending professional development training with members from the Curriculum & Instruction team. |
Teachers working on a group project at the November 5, professional development training led by the Curriculum & Instruction department.
Special Services Update
What is I&RS / PIRT?
The South Orange & Maplewood School district’s effort to foster a positive home-school connection is demonstrated through the implementation of the Intervention and Referral Services process, known as I&RS or PIRT (Preschool Intervention and Referral).
The importance of a strong partnership between schools and families to educate children is a critical component of a child’s education, particularly in today’s complex and demanding global society. Neither educators nor parents are afforded the time to get to know one another and to establish a mutually supportive relationship on behalf of children. To this end, each school has established one or more I&RS or PIRT Teams.
I&RS or PIRT is a school based problem-solving team for general education students intended as a primary way in which general education teachers or specialists can assist a student who is at-risk within the general education environment. Read more.
Dr. Laura Morana, Interim Assistant Superintendent Special Services
Human Resources Update
SOMSD Utilizes Danielson Framework to Evaluate Teachers
Consistent with New Jersey Department of Education’s requirements for the hiring and employment of staff members, the South Orange & Maplewood Board of Education operates in compliance with the state Department of Education’s New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) by fulfilling the six required indicators:
- Evaluation of staff (includes summative evaluation scores using an approved evaluation instrument);
- Professional learning of staff (includes professional development plan);
- Provisional certification of staff (includes mentoring and standard certification attainment);
- Staffing practices (includes criminal history clearance, physical exams, personnel file maintenance);
- Position control roster (includes base salary, position type, status, stipends, tracking #) and;
- Supervision and feedback (Includes employee evaluation and goal setting).
The South Orange & Maplewood School District (SOMSD) uses the state and SOMSD board-approved Danielson Framework for Teaching in the annual evaluation of staff. The Framework for Teaching is a common language for instructional practice that is grounded in a philosophical approach to and understanding of great teaching and the nature of learning. The Framework was developed not only to define great teaching and elevate the profession but also to outline a comprehensive approach to teacher professional learning across the career continuum – from pre-service teacher preparation through teacher leadership (The Danielson Group).
Dr. Gayle Carrick, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Administration
Technology Update
SOMSD Goes Mobile, NJLSA Scores Added to Portal and PowerSchool Sign-Up for Parents
Our school district will begin using SchoolMessenger to deliver text messages to staff and parent mobile devices. In addition to robocalls and email notifications, text messages will now be used to send information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more.
In order to begin receiving text message notifications from the district, all staff and parents must opt-in to messaging services. Over the next few weeks (and throughout the remainder of the school year) the district will begin sending opt-in text messages to the phone numbers that we have on file for all parties.
- Recipients can opt-in by responding “Y” (or “Yes”), via to the opt-in message
- Recipients can opt-out by responding “STOP” or by visiting http://schoolmessenger.com/txtmsg
In order to communicate with you through SchoolMessenger, it is important that we have the most up-to-date contact information available for all parties. Therefore, for parents, if you have not yet completed the annual online parent portal forms, we are requesting you do so as soon as possible.
Additionally, all staff members are asked to communicate any telephone number changes to the Human Resources department using the “Change staff contact information” form found on the Human Resources website.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
The district continues to collect vital forms from SOMSD families in the Annual Welcome Packet on the PowerSchool parent portal. These forms provide the district with family contact information, student health information, and a range of important permissions and agreements. In addition, the portal allows parents/guardians to view student grades and attendance.
For a step-by-step guide on how to set up your PowerSchool parent portal account and access online forms, please visit the Parent Portal Help page.
All families are encouraged to sign up and complete these crucial online forms if they have not yet done so.
NJSLA Score Reports Added to the Parent Portal
In addition to NJSLA score reports being mailed home, scores are now available through the SOMSD parent portal. Emails and robocalls were broadcast during the week of November 4th, providing instructions on how to access the scores.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the parent portal help desk:
parentportalhelp@somsd.k12.nj.us
Mr. Keith Bonds, Director of Technology
Facilities Update
Long Range Facility Plan (LRFP) Project
Schematic design reviews were conducted with all elementary school principals. Next steps include staff surveys to determine classroom interiors such as whiteboards furniture, cabinetry, etc. Additionally engineers will begin surveying school sites to determine if geothermal heating / cooling is a viable option.
Varsity Baseball Field Renovations
Work began to repair the district’s varsity baseball field on October 25. Repairs are expected to occur over a three-year period with the first phase of the project focusing on removing the lip between the infield and the outfield, which will help water to drain off of the field effectively. Additional work entails leveling and grading the outfield, which currently contains a number of depressions so that the outfield can be seeded and aerated.
Future plans include adding grass to the infield, replacing back stops, repairing bleachers and placing gravel in the visitor seating area.
Mr. Paul Roth, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary
The School District of South Orange and Maplewood
