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Teacher alleges defamation and possible retaliation during public comment at Hardyston board meeting
Summary
During public comment a 28‑year district teacher, Charlene Garrino, alleged that a district letter falsely linked her to negative commentary about a principal, asked for her name to be retracted, and requested a written apology; union president Jennifer Rosen also asked why the board was considering a change in legal counsel.
During the meeting's public-comment period, teacher Charlene Garrino addressed the board to say a letter circulated by district administration included her name multiple times and contained allegations she says are false and defamatory. "I am writing to formally express my deep concern and dismay regarding a false and defamatory statement made in a letter you sent to the Board of Education," Garrino said, adding she was named six times and that the statements have harmed her reputation among colleagues and the community.
Garrino said she asked district administrators to clarify who named her and that a promised letter to clear her name had not arrived. She requested that her name be retracted from the document and that the board issue a verbal and written apology. Earlier in the public-comment period, Jennifer Rosen, president of the Hardyston Township Education Association, asked the board why it was considering a change in legal counsel; community member Jeff Altieri also asked the board to explain the decision to pursue outside counsel.
