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South Orange-Maplewood School District board meeting, Aug 27, 2026

4 h 24 min · 12 public speakers

Budget cuts and layoffs ▶ 1:35:12

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 4 h 24 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

School board approves consent agenda by unanimous vote 4:09:03

  • The executive county school business administrator for Essex County gave a presentation on the school budget process. 1:11:47
  • Several speakers at public comment raised concerns about the district's transition to a new paraprofessional vendor, including training, retention, pay and communication with families. 2:43:47
  • The board amended Policy 2260 to add language on instruction on the Holocaust and genocides by a unanimous show of hands, then approved the consent agenda unanimously. 4:16:08

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Item by item (15)
  1. Opening, executive session and minutes 0:00
    • The board moved into executive session at 6:34 PM to discuss personnel, attorney-client privilege and other matters excluded by the Sunshine Act. 1:09
    • The board returned to public session at 7:42 PM and took up minutes from the board retreat, executive session and regular meeting from July 30th, 2026. 1:10:09
  2. County presentation on school budgets 1:11:06
    • The executive county school business administrator said districts may raise the tax levy up to 2% over the prior year plus eligible adjustments and have until March to submit a budget. 1:13:07
    • Paul Stephan asked whether there are limits on how money from a second question can be spent, and the presenter said such questions must be approved by the county office and fund something above and beyond current spending. 1:34:30
    • Meredith Higgins asked what resource board members should use to understand what taxpayers can handle, and the presenter said the business administrator can calculate the cost per household. 1:37:30
  3. Family survey results presentation 1:39:12
    • The assistant superintendent reported over 373 total respondents, with 89% agreeing their child adjusted well and about 81% satisfied with their placement. 1:39:12
    • Elizabeth Callahan asked for the top three priorities from the feedback, and the staff member named communication about the program's goals, communication about the transfer and hardship policy, and the experience of families farthest from their school. 2:03:26
    • Meredith Higgins asked about strategies to get more representation in future surveys, and the staff member said the district would look at going to libraries, churches and house parties. 2:05:51
  4. Superintendent's report 2:10:18
    • A district staff member said the district intends to block AI tools for the '26-'27 school year, K-12, that a smartphone ban goes into effect starting in September and that universal breakfast will start in September. 2:10:21
    • Elizabeth Callahan asked for an update on custodial services, and the staff member said the vendor is moving to a 1-week pay schedule starting, the staff member believed, in September. 2:21:04
    • Paul Stephan asked about plans for universal design for learning and professional development for classroom teachers. 2:23:18
  5. Business administrator update 2:29:29
    • The business administrator reported three emergency boiler projects and said a quote of $319,000 was secured to replace all 3 boilers before the October 15th statutory deadline. 2:29:40
    • Paul Stephan encouraged the district to consider heat pumps as an alternative to boilers in the future. 2:34:54
  6. Board remarks on the school year 2:35:32
    • William Meyer said draft '26-'27 board goals were included in the agenda for public review, with a vote anticipated at the September meeting. 2:41:29
  7. Public comment 2:35:32
    • Several speakers at public comment raised concerns about the paraprofessional transition, including whether paraprofessionals had completed required training and whether experienced paraprofessionals would return. 2:43:47
    • A speaker said paraprofessional pay remained at $20 to $22 per hour and that the arrangement was stated to save approximately $1.8 million annually. 2:50:17
    • Speakers also asked the district to communicate about the transition to general education families. 3:06:46
  8. Finance, facilities and technology committee 3:18:49
    • Malini Nayar reported that some summer projects were not yet complete and that the district plans to bring the field and auditorium projects to a board vote in September. 3:19:22
    • Malini Nayar said the projects would be presented separately with one bond request. 3:22:06
    • One board member requested that the auditorium and field projects be brought up as separate votes. 3:24:40
  9. Special services committee and paraprofessional transition 3:25:38
    • Elizabeth Callahan reported that 218 paraprofessionals had been hired for 184 positions and that the committee developed an oversight dashboard to be reviewed monthly. 3:25:42
    • Malini Nayar asked about the status of training and the district's plan if problems arise in the first weeks. 3:32:39
    • A staff member said returning paraprofessionals would have priority and the top of the scale, $22, and that parents could expect a response within 24 hours. 3:36:53
  10. Student and family affairs committee 3:41:25
    • The committee report said the district is reviewing the cost implications of a possible different model for the intentional integration initiative, such as a 2-zone model. 3:42:13
    • The report said the district is prioritizing pre-K enrollment spots for students who are free and reduced lunch eligible and multilingual. 3:43:26
  11. Personnel committee 3:41:25
    • Meredith Higgins said the committee did not meet in person this month and reviewed a folder of reports instead. 3:46:54
    • Meredith Higgins reported that as of August 25th there were 6 vacancies and 10 leave replacements, some of which were filled through tonight's resolutions. 3:47:32
  12. Rutgers implementation committee 3:50:00
    • The committee report said the official letter ending the settlement has been signed and the work will continue through the district's affirmative action team and comprehensive equity plan. 3:50:28
    • Meredith Higgins asked whether roles listed as TBD on the affirmative action team have been filled, and a staff member said an answer would be provided. 3:55:51
  13. Curriculum and policy committee reports 3:56:42
    • Shayna Sackett-Gable reported that upcoming curriculum additions will include state-mandated updates for civics, climate and handwriting. 3:58:47
    • Paul Stephan said Policy 5460 on graduation requirements returned to first read after a change on the seal of biliteracy. 3:59:51
    • On Policy 2260, one board member proposed requiring gender-neutral facilities rather than whenever possible, and another board member said a phrase from the statute on genocide was missing. 4:02:19
  14. Consent agenda and policy amendment 4:09:03
    • The consent agenda included Resolutions 5006 through 5013, covering personnel, financials, policies and other items. 4:09:03
    • Meredith Higgins moved to amend Policy 2260, and the language was revised to state that the curriculum shall include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides. 4:10:38
    • The consent agenda included a donation of artwork valued at $159,000 to be exhibited in the Columbia High School library and commons. 4:17:39
    • The amendment passed by a unanimous show of hands, and the consent agenda was approved unanimously on a roll call. 4:16:53
  15. Hand-carried resolutions and adjournment 4:19:35
    • The board took up Resolutions 5014 and 5015 overturning student removal for non-residency and 5016 rejecting an appeal of a hazardous route determination. 4:21:38
    • William Meyer said the next public session is September 24th at 6:30 PM. 4:23:38
    • The resolutions passed by unanimous vote, and the board adjourned at 10:56 PM. 4:22:59

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Board of Education Meeting - Public Session - 8/27/26”