Writing in Opposition to January Princeton Public Schools Referendum
To the Editor:
Regretfully I cannot support the upcoming PPS referendum. As a lifelong resident whose father and youngest son both graduated from PHS, I wish I could. As a past coach in district, local business person, and having served on a neighboring school board many years ago, I can’t for numerous reasons.
First and foremost, holding a special referendum costs the tax payers extra as opposed to holding when voters are already casting their votes in an election. The reasons for this seem obvious, either poor planning or hoping that there will be a low voter turnout where the PPS can promote and push enough to pass it. Wasting tax dollars should never be rewarded.
Second, if timing is due to poor planning, why on earth would we trust the same body to plan better when it comes to the renovations and expansions sought?
This is a large tract and includes classrooms and other structures. If the sale doesn’t go through what will go there? If high density housing, we have even more potential to impact the schools. Certainly, with this open question a referendum is premature.
Fourth, proper planning should consider all we have and what we actually need to comply with state and federal laws. Beyond that, what the voters want. What programs are not required? Are class sizes lower than they could/should be for the age and subject taught? I remember college classes of over a hundred. Should tax payers cover day care costs for preschool? A complete inventory of space and use should be done.
Fifth, looking at the district’s “success” in managing past capital projects. It wasn’t many years ago a referendum was passed that included items that while approved by voters, were not completed. (My in-district coaching was for the middle school wrestling program that had to practice in the library one year before relocating to the high school, though a previous referendum included a wrestling / PE room passed and it wasn’t created) The high school gym that was accidentally built 10’ smaller than per plans and not discovered until they painted floors and discovered the bleachers couldn’t be opened? The football field that was redone over a faulty base and had to be redone again? The fine arts area flooded due to improper grading and drainage. Planning and executions for past construction and maintenance have been poor.
Poor maintenance is from poor planning. HVAC systems need to be properly maintained and replacements budgeted for. Absent a superintendent, a knowledgeable director of facilities and grounds should be making the pitch for referendum. What changes have been made to the process to avoid costly mistakes of the past? For the sake of our children let’s not rush into yet more mistakes and instead be prudent with tax dollars. Construction is disruptive but with proper planning this can be minimized. Unfortunately, as shown above, proper planning has not been in our wheel house.