By Wendy Greenberg
Summer construction projects at area schools may necessitate changes in fall routines, such as pick up or drop off procedures, said Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Superintendent Michael LaSusa at the July 21 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Parents will be informed later this summer, he said, before the first day of school, which is August 31 for students.
The expansion and renovations at various schools is mostly funded by an $89 million bond referendum approved by voters. Some projects are being completed from an earlier referendum. Key projects include expansion at Princeton Middle School (PMS); new space and a new gymnasium at Community Park Elementary School; classrooms at Littlebrook Elementary School, and an HVAC upgrade and new spaces at Princeton High School.
In a January 28, 2025 special election, Princeton residents voted in favor of all three parts of a plan for renovation and expansion in the schools, which would address “capacity issues at several of the schools, ensure the HVAC systems at PHS (Princeton High School) are functioning safely and efficiently, and plan for future student enrollment growth,” said BOE President Dafna Kendal at the time.
Anyone interested can follow the construction progress at the PPS school construction website — princetonk12.org/offices/facilities/school-construction — the district’s official, real-time hub. The district updates the page weekly with the latest site logs, contract details, and progress reports.
Some of the projects from referendums approved in 2023 are now wrapping up. These include the PMS HVAC replacement, and assorted work at Littlebrook, Johnson Park, and Riverside elementary schools, including playground improvements at all three schools; installation of an above-ground bio-retention basin and an underground stormwater management system at Littlebrook; installation of an underdrain system and new engineered wood fiber surfacing at an existing mulched playground, new concrete risers and walkways, construction of modular block retaining walls, grading work, and installation of an underground stormwater management basin at Johnson Park; and installation of new basketball goals at Riverside.
From the more recent referendum, work at PMS includes excavation that will result in a new building footprint, for additions to the front and rear of building. Existing concrete was removed from the ground to allow for utility lines and building foundations. In the rear, the parking lot was milled and sidewalks removed. Asphalt millings were removed from site along with existing concrete.
This work will allow for expanded vocal music space and band space to accommodate larger ensembles, two new classrooms, three flex spaces, and new science labs, with a multipurpose room which will be available to the community after school hours.
With the addition of new classrooms, PMS will be able to maintain its “house” system, in which students are part of a smaller community within the school.
Also, the district’s technology office is being relocated from the high school to the middle school. This space at the high school is being reconfigured as flexible instructional space.
At PHS, work funded by the recently approved referendum includes replacement of the high school bleachers, which is completed.
A $10 million upgrading of the HVAC units is underway. The Numina Gallery will have instructional or gallery space in a wrap-around corridor with designated wall space and lighting conducive to the display of artwork, and three new flexible classrooms.
Work should begin in two weeks on a solar project coordinated through all schools, which involves a solar company installing and owning the panels, with the district getting a significantly discounted rate on electricity, according to the district.
Addressing new housing built in the area, Community Park and Littlebrook will have additional classrooms, and flexible small group rooms and expanded and updated core spaces will be added to both schools.
At Community Park, six new classrooms would allow each grade level to have two sections of the popular Dual Language Immersion (students who learn in both Spanish and English) and two sections of traditional English language track students. An addition at the back of the school would house the new classrooms, as well as a new gymnasium and multipurpose room. Renovated spaces would include the music room, the library, the kitchen, and the cafeteria.
At Littlebrook, six new classrooms, a new vocal music room, and renovations that would create rooms for student support services are planned.
Also at the BOE meeting, a high school student spoke about her concerns with the upcoming activity fee, and cell phone ban. She said the activity fee, which is $150 at the high school and $100 at the middle school, generalizes clubs and athletics, when athletics tends to carry greater costs.
LaSusa said the arrangement of ranking activities has been discussed but would be difficult to manage, possibility necessitating additional administrative staff, but the Board might address what constitutes club attendance or membership. The policy passed on a second reading at the recent meeting.
The same student also spoke on the upcoming “bell to bell” cell phone ban, as a challenge for students making pickup arrangements with their families. Board President Dafna Kendal and LaSusa explained the policy complied with a new state law. That policy is expected to get a second reading in August.
The next School Board meeting is on August 21 at 6 p.m.