To the Editor:

I am writing to support Mara Franceschi’s reelection to the Princeton Board of Education.

I have known Mara and her family for many years and know Mara to be deeply dedicated to and care very much about the Princeton community. Since moving to Princeton 14 years ago, she has volunteered with many local nonprofits, including assistant treasurer of the Friends of the Library, treasurer for Nassau Nursery School, PTO treasurer and president for Johnson Park Elementary School, and on the town’s now disbanded Citizen’s Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC). There is no doubt, however, that her service on the School Board on behalf of our children is her highest volunteer priority. Mara believes passionately in a vital public school education for all children. more

To the Editor:

I have got to know Chris Santarpio through his outstanding dedication to our Parent Teacher Organization, and I am delighted to hear that Chris is hoping to build on that experience by joining the School Board. Chris has demonstrated that he really cares that our schools are working well and has gone over and above normal duty to help out. Any time I go to a school district meeting I see him there, asking great questions, and working hard to ensure the best outcomes for kids in our local schools.

The School Board is planning a bond referendum to provide much-needed classroom space, but many residents will be wondering whether all the investments are necessary. Chris has been following this process for years. He understands how important these investments are,  and also has the skills and background to ensure that local residents are getting value for money. He has also considered the needs of families from different schools, and has worked to ensure that improvements benefit everybody.  more

To the Editor:

We would like to add to Yasna Shahriarian’s thoughtful letter about the dangerous intersection of Hamilton Avenue, Rollingmead, and Snowden Lane [Mailbox, September 25].

As local residents, we walk or drive through that intersection every day. Many years ago, several of us, all residents of Snowden Lane, asked the town to install speed bumps along Snowden Lane. Our request was rejected. more

To the Editor:

I am grateful to live in as bicycle-friendly a town as Princeton, and I enjoy biking to day care and work with my 1-year-old son in his trailer a few times a week. As a cyclist I strive to be visible and to follow the rules of the road, as I expect cars to do, and I generally feel safe.

However, within the past few weeks we’ve had several close calls at the intersection of Terhune Road and Jefferson Road, when drivers heading west on Terhune have run or almost run their stop sign as I came downhill with the right-of-way on Jefferson. There are no sight-line issues at this corner, and it’s difficult to understand how these drivers haven’t seen us coming down the hill with our bright colors, lights, and trailer flag.  more

To the Editor:

I’m writing in support of Ari Meisel as a candidate for the Board of Education. Ari is a problem solver who is deeply invested in our school system and our community, and I believe that he will be a capable addition to the Board.

You may have heard Ari described as an “efficiency coach.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant when I first met Ari a few years ago, but I’ve come to understand that it involves helping entrepreneurs and C-level executives become better managers and navigate challenging periods for their businesses. This is often during a time of growth or transition, and Ari’s role involves digging into the details of a business and finding ways to improve systems and operations, whether it be by leveraging technology (one of Ari’s favorite topics), by hiring or delegating in a strategic way, or by teaching his clients to be more effective managers and communicators. From my perspective, that is a pretty ideal skill set to bring to the management of a system as important as our school district.  more

To the Editor:

We hear a lot of talk against immigrants and immigration these days, but too often we fail to remember that, many times, people come to this country seeking refuge from violence and persecution. They have a right to apply for asylum, in accordance with UN Conventions and U.S. law, but there is little assistance available to help them navigate a complex system of rules and forms to seek asylum. Many are desperately looking for a better, safer life for themselves and their children; they contribute to our communities, filling important gaps in employment and adding the richness of their cultures to our lives.

The recent ICE raid in Princeton reminds us that a number of Solidaridad volunteers first came together six years ago, in response to a series of pre-dawn raids at immigrant neighbors’ homes. We are grateful that our elected representatives spoke out against the most recent action and that community members mobilized to ensure that our neighbors in Princeton knew their rights.  more

To the Editor:

Driving over the years has gotten more and more dangerous. Car crashes continue to be the leading cause of death in the U.S. Getting a call that a loved one has gotten into an accident can be a traumatic experience. I experienced this twice (in March 2023 and April 2024) when my mom called to inform me that my dad got into an accident and the car he was driving got totaled. Luckily there were no fatal injuries, but the thought that something worse could have happened still lingers. Recently another crash at the same intersection was brought to my attention — hence the call to action to create awareness among the community and to find a solution to avoid further crashes.

Both the crashes, coincidentally, happened at the four-way intersection of Rollingmead, Snowden Lane, and Hamilton Avenue. This intersection only has two-way stop signs and has blind spots. Contributing factors also include overgrown shrubs, and no indicators stating that the incoming traffic does not stop. In both instances the car coming from Hamilton Avenue did not fully stop and resulted in a multi-vehicle crash including my dad’s car and, in both instances, he was not at fault. This intersection has been noted by residents as the most dangerous intersection in town. Princeton has many pedestrians and cyclists going through the various intersections, and we need to make them safer before we have more accidents. more

To the Editor:

I am writing as a 14-year resident of Princeton, mother of three (college and two at PHS), longtime community and school volunteer, and current Board of Education member.

I am running for reelection to the BOE because experience matters. My background makes me uniquely qualified among the other candidates running to assist our schools from the very first day. With an MBA from Columbia, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter, and over a decade’s work experience in finance, I am well-qualified to manage financial oversight of the district. I currently co-chair the Personnel committee and sit on the Operations and Long-Range Planning committees. I have served as treasurer for the JP PTO, Nassau Nursery School, and Friends of the Library and on the town’s now disbanded Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC), among other volunteer positions.  more

To the Editor:

As Asian parents in Princeton, we are deeply invested in the education and future of our children. This year, we have the opportunity to elect two candidates to the Board of Education who not only reflect our values, but also bring personal experiences that resonate with our community. Shenwei Zhao and Lisa Potter come from different paths, but both are united in their dedication to supporting the diverse needs of Princeton’s students.

Princeton’s Asian population makes up close to 20 percent of the town’s residents. Our community is growing, with families from China, India, Japan, Korean, Taiwan, and other Asian nations contributing to Princeton’s rich cultural landscape. Zhao and Potter are shining examples of how leadership can reflect the diversity of our town and support the unique needs of families like ours. more

To the Editor:

Besides the ability to address future school needs, and potentially some of the soon-to-be-announced state requirement for additional affordable housing, the Westminster campus offers great opportunities for other important municipal and community uses, including turning the broad lawn fronting Hamilton Avenue into much needed in-town public open space.

The acquisition will also enable the town to designate the core of the historic campus as a local historic district, as recommended in the Princeton Master Plan adopted last November. A priority to repurpose the historic core buildings and other buildings on the campus will exemplify Princeton’s sustainability goals, as the most sustainable buildings are ones that exist, with all their embodied carbon.  more

To the Editor:

September is Hunger Action Month, a time when Yes We CAN! Food Drives pledges to renew its efforts to help our neighbors in Mercer County who don’t have enough food to feed their families or themselves. Thus it is that we need your help so we can help our neighbors.

We are grassroots volunteers who collect money twice a month at both the Princeton Farmers Market and the West Windsor Farmers Market.  The funds collected then allow us to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from the farmers, which in turn are donated to Arm In Arm to restock its food pantries. more

To the Editor:

Ari Meisel is a pillar of the community who will serve on the Board of Education with his trademark blend of efficiency and boundless energy.

Ari loves Princeton. Years ago, I asked him to name his favorite place he has ever lived. He quickly replied, “Princeton! You can’t beat the sense of community here.” He has embraced this town and he has become an integral part of it. As an EMT, as a PTO board member, and as a CARES committee member, he helps the most vulnerable, the most underserved, and the most sick and injured in Princeton. He also brings a parent’s perspective to the BOE as a father of five children, four of whom attend Princeton Public Schools.  more

To the Editor:

Planning for the future is very difficult to do. I would like to thank our mayor and Council for looking out for the entire community in initiating the purchase of the Westminster Choir College property from Rider University. As someone that served as an elected Township Committeeman/Princeton Councilman for 15 years and 10 years prior on Boards and Commissions, I am supportive when our elected officials look out for the interest of our residents.

The Westminster location is one of the most important developable land mass sites left in Princeton. With all the building of houses, apartments, condos, and townhouses, we are going to need more public facilities. I am sure we are going to need an additional school in the near future. Planning, planning, planning is everything.

I am asking that we all open our minds and try to understand this purchase of the Westminster Choir College site. Making difficult decisions in the beginning can save each of us a lot of additional taxes in the end. My plea is that the mayor and Council continue to do due diligence to make sure the residents have a super win. Let’s get behind this project and continue to watch Princeton become the best town to live in. We are so fortunate to live in Princeton.

Lance Liverman
Former Council President
Witherspoon Street

To the Editor:

Trust takes years to build, but it can be broken in a single moment. For many of us in the Princeton community, that trust was shattered last year when the Board of Education mishandled both the firing of Princeton High School Principal Frank Chmiel and the drama surrounding Superintendent Dr. Carol Kelley. These events exposed a lack of decisive leadership and a failure to address the concerns of the community.

The turning point for many of us came during Frank Chmiel’s “Donaldson” hearing. This was the Board’s chance to acknowledge that the situation could have been handled better, without explicitly apologizing. However, when only two out of 10 board members voted to reinstate Chmiel, it became clear that our voices weren’t being heard. Our concerns as residents and parents were ignored, and any remaining trust in the Board evaporated. more

To the Editor:
There are three precious spots open on the Princeton Board of Education. This year is extremely important. We need to find BOE candidates committed to hiring a superintendent who is invested in our district, not their own agenda, and also not temporary (we are grateful to the lovely temporary superintendents we’ve had in the past five years, but we deserve long-term investment). With so much change and turnover in this district (on all levels) we are missing the opportunity to form our own identity. The identity of our district should not come from how it wants to be perceived but should come from the needs of the kids. It’s not an agenda put upon them, but a collaborative development toward the future together.

Ari Meisel encompasses skills to help bring this district its identity. Ari should fill one of the three open positions.  more

To the Editor:

I am writing to voice my strong support for Chris Santarpio, a candidate for a seat on the Board of Education.

My family and I have lived in Princeton for over 14 years, and both our boys have been going to Princeton’s wonderful public schools since their first day of kindergarten. We were lucky enough to be districted for Community Park, where they both had phenomenal experiences in the Dual Language Immersion program. In the many years I’ve lived here, though, I have never seen someone make such a huge impact on our schools in such a short period of time as Chris.  more

To the Editor:

I write this letter in support of Ari Meisel’s candidacy for the PPS Board of Education. And before I’m accused of bias, of course I’m biased! Ari happens to be my very wonderful brother-in-law.
And it’s from this perspective that I write, because others will be able to compile paragraphs full of his accomplishments, his involvements, his tireless work ethic, his living embodiment — as a father of five — of the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Everyone knows this about him. In fact, everyone knows Ari, period. He and my sister moved their family to Princeton almost a year after my husband and I got here, and yet within weeks of arriving, he was the one introducing people to us. It’s his personality. He’s a compulsively friendly, roll-up-his-sleeves kind of guy who gets in there.  more

To the Editor:
After spending years of participating and observing, I have decided to run for a seat on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) this November. It wasn’t an easy decision for me, being a first-generation immigrant, a parent, and a busy business owner. However, it is a step I feel compelled to take.

As explained on my campaign website (ShenweiForBoE.org), which has listed specific guidelines of my positions, I came to the U.S. in 2000 as a student. Immigration is never a simple process for anyone and settling down in a town like Princeton was no exception. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities this country and this community have provided us: The ability to live, raise a family, and become active participants in civic life. more

To the Editor:

Ari Meisel truly understands what it means to be a leader and pillar in the community. He leads by example and will always fight what he believes is right for his community and all that inhabit it. Ari possesses a unique understanding of business and organizational leadership and is an expert in efficiency and accountability.

What Ari will bring to the School Board is long overdue and a necessity as we navigate the future of Princeton school district and all that it offers its families and most importantly its students. Ari is meticulous and forward thinking, allowing him to understand that in all situations we can do better, and we can be better. He understands that things don’t have to appear to be broken to be fixed. Having been an integral part of the community for many years, Ari understands the deficiencies of our Board policies that lead us to falling short of the best for all our students and families. He is well invested in our school district as all his kids that are of school age attend the Princeton school system, something that is not often said enough.  more

To the Editor:

We are writing to express our strong support for Shenwei Zhao’s candidacy for the Board of Education (BOE) this November. We have known Shenwei since 2003, when we attended the same graduate school in Ohio. At that time, he had just left his job in Washington D.C. to pursue a Ph.D. in the Department of Communications. From the moment Shenwei arrived on campus, he started to help others.  As one of the few international students from China who have previously worked in the United States, he helped many students settle in. We still vividly remember him driving his 1990 blue Camry, towing the smallest U-Haul trailer he could find, and helping new students move in.

Shenwei worked as a teaching assistant in his department and later secured a research assistant position at Rutgers University. We lost touch for a while, but around 2011, a mutual friend helped reconnect us, as by then, we had all settled in New Jersey. At that time, we lived in a different town but were thinking about moving as our children grew older. Shenwei and his wife encouraged us to relocate to Princeton on the first day of 2017 due to its excellent educational resources. Seven years later, our daughter graduated from Princeton High School (PHS) and is now in college, while our son is a junior at PHS.   more

To the Editor:

Princeton Public Schools (PPS) has filed for another facilities referendum, its fourth since December of 2018 when taxpayers approved a $27 million dollar referendum. Taxpayers were also asked to approve a $17.5 million referendum in January of 2022 and a $13 million referendum in November of 2023. The newest referendum, scheduled for a January 2025 vote, is by far the largest referendum in recent years expecting to cost between $85-89.5 million.

The Board of Education (BOE) says the $85-89 million referendum is needed to accommodate 220 new school- age children that will arrive from 1,100 new housing units that are scheduled to be built in Princeton over the next five years.  more

To the Editor:

I would like to introduce myself, Chris Santarpio, to the entire Princeton community as a Board of Education candidate. You may have seen my yellow lawn signs pop up around town recently. I chose the color yellow because to me this signifies positive energy, optimism, and sparking creativity. If elected, I will bring these qualities to the BOE.

My husband and I made Princeton our home in early 2020. We chose Princeton because of its vibrant and diverse community. I immediately became involved in the PTO as our son entered kindergarten at Community Park Elementary.  I am now serving my second year as PTO Co-President. I have also regularly attended Board of Education meetings, committee meetings, and PTO Council (PTOC) meetings (the PTOC consists of the district administration and leadership from all of the school-level PTOs within PPS, meeting monthly throughout the year). By serving in the PTO and attending these meetings, I became aware of the challenges facing the BOE and realized I could bring my skillset to help PPS thrive.   more

To the Editor:

Since I announced my candidacy for the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education over six weeks ago, I have had the privilege of meeting with dozens of community members, teachers, and administrators. Through these conversations, I have gained a deeper understanding of the diverse aspects of our district, and I am very excited to continue this journey.

My background is rooted in public service and community involvement. I have had the honor of serving as a volunteer EMT, providing critical support to our community during emergencies. Additionally, as the vice chair of the Princeton CARES committee, I have been actively involved in fostering a supportive environment for all residents, ensuring that the voices of our diverse community are heard and valued. In my professional life, I have focused on optimizing systems and improving efficiencies, skills that I believe are directly applicable to the challenges our school district faces today.  more