Barnegat Township Board elects Scott Sarno president, Lorraine Continenza vice president; approves 2025 calendar and governance motions

Scott Sarno was elected president and Lorraine Continenza vice president of the Barnegat Township Board of Education at the district’s Jan. 2025 reorganization meeting, where the board also swore in four new members and approved the 2025 meeting calendar, governance policies and association delegates.

The leadership changes came as the board administered the oath of office to four newly elected trustees — Lauren Washburn, John Hearn, Regina Tarnowski and Kelly Myska — and then conducted nominations and roll-call votes. Sarno won the presidency in an 8-1 roll call; board member Joseph (Mister) Fedorzic cast the only dissenting vote. Continenza was elected vice president in a 7-2 roll call, with Fedorzic and Tarnowski voting no.

Why it matters: Board officers set meeting agendas and public priorities for the year and carry extra responsibilities for representing the district. The board’s reorganization also formalized the district’s meeting schedule, rules of order and which publications will receive official notices for 2025.

The meeting opened with the board secretary reading the official notice required under the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-10). The board then administered oaths of office to the four new members; the oath language was read aloud by the board attorney and each newly sworn member signed required documents and ethics acknowledgement forms.

Following the swearing-in, Sarno was nominated and confirmed as board president. In accepting the office, Scott Sarno, president of the Barnegat Township Board of Education, said, "I take the position seriously. Each year I try to evaluate what can we do, what are we doing, how can we do things different, how can we improve." Lorraine Continenza was then nominated and approved as vice president.

The board approved a series of routine reorganization motions and administrative items by roll call, including: - Adoption of the 2025 Board of Education meeting calendar (motion carried, roll call unanimous). - Designation of officials authorized to sign general fund checks (motion carried, roll call unanimous). - Adoption of existing board policies and regulations (motion carried). - Designation of the Asbury Park Press as the district’s official newspaper for required legal notices (motion carried); board members discussed adding additional digital outlets such as Patch for courtesy notification but left Asbury Park Press as the official paper. - Adoption of Robert’s Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure (motion carried). - Adoption of the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics for 2025 (motion carried).

The board also voted to appoint delegates to the New Jersey School Boards Association and the Ocean County School Boards Association. Sandra Tarnowski was appointed as the NJ School Boards delegate with a named alternate; Lauren Washburn was appointed the Ocean County delegate with Tarnowski named alternate (motions carried by roll call).

Superintendent Dr. Lallis read a resolution recognizing January 2025 as School Board Recognition Month, noting the volunteer hours board members contribute. "I don't think a lot of people recognize or realize the amount of hours that go into volunteering for this position," Dr. Lallis said, thanking staff and maintenance crews for ensuring safe conditions after severe weather affected the district.

Public comment was opened and closed without speakers. The board then moved into executive session to discuss student and legal matters and planned to adjourn following that closed session.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows multiple roll-call votes. The presidency vote passed 8-1 (Fedorzic no); the vice-presidency passed 7-2 (Fedorzic and Tarnowski no). All other listed reorganization motions passed on roll call, generally unanimously.

The board left executive session with no further public motions scheduled and adjourned following the closed discussion.