2 Incumbents Leaving Toms River School Board, 7 Candidates File To Run In 2 Towns

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Regional Board of Education will have at least two new members in January, after two current members decided against seeking re-election and another member resigned last week.

Anna Polozzo, who represents South Toms River on the nine-member board, is not seeking re-election to her seat. Her second term ends Dec. 31.

Also not seeking re-election is Joseph Nardini, who is finishing his third term representing Toms River on the board.

Melissa Morrison, who represented Beachwood, resigned from her seat on July 26. Nardini, the board vice president, announced Morrison's resignation during a special meeting of the board on Tuesday. The exact process to replace her has not been announced but her departure comes too late to put the remainder of her term on the ballot in November.

In South Toms River, there are two candidates seeking Polozzo's seat, which is a three-year term. Joseph Jubert, whose wife is the South Toms River borough clerk, is running under the slogan of "Honesty Integrity Tradition." Running under the slogan "Make STR Matter" is Krista Whittaker. Whittaker has been an active presence at school board meetings for most of the last 10 years.

Toms River has five candidates seeking two seats, which are three-year terms each.

Jennifer Howe is seeking her third term on the board. She has served as board president in the past and is running under the slogan, "Advocating Educational Funding," reflecting the district's battle with the state Department of Education over aid cuts.

Running under the "Education, Transparency, Accountability" is Dominick Farro, owner of Farro's Tees screen printing in Toms River.

Lisa Contessa, who served on the board for one term, is seeking to return to the board after not seeking re-election in 2023. She is running under the slogan "Unite.Educate.Fight."

Diane H. Oxley, who ran unsuccessfully for the board in 2023, is again seeking election, along with Maria Matarazzo. They are running under the "Students First" slogan. Oxley is a kindergarten teacher at Ocean Academy Charter School in Lakewood. Matarazzo is an administrative assistant in the Toms River municipal government, where she has worked since April 15, 2024.

The school board election will be part of the general election on Nov. 5.