Abbott districts' overseer quits State official dealt with P'burg district. Wednesday, February 14, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times The state official overseeing New Jersey's 31 poorest school districts announced his resignation Tuesday. Gordon MacInnes, assistant commissioner for Abbott implementation, will step down from the Department of Education post March 30. Education Department Commissioner Lucille Davy released a statement thanking MacInnes for his years of service. "His leadership of the Department's Abbott Division has resulted in improved and expanded preschool opportunities and the narrowing of the achievement gap," Davy said. "Our state is a better place because of Gordon's unwavering commitment to public service and helping those in need." Phillipsburg is one of New Jersey's 31 Abbott districts, school systems that receive extra state aid in economically disadvantaged areas. In recent years as the state has struggled with high property taxes, the Abbott division has battled with districts on the size of the subsidies. Phillipsburg has fought for additional aid. Bill Poch, Phillipsburg's business administrator, has sat on the other side of the negotiating table from MacInnes. "He had a difficult job; for the job he had he was reasonable," Poch said. "He was a fair person to deal with." In a note attached to the release, MacInnes touted Abbott progress over the past five years and thanked his co-workers. "We embarked on a course for which there was no blueprint or precedent," MacInnes said. "Through all of this change and uncertainty, my colleagues have been steadfast in keeping our focus on improving academic achievement, particularly early literacy." Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.