Maplewood Teachers' Union And Schools Reach Agreement

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After months of teacher contract negotiations, the South Orange and Maplewood Board of Education reached an agreement in principle with the teacher’s union on early Friday morning, said a district spokesperson.

If approved, the new contract runs from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024. It's subject to ratification by SOMEA and approval by the Board of Education.

According to Board President Thair Joshua, “After 14 hours of negotiations, the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education is pleased to announce we have reached an agreement in principle on a three-year contract with the South Orange Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA).”

As one of the next steps in the process, SOMEA will bring the agreement to their members for ratification. If the majority of SOMEA members vote yes, the final agreement will be presented to the Board of Education for a vote and approval at an upcoming board meeting.

"We are grateful to the participants of both negotiation teams for their focused efforts to bring this settlement together,” says Superintendent Ronald Taylor.

In regards to sharing specifics of the agreement, Board President Joshua stated, “Until members vote, it’s our practice to respect the process and not share details until they’ve had the opportunity to make a decision."

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood serves more than 7,200 students in 10 schools, including one early-childhood center, six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.

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