To the Editor:

Princeton Public School buildings are in a state of decay and inadequate for today’s students, never mind tomorrow’s. Many of our students perform well despite the lousy facilities — certainly not because of them. Rankings and average test scores don’t tell the whole story. They don’t measure the opportunities lost because there isn’t enough space to offer an elective course or special subject; they don’t measure the failure of an instructor to provide adequate attention to a student falling behind because they have too many charges; and they definitely don’t measure the level of anxiety felt by adolescents navigating crowded hallways and cafeterias in addition to their own educational futures.

It is understandable that residents would voice concern about the proposed facilities improvements in light of an already high tax burden. But much of the dialogue around the opposition, including from parents with children in the public schools, demonstrates an unfounded lack of trust in the elected volunteer school board to devise a reasonable plan to address our current facilities problems. A School Board seat is not usually a stepping-stone to higher political office. There is no motive to misuse taxpayer resources. Lack of trust in the Board of Education, especially from the school system’s natural proponents, serves only to make it far less likely necessary improvements will be made.

Princeton is a great town for many reasons. But unless we trust our elected representatives and seriously invest in our school buildings, public education won’t be one of them.

Joe Arns

Philip Drive