School construction board chairman resigns

NEWARK-Jack Kocsis, board chairman for the troubled agency in charge of doling out $8.6 billion to build and improve schools in New Jersey's poorest districts, has submitted his letter of resignation to acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, the governor's office said. Kocsis' dual roles as chairman of the board and executive director of the Building Contractors Association of New Jersey sparked criticism earlier this year, when The Star-Ledger of Newark reported that more than $1 billion in work on schools has been given to firms that are members of the industry group. Kocsis said he was resigning for personal reasons in a brief resignation letter to Codey's office Friday. Kocsis, who was named chairman of the Schools Construction Corp. board by former Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2003, stepped down as chairman of the agency's audit committee in May, after the state Inspector General issued a stinging report criticizing the SCC for mismanagement and overspending. Kocsis dismissed claims that there was any conflict in his two roles, saying he was resigning for strictly personal reasons. He is remaining on the Economic Development Authority, the parent agency of the SCC. Last month, John F. Spencer, CEO of the embattled agency, resigned to take a job in New York.