By Donald Gilpin

On the agenda for last night’s Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE) meeting was an update on projects planned as part of the $26.9M bond issue approved by Princeton voters in December 2018.

The meeting took place after press time, but scheduled to provide information on the building projects were Scott Downie, architect from Spiezle, Inc.; Kathy Tartaglia, construction manager from Epic Inc.; PPS director of Facilities David Harding; and PPS business administrator Matt Bouldin.

PPS has been working on a series of health and safety improvements at the six district schools. Some of these improvements, such as air conditioning in the Princeton High School (PHS) gym, were completed last summer, and others are scheduled to take place over the next 24 months.

Several of the biggest improvements will take place at PHS, where four new classrooms and an educational commons area will be added above the fitness center and the guidance offices will be renovated, with six meeting rooms added. PPS Superintendent Steve Cochrane also mentioned a recent focus on the planning for a remote dining facility, the Tiger Cub Cafe, on the main floor at PHS “to expand student access to high quality food.”

In a major renovation at John Witherspoon Middle School (JWMS), the Academic Conference Center (aka the old library) will be converted to three flexible classrooms, with an additional outdoor
patio. All the schools will have security improvements, with air conditioning added to many classrooms that are not currently air conditioned.

Security upgrades at the elementary schools will include new security doors and partitions and new vestibules that allow building monitors to check in guests.

The library at Littlebrook will also be updated with new lighting, ceiling tiles, a new reception desk, new window blinds, new paint, and new carpeting.

Long-Term Planning

In a phone conversation before last night’s meeting, Cochrane also noted that a community forum on future growth and planning would be taking place on Saturday, January 25, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the PHS cafeteria. Consultants from the Milone & Macbroom planning firm, recently awarded a $143,000 contract from the PPS, will be on hand to share with the whole community the results of their fact-finding so far.

Facing the challenges of growing enrollments and crowded, aging schools, the PPS has enlisted Milone & Macbroom to undertake a process of engaging the community and generating options to address future growth, with a focus on ensuring affordability, wellness, equity, and excellence. 

Feedback and guidance from diverse community representatives in the coming months will involve interactive workshops, informational meetings, email blasts, and focus groups. Milone & Macbroom will present preliminary recommendations in April or early May of 2020, with a final report to the BOE and the community at the end of May or in June.

“It’s a long-term planning process,” Cochrane said at a recent press conference. “We have choices, but we’re planning for the next 20-30 years.” And he reminded the gathering, “The facilities and the finances are the underpinnings. All this supports the teaching and learning for every kid. We are leading with values. That’s the starting point for all our initiatives, with a focus on joy and purpose.”