Frank Belluscio, the New Jersey School Boards Association’s deputy executive director and director of communications, announced last week he would retire effective Jan. 1.
Belluscio joined the Association in 1979 as a writer; during his 41 years with NJSBA, he served in various editorial and public information positions until obtaining the position of director of communications in 2006. He added the position of NJSBA deputy executive director in 2012.
“You meet someone like Frank once in a career. His talent, intelligence, knowledge of the state’s education system, and institutional memory of NJSBA are matched only by his work ethic and dedication to our Association,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA executive director.
“Frank Belluscio makes NJSBA look good on a daily basis,” said Mike McClure, NJSBA president. “He is a gifted writer who has the ability to craft speeches that make everyone sound eloquent, and he has skillfully conducted public information campaigns around some of the most pressing issues NJSBA has handled.”
In 2010, Belluscio received a prestigious award from the National School Boards Association, the Thomas A. Shannon Award for Excellence in School Boards Association Leadership. The award is given each year to an outstanding individual from a state school boards association, and was presented at the 2010 NSBA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
Among the initiatives he pioneered at the Association: the Daily Clips service; the Innovations in Special Education Awards; School Board Recognition Month; the School Board Candidate Kit; the Survey on School Elections, a database of statistics and information on school elections; and the research on school construction and bond issues. He has also played a major role in NJSBA’s research projects, including “What Makes Schools Safe,” the 2014 report of the NJSBA School Security Task Force; the 2018 supplement on school safety; “Impediments to School District Regionalization,” and “Underfunded State and Federal Education Mandates.”
“On a personal level, it has been a sheer pleasure to work with Frank. I have often relied on his insights in making decisions,” said Feinsod. “The entire staff joins me in wishing him health and happiness in retirement.”