FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Paul Brubaker

October 6, 2023 862-272-1609

District Amends School-Sponsored Halloween Celebration Practices

Decision based on past years’ experiences, consulting with principals

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, Superintendent of the South Orange & Maplewood
School District, sent a letter to families today explaining why any Halloween celebrations in the
District this month will have to be held after school hours.

“Each year, questions arise from families, students, and staff about what SOMSD schools will be
doing regarding Halloween,” Taylor wrote. “Is promoting school-sponsored Halloween activities
creating indirect and unintentional financial hardships for students and families? Do school-
sponsored Halloween activities violate the dignity of some of our students and families, either
culturally or religiously? Does the promotion of school-sponsored Halloween activities create
tensions with the equity and access values of SOMSD?”

CLICK HERE for Superintendent Taylor’s letter.

After the District’s administration considered these questions, a survey of school principals was
taken in which they were asked whether school-sponsored Halloween celebrations should
continue, or if different celebrations should be held such as a Fall Festival that would have
student-centered activities that focus more on the season of autumn. The responses from the
principals were overwhelming in favor of discontinuing Halloween celebrations in school.

“All of us realize that this breaks with what the District has usually done, and that can be a
difficult thing to do sometimes,” said Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Assistant Superintendent of Access and
Equity. “Often, working to instill greater equity in our district begins with recognizing that we
cannot do what we have always done. But with this decision, we are taking a step closer to
upholding our community’s access and equity values.”

In his letter, Taylor said that Halloween celebrations could be held at schools as long as they
were held after school hours. He also noted that they could be held in partnership with an
affiliated organization such as schools’ parent-teacher groups.

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