As of Tuesday, September 5, a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) had not been received by the Princeton Regional Schools for the new construction at the Princeton High School.
Inspectors were reviewing the site as Town Topics approached its press deadline.
"They were not able to approve a TCO today," said School Principal Gary Snyder. "There are one or two things that still need to be addressed, but we have one more day before school starts so we are proceeding under the assumption that we will have it by the start of school on Thursday."
If the certificate is not received, PHS will use its automated calling system to inform parents, said Mr. Snyder, who also advised parents to watch the PRS website at www.prs.k12. As of press time, the website listed no change to its September 7 date for the first day of school for students.
The start of school may be postponed, however, "if that's what we have to do," said Mr. Snyder. "We can't have kids on site without a temporary certificate of occupancy."
Superintendent of Schools Judith Wilson was not available for comment.
Until such approval is forthcoming, students will not be able to enter the buildings. That includes the old school as well as the new laboratories, classrooms, and auditorium that were toured so optimistically by members of the Board of Education just two weeks ago, August 23.
At that time, it was suggested that the new facilities would be ready for the first day of the 2006-07 school year, September 7.
If received in time, the certificate would allow students to enter facilities that are the result of five years of work, funded by an $81.3-million referendum approved in 2001.
Returning students who had expected to tour the new construction on Thursday, August 31, and Friday, September 1 had their tours cancelled.
Even though major new construction has come to an end, renovations to the old school will continue for the next 8 to 10 months.