With summer’s approach, the Princeton Regional Board of Education will begin the task of changing the headings of all of its policies and documents to “Princeton Public Schools,” in accordance with a consensus reached at the Board’s recent organizational meeting. The new name reflects the fact that the system will be serving the consolidated Princetons in the near future, and will no longer qualify as a district.
Finance Committee Chair Dan Haughton also acknowledged the coming end of the school and fiscal years in his comments at last week’s meeting. “We’re finishing up the year in good financial shape,” he reported. “We’re looking at a $2 million unencumbered balance that can be moved forward for next year’s budget.” He attributed the windfall to lower-cost health benefits than had been anticipated, and the fact that a proposed charter school will not be opening in the fall.
Participation in a consortium for utilities will also save the schools some $74,000 in the coming year, Mr. Haughton noted.
Chair Dorothy Bedford reported that the Facilities Committee is preparing a final list of proposed infrastructure projects for 2013-14, including accurate construction estimates. She described the projects as falling into four categories: energy efficiency; safety and security; stewardship and assets; and improvements and upgrades.
The 2013-14 school year will also see the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system, said personnel committee Chair Martha Land, and consideration is being given to applying for one of the ten competitive grants being offered by the state to schools that preview a new principal evaluation program.
The Student Achievement Committee will focus on improvements to the English as a Second Language program; social and emotional learning; and student wellness issues, said Chair Andrea Spall. They will examine the use of high school peer groups; the use of student intervention; and the general learning environment. Conversations about “improvements to the elementary school schedule,” will continue, reported Ms. Spalla.
The Board gave the go-head to Chartwells Food Services for a fourth year in a five-year contract, but deferred a self-evaluation report until its next meeting.