Rockaway Borough Board adopts district goals, approves bills and seeks new health-insurance fund

The Rockaway Borough Board of Education on Sept. 23 accepted Superintendent Grieco's recommended district goals for 2025-26 and approved routine finance and personnel items, including a $1,393,282.97 bills and payrolls list.

The board resolved to accept goals emphasizing strategic management, operational oversight and recalibrated financial practices. The motion to accept the superintendent's recommendation was made by Ms. Dahl and seconded by Mrs. Hernandez; the board voted unanimously to approve the goals.

In finance actions, the board approved the payrolls and bills/claims list for Aug. 27 through Sept. 23 totaling $1,393,282.97 and accepted Board Secretary and Treasurer financial reports and July budgetary transfers, in conformance with NJAC reporting requirements.

On employee benefits, the board adopted a resolution terminating participation in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) for active and retired employees, and authorized pursuing membership in the NJ Solutions Joint Health Insurance Fund. The termination resolution notes that notification to active employees, retired employees and COBRA participants will occur through the New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits (NJDPB) and that the change takes effect the first of the month following a 60-day period after the State Health Benefits Commission receives the resolution. The board also authorized execution of application documents and related agreements to join the NJ Solutions fund, subject to the fund's approval and required indemnity and trust agreements.

The board approved a Joint Transportation Agreement with Morris Hills Regional High School District for school-related activities at a rate of $83 per hour with a two-hour minimum per bus/van, and authorized a $10,000 contract with InSite Health to provide evaluation services and a wellness platform for 2025-26 to be paid from ESEA grant funds.

Votes on the consent agenda and listed resolutions were recorded by roll call; the five members listed in roll call marked affirmatives on the recorded items.

The board indicated that the SHBP/SEHBP termination and the application to join the joint fund are subject to state-level notifications and acceptance by the joint fund commissioners; no implementation date was set beyond the timing language contained in the resolution.