May 2, 2012

Timothy Quinn is the new president, and Andrea Spalla is the new vice-president of the Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education.

At its reorganization meeting last week, outgoing President Rebecca Cox said that she was upholding a tradition established by previous presidents in serving just two, one-year terms, and then bowing out. Ms. Cox nominated her successor, saying that she and Mr. Quinn, who had been vice-president during her tenure, were “partners for the last two years,” and that he is “more than well-prepared to lead the Board.”

The reorganization meeting provided an opportunity to welcome and administer the oath of office to recently elected Board members Martha Land and Patrick Sullivan, and returning member Rebecca Cox. All three will be serving three-year terms.

Superintendent Judy Wilson and several Board members made a point of thanking area residents for approving the 2012-13 school year budget by a vote of 1,193 for and 360 against. Ms. Wilson noted that while “voter turnout was not as high as it usually is,” this may have been due to the fact that there was one uncontested race (Mr. Sullivan, in the Township), and a “non-controversial budget.”К

After his election, Mr. Quinn assumed the seat of meeting Chair, which had been temporarily filled by Board Secretary Stephanie Kennedy. He said that he looked forward to working with “a remarkable, very intelligent Board of Education that will foster collegiality and openness in community and among stakeholders.” As they do each year, the Board members then took turns reciting their Code of Ethics.

Adoption of the schools’ K through 12 curricula, including courses, textbooks, workbooks, and ancillary materials for the 2012-13 school year followed. Curriculum areas include language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages; visual and performing arts, technology, career education, and physical education/health.

Incoming Finance Committee Chair Dan Haughton reported that, with the current school year winding down, the state had mandated no major purchases after April 15. Efforts to reduce costs in the coming year include a 25 percent (a “six-figure number”) discount in kilowatt hours as the result of participation in an energy-saving consortium; and a $150,000 to $200,000 savings as a result of changing the district’s prescription drug carrier. Purchasing supplies through a state arrangement will also provide a break.

Facilities Committee Chair Dorothy Bedford said that while renovations will occur at all district six schools during the coming year, it was agreed to focus on making John Witherspoon Middle School the most energy-efficient building among them.


February 1, 2012

The choice between an April or November election and a prospective name change for the Princeton Regional School District (PRS) were the focus of the Board of Education’s Tuesday evening meeting last week.

As a result of new legislation, every municipality in New Jersey must decide whether or not they want to keep school board elections in April, or move them to the November general election. Superintendent Judy Wilson noted that time was of concern in reaching a decision on the question, since an April election would mean filing petitions by February 29.

The fact that Princeton will be a consolidated entity in January of 2013 adds complexity to board discussions, she continued. Since it will no longer be a “regional” school district, Ms. Wilson explained, it will be necessary to change PRS’s name. (While the high school’s arrangement with Cranbury will not change, it is not defined as a “district.”) The new name will be incorporated into the current revamping of the district and individual schools’ websites.

Vice-President Timothy Quinn made clear that the name change will not lead to additional expenses for the district. “The district will use every sheet of existing letterhead before the name change must take effect on January 1, 2013, and there are no signage considerations,” he said.

Superintendent Judy Wilson observed that the naming options are very limited, with Princeton Public Schools and Princeton School District standing out as two viable possibilities. It was noted that the word “public” in “Princeton Public Schools” may complicate the picture if it subsumes existing and future charter schools in the municipality.

Arguments for moving to a November election include sharing the overhead costs associated with running an election with other municipal departments. The district now pays around $40,000 for each April election. Of equal or perhaps greater consideration is the fact that voter turnout is significantly less in April than in November. The statewide average for April is approximately 11 percent, with Princeton showing a slightly better 14 percent. It was estimated that Princeton voter turnout in November, especially in a presidential election year, could run upwards of “80 or 90 percent.”

In the event of a November election, current school board members coming up for election will be asked to serve an additional eight months, through the end of the year. Board members, who currently represent the Borough and the Township, would serve out their terms and be replaced by candidates elected “at large” by the new municipality. The number of board members would remain at nine, each serving a three-year term.

Another consideration for the board and the community is that an April election would give voters a chance to vote on the annual school budget; a November election would not, leaving it up to the Borough and Township this year, and the consolidated entity in the future. In selecting the month in which they want to have the election, school boards will be making a four-year commitment.

Ms. Wilson also noted that consolidation into a single municipality takes effect in the middle of the school district’s fiscal year. As a result, residents will be paying the respective tax rates in the Borough and Township for six months, and one blended tax rate set by the County Tax Assessor after January 1.

Although Ms. Wilson said that there would be “no determinations” regarding the name change or election date change that evening, some board members weighed in on the issues. Molly Chrein expressed concern about the “partisanship” that might spill over into a November school board election that coincides with other races. In response, Ms. Wilson noted that ballot specifications for the school race ensured that they would look significantly different from anything else that appears on the ballot. She also reminded listeners that school board members take an oath not to make decisions on partisan issues.

School board member Daniel Haughton argued for a November election, saying that it would result in a “better alignment of board members and the budget process.” Describing it as “one more step in taking away local control of schools,” another board member, Charles Kalmbach, expressed concern about the loss of “accountability” that would occur if the elections are held in November.

Discussions of these and other issues are continuing on the board’s Facebook page.

The board also agreed that the impact on school enrollment caused by the 300-plus new housing units that will be built at the current hospital site, and the faculty and graduate student units that are planned for the old Merwick site, could be significant.

Among board president Rebecca Cox’s announcements at the beginning of the meeting was the recent tentative contract agreement reached with district school teachers in the Princeton Regional Educational Association (PREA) and the school board. Pending ratification by PREA members, the board will vote on the contract at a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 7.