In 1972 Lynnfield joined the GIC plan for its retired teachers while its other retirees and survivors participate in the town plan. Along with Lynnfield, there are 70 municipalities and school districts whose retired teachers are insured by the GIC.

Up to now, an overwhelming number of the participating towns and districts have chosen to stay with the state. Over the past 5 years, only 2 communities dropped out. The latest – Nantucket - pays 90% of the insurance premium for its retirees/survivors and decided to join the health insurance pool for the Cape and Islands.

Unlike Nantucket, Lynnfield’s decision, out of the GIC, appears to be one in which the retired teachers will be hurt substantially. Lynnfield, which contributes 50% of the premium under the town’s insurance plan, pays 90% of the GIC premium, costing approximately $373,000 each year.

Before their vote last month to postpone, Lynnfield selectmen held a hearing, at which the town’s retired, and active, teachers appeared in force to voice their strong objections to dropping the GIC plan. Estimates placed the overflow audience at approximately 250, forcing a switch in the hearing location to the high school auditorium.

Of the 18 speakers at the hearing many, including retired high school principal Stan Robinson and retired superintendent Bernard Huntley, are long standing Association members. "Either myself or other officers spoke with many of them and provided them with needed background information before the hearing," reports President Ralph White.

Another of the speakers was our Association’s Legislative Chairman Bill Hill. "It’s truly unfortunate that after some 27 years Lynnfield, without the retirees’ support, would attempt this. There’s no question that the affected retirees and survivors, whose costs would go up appreciably if this move happened, would have to make some serious lifestyle decisions."

As required by state law, a vote was taken of the retired teachers, who would be affected by a decision to drop the GIC plan and were also present at the hearing. Not surprisingly, they voted unanimously against the move (58 to 0). It was then that the selectmen voted to postpone.