001meeting to order. Uh, roll call. Miss Carrie. >> Miss Pala. >> Yes. >> Miss Kennedy >> here. >> Miss Benedictus >> here. >> Mr. Henry >> here. >> Mr. Maljeri >> here. >> Mr. Mesmer >> here. The open the New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the brick township board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be posted on the administration office bolden board, the official district website and channel B TV20 and sent to the Asbury Park Press, the Brick Time Star Ledger and Municipal Clerk's office. This time I would like to do
002a salute to the flag. Please stand a moment of silence. Wait, where's my agenda? >> United States of America stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First, I'd like to uh have the board members note that the code of ethics for schoolboard members is noted on the agenda for your reading. Uh we'll have you sign your code of ethics card at the end of the meeting so we may submit the same to the New Jersey School Boards Association. At this time, I'll open the floor for any public comment on agenda items only. would please state your name and address when coming to the podium. No agenda items. Okay, good. Moving on. Um statement of the election results for the member of education, board of education for the Brick Township. We
003had Michael Masterio receive 10,594 votes. Hopefully, did I say that right? >> I did. I was been practicing. Michael, is he here yet? >> Okay. Uh Sergio Verdesco received 70 7746 votes. Randy Benedictus received 10,124 votes. Nicole or or Ozogo received 9618 votes. And then we had 171 writeins. So, uh, Misty Benedictus and your party, if you want to join me at the microphone, we'll do a swearing in for you. Hello. There we go. >> That has my bibble. >> Oh, I do. I I have a pretty loud voice. I'm a mom. >> All right. >> I, Fran Benedictus, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and that I will bear through faith and allegiance to the same, and to
004the [music] governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people to help me God. I, Fran Benedictus, do solemnly swear that I possess qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of >> member of a board of educant to >> RS 194-1 disqualified >> nor disqualified due to a conviction of a crime or an offense listed in NJS 18A >> 12-1 and that I will faithfully and impartially and justly perform all duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So help me God. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That's why it's happening. >> Hey Ready, [applause] >> ready. I, Michael Master Syria, >> do solemnly swear >> I will >> that I will >> support >> the Constitution >> of the United States >> and
005the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I that I will bear true faith and allegiance do the same >> and to the governments >> established inates the >> United states in this state under the authority of the people who help me God. I Michael Masteria >> do solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of >> member of board of education. I >> that I >> am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to >> RS 19 or -1 >> nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJS 18A 12-1. I >> and that I will faithfully >> and partially >> and justly perform all duties >> of that office according to the best >> my ability to help me God. Thank you. [applause]
006Okay. Uh, at this time I will seek nomination for president. Do I have any nominations for president? >> I nominate Mike Mesmer. >> I second that nomination, please. >> Any other nominations? >> All right. No. Uh, it was Miss Ali and then Mr. Maleri. >> All right. With no other nominations, Mary. Roll call, please. >> Miss Pala. >> Miss Kennedy. >> Miss Benedictus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Henry. >> Yes. >> Mr. Malerie. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mesmer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Master Serero. >> Yes. Okay. And at this time is my favorite part of the meeting. Get to hand over the gavl. >> [applause] [applause] >> All right, I guess I'll just stay here. Thank you everyone. >> This working? >> I'd like to seek nominations for vice president at this time. At this time,
007I would like to nominate Alli Kennedy. >> I second that. >> Mary, vote, please. >> Miss Pala, >> yes. >> Miss Kennedy, >> yes. >> Miss Steven Addictus, >> yes. >> Mr. Henry, >> yes. >> Mr. Malieri, >> yes. >> Mr. Mesmer, >> yes. Mr. Master Serio. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, Sally Kennedy. [applause] >> Sally, slide on over. All right. Yeah. >> All right, Mary. Now, I'd like a motion and a second um for approval of items 6 through 12 on the agenda. >> Motion, George. >> Second, Ally. Mary, vote, please. >> Miss Pala, >> yes. >> Miss Kennedy, >> yes. >> Mr. Benedictus, >> yes. >> Mr. Henry, >> yes. >> Mr. Meleri, >> yes. >> Mr. Mesmeir, >> yes. >> Mr. Masterio, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, this is the second uh option
008for public comment. Uh, anyone can come up and speak on any item relevant in the school district. Anyone have public comment at this time? >> Seeing none. >> Oh, [laughter] >> hi Nicole Rosco, one Becker Drive brick, Jersey. Um, I just want to congratulate Michael and Fran. [music] I want to say to Fran that it was a privilege to run with you this summer. I learned a lot and I know that you're going to do everything that you can for the kids of town. I love you. >> [applause] >> I WISH PUBLIC COMMENT WERE LIKE THIS AT every meeting. >> Awesome. It's a good way to kick off the >> Yeah. Any other public comment? Seeing none. On to board comment. Uh newest board member, Michael. Welcome. I don't think we've met yet, so congratulations.
009Uh you have any board comment? Not at this time. Thank you though. >> Okay, George, you're up. Any any comment? >> Yes, please. Thank you very much, President Mesmer. First of all, congratulations to you and congratulations to now Vice President Kennedy. Uh Mr. Master Stereo, welcome. Congratulations. And uh Mr. Benedictus, congratulations to you again. You are the newest member. You said uh nothing at this time in particular. I'm a very different category in that regard and you're going to learn that quickly. The other board members can assure you of that. I always have a lot to say. I'll try to keep it short though because it's cold outside and you all probably would like to go home. Uh, merry merry Christmas season and Hanukkah season. Happy New Year. I look forward to uh the continuation
010of the school year that we have now and the school year coming forward for uh 2026 and 2027 and working with all of you uh my fellow board members, central administration and listening and engaging with all of you in the audience, parents, residents, teachers, students, taxpayers alike. Thank you very much. God bless you all and I hope you have a wonderful evening. Thank you. All right, [applause] >> that was excellent. George, >> thank you, John. Any uh comment? >> George, that was impressive. >> Oh, thank you. >> Just saying. Just saying. Just for the record. So, happy new year, everybody. I I'm wishing everyone in this room and everybody in our town, loved ones, family members a safe, happy new year. Uh, congratulation to Mike and Fran and Mike and Ally. Congratulations. I It's excellent.
011I'm I'm happy with, you know, the way that our votes are going. You're absolutely qualified in the positions that you're in and I have no doubt this is going to be a stellar year. Other than that, I have no comments. So, good night everybody and have a safe trails home. Thank you. [applause] I want to thank everybody who put me here. Oh my goodness. This is not the easiest of jobs. This is a very, as um as Dr. Frell often says, this is a thankless job, but we're here for the kids. We're here for the people of this town. And thank you. I hope I I do this seat justice because, you know, we have to show up here. We have to show up on time. We have to show up in the right headsp
012space. We have to show up wanting to get things done. And that is how we have to do it. And sometimes we don't like what we have to do. But you know what? We have to do it. And we have to do it because this is what is required of us. And we have to do it with a smile. And we have to do it knowing that we are here for the kids and for the people of this town. And I am so grateful to be here. And I'm grateful to every one of you guys that are here. And thank you to Mike and Ally because I know this is going to be a great year. We're going to do our best. And Victoria, we're going to do awesome things. And John, we're going to
013do awesome things. and George, we're going to do awesome things and Mike, we're going to do awesome things. We are going to do such great things for our kids because that's why we're here because they are the full stop. So, thank you guys and have a great rest of this year. [applause] I just want to offer my congratulations to Michael and to Fran. Uh although some people find it difficult, may you always put the kids of brick and what's best for this district first. Um I do want to mention that uh yesterday we had a new principal start in the district named Mr. A and Dr. Right. Right. Um who coincidentally No, no, no, no. That's Mike. Never mind. I'm confused. Anyway, uh Mr. is taking on a very um courageous Dr. is taking on
014a very courageous uh position at Drum Point where the teachers and the parents and the kids expect so much of their leader and I'm grateful he had the opportunity to start in this new year. Um, I just want to let everybody know that the Ocean County School Board Association is having their virtual meeting on uh January 28th. It's a great opportunity for board members to get to know one another across the county. The theme is firstterm to long-term perspectives, building trust and relationships with fellow board members. Um this is a virtual thing. Uh Jim can register you. Um the second thing I'd like to mention as as a community member, I belong to the green team and there was a dune grass planting this Saturday at Brick Beach 3 sponsored by the Surf Rider Foundation.
015and um they will be obviously planting doom grass for um our local stewardship of our brick beaches. Um and the last thing is the green team met and they have decided on a uh date for the green fair this year that uh our teachers and kids look forward to. That will be Saturday, May 16th. And the green fair theme this year is wildlife wellness and well-being. So, put it on your calendars. [snorts] And I know our director of curriculum and our teachers that run STEM and uh eco programs in the district will be excited to participate. And I look forward to that. I'm happy that this has been decided. so early in the season and I look forward to the um board of education year. Thank you. [applause] >> Um I just wanted to say
016congratulations to Michael and Fran. Um I wanted to thank my board members for putting their trust in me to be your vice president. I look forward to backing you up and you being at all 12 meetings, Mike. So, make sure they're in the calendar. Um, uh, that's all I really have. Happy New Year. It's 2026. If you guys didn't hear at the last meeting, I have a senior who's the class of 2026. So, if at any given moment I'm in the fetal position or in the corner, it's because it's something senior child related. So, um, and Nicole, I know that you also have a senior at Point Beach, so um, it's crazy. Um, happy new year, merry Christmas, and I'm looking forward to a great year. Thank you. Thanks again. [applause] >> I just wanted
017to congrat congratulate Fran and Mike. Uh, Fran, welcome back. You're essential part of this board. I'm really excited to get to work with you. Um, Mike, I look forward to meeting you. We'll have to catch up after the meeting, but excited to have you on the board. Um, and I want to thank the board uh for the trust and confidence that you gave in me to nominate me for president. Um, truly honored. It means a lot. I look forward to, you know, fighting for this district, when it comes to funding, when it comes to keeping our class sizes down, working handinand with Dr. Frell and staff. So, good things ahead. We really have a strong board here in Brick. So, bright future 2026, a lot of positives coming down the road. So, thank you and
018happy new year. [applause] All right. Now, I'm going to read the uh calendar of events. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 22nd in this building at 6 PM. Uh Mary, I'll ask for a motion and a second for adjournment. Motion B. >> Second, >> Victoria. >> Mary, vote, please. >> Miss Pala, >> yes. >> Miss Kennedy, >> yes. >> Mr. Benedictus, >> yes. >> Mr. Henry, >> yes. >> Mr. Meljeri, >> yes. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Esmer, >> yes. Happy New Year, >> Mr. Serio. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Happy New Year.