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Parent asks district to allow opt‑out from Mickey Fried pre‑K site after event at Temple Oheb Shalom
Summary
During public comment a parent urged the district to let pre‑K applicants decline placement at the Mickey Fried Preschool site at Temple Oheb Shalom, citing a January event at the temple and the temple’s display of an Israeli flag; the statement requested district notice to applicants and provided contact instructions.
A parent who said she is a former PTA president at Tuscan School urged the South Orange–Maplewood School District on March 13 to offer an opt‑out for pre‑K applicants who do not want placement at the Mickey Fried Preschool site located at Temple Oheb Shalom.
"On 01/26/2025, Temple Oheb Shalom hosted a celebratory event with an Israeli soldier who was active in Gaza during the ongoing genocide of Palestinians," the parent, Carrie, said while reading a prepared statement. She added, "The temple also displays a large Israeli flag on the building, a political symbol utilized by a country as it currently commits war crimes." She said some community members do not want their children placed at the Oheb Shalom site because of that event and symbolism.
Carrie asked the district to officially notify pre‑K applicants about an option to decline placement at Mickey Fried and to provide an alternative pre‑K site without penalty. She said the district had previously assured parents that families who declined the Oheb Shalom placement would not lose their spot in the pre‑K program and that an alternative placement would be arranged. She directed families to email prekinfo@somsd.k12.nj.us and to CC Superintendent Jason Bing if they wished to request an alternative.
The statement recounted several named child victims of violence in Gaza as part of the appeal and framed the request as one of student safety and equity for families who feel vulnerable. No district official provided an on‑the‑record response during public comment; the parents’ request was recorded for board consideration as part of public input.
The board then moved on to the action portion of the agenda and later voted to submit the preliminary budget to the county. The public comment period was limited by policy and the board president reminded speakers of the three‑minute time limit for each speaker.
