To the Editor:

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that Princeton is facing a full-blown crisis in its public school system (PPS), historically one of the top districts in the state. If its quality and reputation continue to drop and teachers/staff continue to leave, we will see declining property values and tax revenues, with fewer people and businesses wanting to come to or stay in Princeton. 

At the root of the crisis is a divisive superintendent, hired by the Board of Education (BOE) in July 2021. Unfortunately, the BOE seems to be taking the fall for their CEO’s ineffective leadership and expensive missteps. The few supporters of the superintendent and BOE who have spoken publicly have tried to minimize the voices of thousands of PPS parents and residents by calling them an insignificantly small group. In a May 24 letter, they even belittled them as “recent arrivals” — apparent anti-immigrant rhetoric we should not accept in Princeton.

These supporters do not represent the far larger population voicing legitimate concerns. Here are the facts: There have been thousands of signatures on petitions demanding accountability and the resignation of the superintendent; more than 1,000 attendees at multiple tense BOE meetings after high school Principal Frank Chmiel’s controversial dismissal; more than $25,000 fundraised for Chmiel’s legal defense and exploration into recalling elected BOE members; and the creation of a grassroots nonprofit called “Princeton School Advocates.” 

PPS is the biggest recipient of our property taxes (50 percent), and its annual budget exceeds $100M — 50 percent larger than Princeton municipality’s budget. Property taxes are increasing due to the recently passed BOE budget. A proposed referendum will ask taxpayers to fund an additional $10M. Yet we seem to be mired in an expensive mess, especially since the BOE hiring of the superintendent. This includes, to name a few items: hundreds of thousands of dollars for controversial curriculum consultants and a PR firm (why does the superintendent need one?); payments toward interim administrators exceeding $1,600/day; and legal fees (and potentially a large settlement) related to anticipated lawsuits by the dismissed principal.

In the upcoming months, more facts will likely emerge regarding the conduct of the superintendent. Mr. Chmiel and his attorneys have alleged that the superintendent or her designees: falsified data and omitted files from his record; intimidated students, teachers, and staff to silence them; lied about a union-organized vote of no-confidence; and misrepresented facts related to school security. While we wait for the facts to be established, many residents view these allegations as fitting into a pattern of mismanagement and ethically questionable behavior over the past 18 months, which has negatively impacted education, test scores, teacher/staff retention, and morale.

For many paying attention, there is an overwhelming sentiment that local government — in this case the BOE and the superintendent it hired — has failed its constituents and Princeton’s children, and in doing so has violated the public trust. There are critical BOE financial decisions on the horizon, and taxpayers deserve a well-functioning Board and superintendent. This should matter to all Princeton residents, who have the power to hold elected officials and their designees accountable.

Jason Rogart, MD
Marion Road