By Wendy Greenberg
When the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education ended the year at its meeting last week, its members paid tribute to nine-year Board veteran Debbie Bronfeld, who did not seek reelection.
The January 6 Board organization meeting will welcome Erica Snyder, a former high school teacher and instructional technology expert, who ran unopposed in the November election.
The December 16 meeting provided an opportunity for Board members and the public to thank Bronfeld for her service, with Board President Dafna Kendal thanking her for asking careful questions, listening respectfully, and her “unwavering belief in the potential of our children. We are a stronger district because of your leadership, and we wish you the very best in your next chapter.”
Asked later about highlights during her years of service, Bronfeld noted a better relationship between the Board and the teachers’ union, and a survey on students’ well-being.
“When I joined the Board there was no trust between the Board and the teachers’ union, PREA (Princeton Regional Education Association),” she said in an email. “Two years before I joined, the Board and union were at an impasse for almost a year on negotiating the teacher contract…. Over the next several years, the Board worked very hard to create trust again with our staff. And now the Board and unions have a very good working relationship, we are a team now, which is what was needed to benefit the students.
“The other big thing the Board did was a survey at the high school, before COVID, which gave us a starting point on students feeling welcome at school, connected, stress levels at all grades, friends, homework, classes. It was a lot of information.
“So we worked with the administration to change things, to ensure every student had an adult in the district that knew them, we even pushed the start time out 30 minutes because we knew the students needed to sleep more. We used the data from the survey to improve things at the high school. And we continue to do this.”
Kendal read a comprehensive thank-you statement, which said, in part, “Debbie, as you conclude your service on this Board, I want to take a moment to thank you — not just for the time you gave, but for the spirit in which you gave it.
“Board service is demanding, often invisible, and rarely simple. Debbie approached it with thoughtfulness, preparation, and a genuine commitment to doing what was best for our students and our community. She asked careful questions, listened respectfully to differing viewpoints, and never lost sight of the responsibility we carry as stewards of public trust.”
She continued, “Debbie, they say that public service is about leaving a place better than you found it, and looking at our schools today, it is clear you have done exactly that. For nine years — you have been a steady hand and a passionate voice in the room. Whether the task was navigating complex budgets, advocating for equity, or simply ensuring that every student felt seen and heard, you approached it with a unique blend of tenacity and heart. You didn’t just show up to meetings; you showed up for our community. Anyone who has sat on this Board knows we all learned to brace ourselves the moment Debbie started a sentence with, ‘Look it…’ That was our universal signal to sit up straight because a sharp insight — or a very tough question — was coming our way.”
After some additional recognition from Board members and the public, Bronfeld told the assemblage that her last meeting was bittersweet. “Nine years is a long time to be a School Board volunteer on the one hand, but it also feels like a short time when there is still so much more to do. There is a huge learning curve to be an effective Board member, and I appreciate the work we have all done for the students during the time I have served.”
She noted three main areas into which she put her energy: “special education, accountability and the budget,” thanking those whose responsibility falls in those areas.
She thanked her family, and also added, “I always thought School Board was the lowest level of government, especially since we are non-partisan, but boy was I wrong. School Board members have a lot of responsibility to the taxpayers, the community, the staff and especially to our students. I’ve worked hard and smart as a Board member and so have my colleagues, always putting students first. I want to thank all my fellow Board members for sharing their lives, families, opinions, and views these past nine years as we worked to support our staff and oversee the district. I hope you all continue to cause a bit of “good trouble” for our district. And thank you to my friends who have voted for me, put lawn signs up, and been there for me, even during the tough times.
“Over the years I have learned a lot about myself, about education, and our local and state government. I will miss the School Board, and I will miss making a difference for the students, their families, and the Princeton staff. I am a very proud product of public education, and giving back to my community has truly been an honor for me.”