Former School Administrator Joins Board of Courage to Connect New Jersey

TRENTON – Anthony Del Sordi, who has overseen the finances of six public school districts in New Jersey over the past four decades, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Courage to Connect New Jersey (CtoCNJ), a non-profit, non-partisan organization that assists citizens and local government through the consolidation process.

Del Sordi, who most recently served as business administer of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood schools for 11 years, will help the CtoCNJ board and staff navigate the complexities of school finance, offering a level of experience and skill that will help the organization better counsel local citizens and government officials working through the state-mandated consolidation process. 

Del Sordi joins the CtoCNJ Board on the heels of a successful referendum in South Hunterdon, in which 86 percent of voters in Stockton, Lambertville and West Amwell voted to disband four school districts and create one unified district, to be launched July 1, 2014.

“We are seeing a steady increase in the number of inquiries from public school officials, lawmakers and residents about the benefit of dissolving and creating new school districts in New Jersey,” said Gina Genovese, executive director, CtoCNJ. “With a limited amount of financial resources, and growing needs and expenses, regionalization is becoming a viable option for many smaller school districts who are trying to find new ways to deliver quality public education. Anthony is a tremendous asset for us in this area. There aren’t many people in New Jersey who have a better understanding of school finance than Anthony.” 

Del Sordi, of Hampton, served as an accountant before accepting a job in 1977 as Business Administrator for the Northvale schools. From there, he has worked for five other school districts: Paramus, Morris Hills, Linden, Ridgewood and Scotch Plains/Fanwood, before retiring in October 2011.

He was active in the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, in which he was named “School Business Administrator of the Year” for the 2009/10 school year, earned an Above and Beyond Service Award for that year and was the association president for the 2006/07 school year. 

Del Sordi said his experience as a member of the Scotch Plains/Fanwood Shared Services Committee from 2000-2011 will be important in his volunteer service to CtoCNJ, as the two communities formed a municipal consolidation study commission earlier this year.

“There is plenty of synergy between what CtoCNJ is working to accomplish and what has been my approach to public service over the past four decades,” Del Sordi said. “The focus needs to be about efficiency and continually identifying ways in which to provide quality services to students in a way that is fiscally responsible to the taxpayer. I am eager to work with CtoCNJ on this mission and appreciate this opportunity to serve.”