[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6689913,"mediaKeyId","2292424-ee1b80d4f1304c0c3b1fd60c8dba94aa","parentId",2292424,"title","Teachers, staff and residents press board to rescind health-benefit change; motion filed but no recorded vote","audioSeconds",3580,"startMs",1950274,"endMs",5530965,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2292424-ee1b80d4f1304c0c3b1fd60c8dba94aa&start=1950&end=5530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2292424-ee1b80d4f1304c0c3b1fd60c8dba94aa/thumbnail_1950274.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6689913/New-Jersey/Teachers-staff-and-residents-press-board-to-rescind-health-benefit-change-motion-filed-but-no-recorded-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689913-552d8b8a8307c222f0535dc217838d1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110860&Signature=R3XFMHr7bsINH7l9SPi4JgYMKcCI6n0rssX9Ml2KyeFJVirgj3fNBv~tLv6DmQDBNzve1VDugq4gRV4J0MiWuVqngFgg53RgQhISr~4IZyjbaHRnpg0XczNrdmr46XTLT8Di6ZhmlN006V4qtZ0QKsIGfokp7s5-je2~4wS0I8HWeLUGaRZHeh6iweRuLL-nO2Xq9Pm2gw-J7djj55F7-AEEU29bDiMde-Issrl7djQUvf8aJSGV5N7XofP45zj-Uoev6bGlt3l38MQR0dNqlekeuOifVSD1X6Q~uic04fgz99qahpeyZo0R1DLKK65eZQejHk8VJYJY9WtGDzK1Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Garfield Public School District","date","2025-02-13T02:12:55.69Z","article","Teachers, medical professionals, union representatives and residents urged the Garfield Board of Education Feb. 12 to rescind a January resolution (item 10.26) that would change the district's employee health insurance. A motion to rescind was put on the table and seconded, but the provided transcript does not record a final vote.

Michael Backo, grievance chair and AFT New Jersey vice president, told the board the union had asked whether the board would rescind its prior action on item 10.26. \"Was that email just fluff or actually going to be a man of your word?\" he asked, referring to a message board leaders had sent promising to postpone any change pending further discussion.

Doctors and staff described clinical and access concerns with the insurer the board had identified as a replacement. \"The Aetna plans that have been presented are not the same or better,\" said Dr. Dominic D'Agostino, who identified himself as a physician in Garfield and said he treats district employees. He added that many specialists are out of network with Aetna and that employees would face increased out-of-network costs.

Teachers described fear of retaliation and hardship from a loss of current coverage. \"Teachers who dedicate themselves educating your children every day ... are not miracle workers. We need your support,\" one teacher told the board. Speakers said the board had sent an email promising to delay implementation; several asked whether that email was legally binding.

At about 55 minutes into the meeting record (transcript time 5524.305), President Ramos said he would \"allow the motion to rescind from the last meeting, resolution 10.26, regarding the health benefits.\" The clerk acknowledged or the record indicates a second by Trustee Garber. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote on that rescission in the provided excerpt.

Several public commenters urged immediate rescission until the district completed broader consultation. Joe Delaney, a longtime meeting attendee, said rescinding until options were fully discussed was both practicable and customary: \"Why not rescind a resolution until you look at different options? It's not that hard.\"

Board members told the public they had sent an internal email indicating postponement or delay of implementation. President Ramos later said the email had delayed or stopped implementation \"and Doctor Tomko will speak to that.\" The transcript records differing public views about whether the email constituted a legally binding rescission; board counsel and administration described the email as a delay while legal avenues were pursued.

The meeting record shows widespread concern among staff and residents about specific access problems they said would arise under the proposed Aetna plans, and multiple speakers — including physicians and staff — offered to meet with the board to review plan differences. The transcript does not contain a final board decision on rescission during the provided meeting excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GBOE Live Board Meeting February 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Teachers, union representatives, medical professionals and residents pressed the Garfield Board of Education Feb. 12 to rescind a January resolution that would change employee health insurance; the board allowed a motion to rescind but the transcript does not show a final recorded vote.","taxTitle","Garfield Public School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",68130,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6689917,"Garfield board approves moving school election from April to November after appellate stay",593,792980,1386640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2292424-ee1b80d4f1304c0c3b1fd60c8dba94aa&start=792&end=1386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2292424-ee1b80d4f1304c0c3b1fd60c8dba94aa/thumbnail_792980.jpg","/articles/6689917/New-Jersey/Garfield-board-approves-moving-school-election-from-April-to-November-after-appellate-stay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689917-9a254498a393a80264c37b98215a7eff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110860&Signature=GhJ4WsuwHlXK-Yv-Yqt1kw3sh4Z25MjzUtOnFkd1hbueWb6VtF6K~IhMYYY1OvP64erETtW3IgR9iw-EFpzG41p0tBAjqpUNkVvBr35Qve2fWRMXtMiefPoMmlT8tMzY9djFgWM3TFQdy14gCiATNX7GjFC~O-fCv0v7d5JfXagtgBkdOGb2s4T-3e-dR5LxymdgdGigJYqWsLM6FC4bCaKuL9yrW0FdZO~jvQ6RZHjIzzLSIc-4BMTibHkG~pa5krJH7depLhpSZDVW42LhXubd8TiT6EMb07dW4WqDlqa5lZ20vNWL1obTm7Of0V1oYEgwbfUJHlJSmp6~YW-d1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Garfield Board of Education voted Feb. 12 to change its annual board election date from April to November after the Appellate Division granted an emergent stay that, the board's attorney said, cleared the way for the vote.

Board President Ramos said the board held a special meeting limited to one agenda item, item 10.1, on the election date. \"This is my legal opinion, and this is what the board chooses to take action according to my opinion,\" Board attorney Geisler told trustees during a dispute over whether the board could lawfully act at a meeting advertised for a single item.

The vote followed heated exchanges among trustees and public commenters. Board member Folcarino urged trustees to keep the April date, saying the April election allows the community to \"have a voice on the issues affecting our schools\" and warning that November elections dilute school questions among higher-profile races. \"I'm going to urge our trustees to go against this resolution,\" Folcarino said.

Board attorney Geisler told the board the Appellate Division had granted a stay of the lower-court injunction earlier that day and that the order \"stayed the injunction, meaning they allowed us to vote, and it's clear and explicit in the order.\" Geisler said oral argument and further briefing would follow before the appellate court.

Trustee Malayo moved to place item 10.1 on the floor; the motion proceeded to a roll-call vote. The transcript records the following votes: Trustee Focarino — no; Trustee Garber — yes; Trustee Maleo — yes; Trustee Sanchez — yes; President Ramos — yes. The transcript does not record the votes of other trustees by name. The board attorney referenced the appellate stay as the legal basis allowing the vote.

Public commenters questioned the timing and legality of the action while others urged respect for existing election timing. Longtime meeting attendee Joe Delaney told the board that, in his view, the board had the procedural ability to rescind a prior action if it chose: \"You need 1 motion and 1 second to rescind that resolution. You could do it. It's been done,\" he said.

The meeting moved directly from the vote to the public-comment period. Several speakers focused on unrelated concerns — most prominently the board's recent decision concerning employee health benefits — but many also returned to the election question during public comment.

The board cited the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6) at the start of the meeting when announcing the special meeting notice; board counsel repeatedly framed the limits of what could lawfully be acted on at a meeting advertised for a single item.

The board did not provide an itemized roll-call tally for every member in the portion of the transcript provided; the recorded votes above reflect only those votes spoken aloud during the roll call in the meeting transcript.","At a Feb. 12 special meeting the Garfield Board of Education voted to change its annual election date from April to November after an appellate court granted a stay allowing the vote; the meeting drew contested points of order and public comment opposing the change.","actionData","errors"]

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Teachers, staff and residents press board to rescind health-benefit change; motion filed but no recorded vote

Garfield board approves moving school election from April to November after appellate stay