Schools

New Member, New President For Brick School Board In 2026

The Board of Education held its reorganization meeting and set its meeting dates for 2026.

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Mike Mesmer (right) accepts the gavel as the new president of the Brick Township Board of Education from business administrator James Edwards, as Superintendent Thomas Farrell waits to congratulate him.
Mike Mesmer (right) accepts the gavel as the new president of the Brick Township Board of Education from business administrator James Edwards, as Superintendent Thomas Farrell waits to congratulate him. (Brick Township Schools)

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Board of Education held its reorganization meeting on Tuesday night, swearing in board members and choosing a new president for 2026.

Fran DiBenedictis, who won election to her second term, and Michael Mastroserio, who won the seat vacated by Madeline Colagiovanni Iannarone, took their oaths as board members. Mastroserio was the top vote-getter in November, receiving 10,594 votes. DiBenedictis received 10,124. Nicole Orozco, who ran with DiBenedictis, received 9,618, and Sergio Verdesco, who ran with Mastroserio, received 7,764.

Mike Mesmer, who served as the board vice president in 2025, was chosen as its president for 2026, and Alison Kennedy was chosen as vice president. Both are in the last year of their three-year terms.

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The meeting, which lasted less than 30 minutes, can be viewed on the district's YouTube channel.

The board approved the following meeting dates for 2026. All are on Thursdays except for the July meeting and all but the July and August meetings begin at 6 p.m. The meetings will be held at the Professional Development Center on Hendrickson Boulevard except for May 28, which is set for the auditorium at Brick Township High School, and Dec. 17, which is set for the auditorium at Brick Memorial High School.

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The public hearing on the 2026-27 school budget is set for April 30.

Meeting Dates for 2026:

  • Jan. 22, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Feb. 26, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • March 19, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • April 30, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center: Public hearing on the 2026-27 school district budget
  • May 28, 6 p.m., Brick Township High School
  • June 26, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • July 28, 5:30 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Aug. 27, 5:30 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Oct. 29, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Nov. 19, 6 p.m., Brick Professional Development Center
  • Dec. 17, 6 p.m., Brick Memorial High School

The 2027 Board of Education reorganization meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2027.

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