In Unity and Solidarity,

 

 

Dear SOMEA,

 

Please complete the following survey ASAP:

 

 

In Unity and Solidarity,

 

#IAMSOMEA

 

Dear SOMEA,

 

We are hereby sharing the results of the most recent Middle School walkthroughs conducted by our Reps. High school walkthroughs are being conducted this week. Reports will be shared once they are available. Additionally, please find the recent court order attached. There will be a follow-up court hearing on April 19. We will continue to share updates as we necessary.

 

 

In Unity and Solidarity,

 

#IAMSOMEA

 

Dear SOMEA members,

 

 

 

Following the hearing today, March 16, before the Honorable Jodi Lee Alper, Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division, Essex County, Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, the association is pleased with the results and looks forward to a safe return. In the decision, it was affirmed that the association’s actions to remain remote did not count as a strike, and indeed, Jude Alper agreed with SOMEA that its members “are working harder than ever.” In addition to denying the district’s requests for injunctive relief, the Court ordered the district to “assign classrooms to sixth and ninth grade teachers” based on SOMEA’s determination of fit classrooms following its walkthroughs, and that district comply with the terms of its Sidebar Agreement with SOMEA. The association’s members look forward to seeing their students and colleagues.

 

“This is a win for the association, the community, and the district,” said SOMEA President Rocio Lopez. “This has never been about a challenge to the district; this was about having our concerns and ideas heard, respected, and able to put into action so that schools could open safely.”

 

 

In Unity and Solidarity,

 

Dear SOMEA,

 

We are hereby sharing the results of the walkthroughs conducted by our Reps.

 

 

 

 

In Unity and Solidarity,

 

Dear SOMEA members,

 

Today SOMEA met with the membership of seven buildings to address our current action. We will meet with our remaining building members tomorrow. We are announcing that, amidst the continuing walkthroughs of our Elementary workspaces, Kindergarten through 2nd grade teachers will return to the buildings for the hybrid in-person instruction on Monday, March 15, 2021. We are committed to fulfilling the terms of our Sidebar Agreement, as we work towards our phased return. Your health and safety remain our top priority.

 

In Unity and Solidarity,

 

Dear SOMEA members,

 

 

The members of the South Orange-Maplewood Education Association (SOMEA) pride ourselves on building up the communities where we work and live. We are friendly to our neighbors, who come from around the world to live in South Orange-Maplewood, recognizing that progress, innovation, acceptance, and collegiality are hallmarks of our community. With the pandemic, our community has been tested as we strive together to keep this community’s students safe, healthy and learning during this challenging time.

 

SOMEA President Lopez ACCOSTED

 

Unfortunately, a member of the community, who felt emboldened and hateful in an already difficult situation, accosted and verbally abused a SOMEA member in public, yesterday, March 10. While SOMEA President Rocio Lopez was receiving her second vaccine, she was accosted by someone who identified themselves as a parent. The parent verbally abused Ms. Lopez, accusing her of stalling the return to schools and calling her a bad communicator. All SOMEA’s communications are shared via written text. This clearly is another example of xenophobia. It is what many strong women in leadership roles whose second language happens to be English, like Ms. Lopez, must endure. Enough!

This public and unprompted attack was uncalled for and unacceptable. But to add a personal attack with bigoted undertones is even more shameful and damaging. That a parent or community member felt emboldened to make these statements and take those actions, especially in public, is outrageous. We are better than this and must work to ensure a community free from stigma and its ugly expressions. 

 

The members of the South Orange-Maplewood Education Association have been adamant that the schools that students and staff return to are safe and that there is a sustainable plan to keep them that way. Neither the administration and board of education, nor the members of SOMEA, have ever lived or worked through a pandemic of this magnitude, nor have members of our community. Tempers are high and emotions are fragile, but we have one priority—safe schools. Life is so precious, and we do not want to needlessly risk a single student, a single staff member, any of the families, and the community. 

 

As stakeholders responsible for teaching youth the tenets of restorative practices, we model respect for and openness to hear divergent opinions. We strive to become schools which value the efforts needed to achieve social justice. We – district, board, parents, community and union – must not allow our disagreements to contribute towards creating an environment that harbors hate and bitterness.

 

In Unity and Solidarity,