Toms River Regional School District board unanimously approves start-of-year goals, staff appointments and interlocal agreements

The Toms River Regional School District board on July 31 approved a package of start-of-year measures — including the district goals for 2025–26, state-mandated mentoring and professional-development plans, and a series of interlocal agreements — in a series of unanimous roll-call votes.

The approvals included formal adoption of the district goals, the statemandated mentoring plan for 2025–26, the district professional-development plan, the annual submission to the county for an alternate method of compliance, designation of HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) specialists and administrators, a reserve-for-encumbrance resolution, and an agreement described as the Ocean County Vocational Mates and Performing Arts Program Agreement. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA of Greater Mammoth County Counseling and Social Services and completed the first reading of several policies and regulations listed on the agenda.

Why it matters: These routine, procedural approvals set the district’s operational and compliance posture for the coming school year, authorize partnerships and programming, and finalize personnel moves the board had reviewed in executive session.

Board members voted by name on each motion. For the motions that recorded roll calls, the following members were recorded as voting yes: Matarazzo, Jubert, Coin, Contessa, Egan, Pascarella, Capone and Lamb. Several motions were moved and seconded from the dais (for example, Contessa moved the district goals and Egan seconded the mentoring-plan motion) and were recorded as passing by unanimous vote.

The board also approved personnel agenda items numbered 1–20 and 21–33 (as reviewed in executive session) and publicly introduced newly appointed administrators. The board recognized Mr. Cleveland as a new principal, Joe Schaefer as an assistant principal, and Katie Quakerini as supervisor of instruction at Beachwood Elementary; applause followed the introductions. A board speaker thanked staff and contractors (including “Bill” and “Mike” and the district’s insurance brokers) for work done over the summer.

Votes at a glance: • District goals (2025–26): approved, unanimous yes (Matarazzo, Jubert, Coin, Contessa, Egan, Pascarella, Capone, Lamb). • Mentoring plan (state-mandated 2025–26): approved, unanimous yes. • District professional-development plan (2025–26): approved, unanimous yes. • Alternate-method-of-compliance submission (annual): approved, unanimous yes. • HIB specialists and applicable administrators: approved, unanimous yes. • Reserve for encumbrance resolution: approved, unanimous yes. • Ocean County Vocational Mates and Performing Arts Program Agreement: approved, unanimous yes. • YMCA memorandum of understanding: approved, unanimous yes. • First reading of policies, regulations and bylaws: approved, unanimous yes. • Agenda items 18–23: approved, unanimous yes. • Board secretary’s report (June 2025, preliminary): certified and approved, unanimous yes. • Personnel agenda items 1–20 and 21–33: approved, unanimous yes. • Educational program agenda items 1–12: approved, unanimous yes. • Motion to adjourn: approved.

Superintendent remarks at the start of the open session stressed readiness for the coming year and noted staff orientation Sept. 2 and students returning Sept. 3. After the votes, board members repeatedly welcomed the new administrators and highlighted summer operations, including district-organized beautification projects.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for the board’s usual monthly date; members closed the meeting after roughly a half hour of open-session business.