In its move to keep next year’s proposed $122 million 2009-2010 school budget from increasing taxes, the Bayonne Board of Education voted on April 29 to lay off 20 teachers, eliminated full-day pre-K classes at Vroom School, postponed expanding gifted and talented classes at PS No. 14, and changed the health benefits plan for most of its 1,100 employees.
Alan D’Angelo, president of the Bayonne Teachers’ Association, said the health cuts are a violation of the teacher’s contracts and will take the matter to court.
Board President Will Lawson, however, said the board does not see the change of insurance coverage as a violation of the contract, but said the school district will meet with union officials to work out the differences between the former plan and the new plan before the insurance changes start on July 1.