NJSBA Insurance Group Director to Retire

NJSBA Insurance Group Director to Retire

Former Loss Control Manager to Direct Statewide Insurance Group

Alan Thornton, a long time advocate of insurance “pooling” for New Jersey’s public schools, has announced his retirement as director of the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group (NJSBAIG). It is a position he has held since 1988.

“I’ve had the time of my life, but now it’s time to turn over the reins to some younger blood,” said Thornton, who has more than 43 years in the insurance industry. “Together we have lowered the cost of insurance coverage to the school districts, leaving more dollars for work in the classroom. These results could have only come from teamwork: the NJSBAIG staff, our representative agents and especially our member school districts.”

Marty Kalbach, an 18-year veteran of NJSBAIG, was selected by the organization’s Board of Trustees to replace Thornton and serve as its new director, beginning July 3.

Kalbach currently serves as the NJSBAIG’s manager of loss control. He was responsible for upholding the standards of participation which permits boards of education to apply for coverage with NJSBAIG. Kalbach also developed the criteria for the statewide School Safety Award Program, which annually recognizes the states safest schools.

“Marty’s dedicated employment with NJSBAIG, combined with his previous experience as a chemical safety engineer, have prepared him well to take the helm as the next director,” said Bill Herman, president of the NJSBAIG Board of Trustees.

Founded in 1983 through the efforts of the NJSBA, the Insurance Group was a response to instability in the commercial insurance market and lack of available coverage for school districts. Today NJSBAIG has become the state’s largest insurance pool, insuring more than 380 local school boards.

Alan Thornton