Barnegat board elects Scott Sarno president, Doreen Continenza vice president in reorganization meeting

The Barnegat Township Board of Education elected Scott Sarno as board president and Doreen Continenza as vice president during its 2026 reorganization meeting. The board also approved a series of routine reorganizational motions, adopted a resolution recognizing January as School Board Recognition Month, and entered a brief executive session before adjourning.

Board secretary and business administrator opened the meeting, noted the notice had been filed in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-10), and administered oaths of office. With a quorum present, the board approved the meeting agenda by roll-call vote before moving to leadership elections.

Scott Sarno was nominated for president and elected by roll call; all voting members present voted in favor except one abstention by Mister Pizarro, who said, "I'm gonna abstain. I'm new." After Sarno's election, the board opened nominations for vice president and elected Doreen Continenza by roll call, again with Mister Pizarro recorded as an abstention.

The newly elected president assumed the chair, and the board proceeded through the reorganization agenda. Superintendent Dr. House read and presented a resolution declaring January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month, noting the unpaid service of local board members and urging public support. "It does not go unnoticed," Dr. House said of board members' work. The board adopted the resolution by roll call.

Other reorganization actions approved by the board included adopting the 2026 meeting calendar; designating the president, vice president, school business administrator and treasurer as authorized signatories on general fund checks (requiring at least three signatures); adopting current board policies and regulations; designating the Asbury Park Press and Tap Into Barnegat as official newspapers for the 2026 school year; adopting Robert's Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure; and adopting the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics. The board also appointed delegates to represent the district at the New Jersey School Boards Association (delegate: Miss Cherney; alternate: Miss Continenza) and to the Ocean County School Boards Association (delegate: Miss Tarnowski).

The board opened a public comment period and invited speakers to identify themselves and observe a five-minute limit, but no members of the public spoke. The board then voted to enter executive session to discuss legal matters; after a brief executive session the board returned to regular session and adjourned. Members were reminded that the district budget process is forthcoming.

Votes recorded on the reorganizational motions were taken by roll call and were recorded in the meeting minutes; where a member abstained the record notes the abstention. The meeting concluded with a formal motion to adjourn that carried by roll call.