JULY 2026
PUBLIC STATEMENT:
Transition of Paraprofessional Staffing Vendors and Communication Clarifications
The following statement was submitted on 7/31/26 on behalf of SEPAC SOMA to SOMSD Superintendent Jason Bing, Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Gesumaria, and the members of the SOMSD Board of Education.
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee South Orange Maplewood (SEPAC SOMA) issues this public statement to clarify our advisory role, address recent statements of SEPAC’s conduct, and express our deep concerns regarding the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s (SOMSD) decision to terminate its contract with Educational Support Services (ESS) and transition to Delta-T via the Mercer County Special Services School District Cooperative.
1. SEPAC’s Independence and Exclusion from Vendor Decisions
SEPAC SOMA is an independent, volunteer parent advisory group. We advise district leadership on systemic issues affecting special education; we do not participate in personnel hiring, vendor selection, or operational contracting. Those decisions rest solely with SOMSD administration and the Board of Education.
While the administration previously noted it was exploring alternative outsourced options, SEPAC was neither consulted nor informed about the plan to reject existing bids or select a vendor offering significantly reduced paraprofessional wages ($20–$22 per hour). Furthermore, we were not part of the conversation about these workers being classified as 1099 independent contractors – a classification that prevents them from accessing unemployment benefits during non-contractual hours while increasing their taxes, compounding the pay drop.
Like the broader community, we learned of the rejected bids at the June 11 Board of Education meeting and first heard of the lower wage rates on June 17 via social media. The district only confirmed the transition to Delta-T to SEPAC on June 18.
2. Addressing Allegations Regarding Leadership Meetings
We must also address claims made to Board members and community members regarding a meeting where SEPAC board members were allegedly disrespectful to Superintendent Bing and Assistant Superintendent Gesumaria, causing them to leave early.
SEPAC SOMA believes in accountability and mutual respect. As SEPAC Board President Verna Holcomb stated at the July 30, 2026 BOE meeting:
“We in SEPAC apologize when we find ourselves having made a mistake. We value our relationships with everyone in the district—our students, our teachers, our paraprofessionals, our staff, the administration, and the board—and will do our best to nurture those relationships so that we can best serve our community. We hope that every member of the board and the administration will do the same.”
While President Holcomb’s words reinforce our commitment to taking responsibility when an error occurs, to our knowledge, the incident described by Superintendent Bing never took place.
It is imperative that we establish the facts of this matter. We respectfully ask Superintendent Bing to provide specific details regarding when and where this alleged meeting occurred. If an error or misunderstanding did happen on our part, we will readily acknowledge it; however, factual details must be provided before SEPAC can assess the situation or determine if an apology is warranted.
3. Student Welfare, Staff Stability, and FAPE
Paraprofessionals are vital to the safety, inclusion, and academic success of our students. However, constant wage shifts and scheduling disruptions severely undermine staff stability. Coming on the heels of last year’s reclassifications from Paraprofessional II to Paraprofessional I, this current vendor shift raises urgent questions about SOMSD’s ability to recruit and retain qualified staff.
For students with disabilities, consistency is not a luxury—it is essential to accessing a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). A familiar, trusted paraprofessional understands a child’s unique sensory, behavioral, and communication needs. Ensuring fair compensation and respect for these professionals is directly tied to maintaining predictable, safe classroom environments.
4. Communication Responsibilities
Proactive, accurate, and transparent communication regarding district staffing and services is the sole responsibility of the SOMSD administration and Board of Education. While SEPAC frequently shares official district updates with our community after they are published, we do not initiate central administrative communications, nor should we be expected to relay operational changes after the fact.
Our Commitment
SEPAC SOMA remains steadfast in advocating for transparency, robust family engagement, and the fundamental rights of students with disabilities. We urge district leadership to prioritize classroom stability and ensure our support staff are fairly compensated. We look forward to working with you toward these goals.
We encourage parents and caregivers seeking to get involved to attend upcoming SEPAC meetings, connect with their school’s SEPAC liaison, or reach out to us directly with systemic concerns to bring to the administration’s attention.
SEPAC SOMA 