Toms River board approves routine agenda items and honors retiring special-services director

The Toms River Regional School District Board of Education approved several routine agenda items on Wednesday, adopted second readings of policies, certified administrative reports, and recognized the retirement of Joy Forest, the districts special services director.

Board members voted to approve bus emergency evacuation drill reports and the Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings checklist statement of assurance for 2024-25. The bus-drill approval passed with one abstention (Palazo); the health-and-safety submission similarly recorded one abstention. The board also approved the second reading and adoption of policy revisions listed on the agenda, including policy 2422, which trustees described as "a work in progress" and said would continue to be refined through staff and teacher meetings.

Before voting on personnel items, the board recognized Joy Forest and thanked her for 15 years of service leading special services in the district. "Your heart, your hard work, your relentlessness in the special services department is second to none," a board member said, and the room gave Forest prolonged applause.

The personnel agenda (items 1through 22 and addenda) and educational program items were approved after motions and roll-call votes. Board members also certified the board secretary's report for September 2024.

Where specific roll-call tallies were recorded earlier in the meeting, they were read into the record and reflected in motions approving the SSDS report and safety submissions. No layoffs or budget-cut decisions were made at the meeting; one resident asked about building liquidation as a possible budget measure and was told administration is negotiating with government agencies to gauge interest and is not selling schools at this time.

The board adjourned for the Thanksgiving recess.