TOMS RIVER – A new school board president will oversee a year that will have a lot of controversy, including a vote on whether to accept a new town to join the district.
At the beginning of the year, a reorganization meeting, which took less than 20 minutes, was held to go through some formalities. First, the results of the election were read into the record. Then, the winners of the November election – newcomers Paola Pascarella and James Capone – were sworn in. Incumbent Ashley Lamb, who also won, was absent.
There was a small disagreement on who should lead the board. The board president runs the meetings and sets the agenda. The vice president takes over these duties in the absence of the president.
Toms River representative Kathy Eagan was chosen as board president by the majority, which included herself, Kevin Kidney, Jennifer Howe, Joseph Nardini and Capone.
The Toms River Board of Education chose their new leadership. (Screenshot by Chris Lundy)
South Toms River representative Anna Polozzo had suggested that Beachwood representative Melissa Morrison be the president. Eagan’s vote came first so this suggestion wasn’t voted upon.
Then, Nardini was put forward as the nominee for vice president. The same five voted for him.
Morrison said “Joe, it’s nothing personal, and it’s nothing personal to Mrs. Eagan either. We have three other sending districts that come to Toms River, Beachwood, South Toms River, and Pine Beach” and someone from one of those towns should be in a leadership position.
Polozzo voted against Nardini as well, “with regret that we don’t have people that actually care about the towns south of the river this year.”
Pascarella also voted against both Eagan and Nardini but did not voice reasons.
During 2023, Pine Beach representative Kevin Kidney was the board president, while Kathy Eagan was the vice president.
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