To the Editor:

On Tuesday, December 11, Princeton voters will be asked to approve a $26.9 million referendum to fund critical updates at all six Princeton Public Schools. I urge voters to say Yes! for the good of all school children in Princeton.

If passed, the referendum would fund, among other things:

Upgrades and expansion of HVAC systems. This would add air conditioning and ventilation to some 128 classrooms at the elementary and middle schools, and help prevent future mold outbreaks in wet summers such as the one we just weathered.

Electrical and mechanical updates so that our schools — the youngest of which was built in 1965 — could adequately accommodate today’s technology.

Security improvements to entrances — a sad, new necessity.

Some of the pressing needs at the high school, including the addition of four classrooms, a redesign of the guidance office, an expanded fitness space, and a second distribution point for school lunches.

If approved, the bond would increase taxes by only $6.79 to $12.61 per $100,000 of assessed home value for the first three years, and then would drop substantially below current tax levels as old facility bonds are fully paid off in year four.

This vote is an important first step in bringing Princeton Public Schools into the 21st century — one which the outgoing Board approved unanimously, and which all five Board of Education candidates supported during their recent campaigns. Let us end this contentious election season with a show of town unity and vote Yes together on December 11. The cost is relatively small, but creating safer and healthier learning spaces for our children is priceless.

Nicole Pezold-Hancock

Jefferson Road