By Donald Gilpin

Facing the challenges of a growing community and overcrowded schools, the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) are planning for major expansion over the next three or four years.

The plans, presented by consultants and the district’s long term facilities planning committee (LTFPC) at a public meeting last week, call for expansion and improvements at Princeton Middle School (PMS) and Community Park and Littlebrook elementary schools; additional work at Princeton High School; and demolition of the older section of the district’s Valley Road building.

Total preliminary costs are estimated at $81 million to $85 million, with a fall 2024 anticipated referendum date. If Princeton voters approve the referendum, September of 2027 should see completion of the projects with “students in seats.”

The largest portions of the projected costs are expected to be allocated to expansions and improvements at PMS (about $30 million), Community Park ($24 million-$25 million), and Littlebrook ($13 million), according to professional planner Mike Zuba, director of public education master planning for SLAM Engineering, and George Duthie, president of FVHD Architects-Planners, who presented their report at the PPS Board of Education (BOE) December 12 meeting.

The plan includes a one-story addition at PMS expanding the cafeteria and providing a multi-purpose room and auxiliary gym space along with a two-story addition for new classrooms, a science lab and a base for the district’s IT department, as well as renovations for the music area; a two-story addition at Community Park for new classrooms, along with a one-story addition for a multi-purpose room/gym with stage, and expansion and renovations for the cafeteria; and renovations and improvements at Littlebrook for six classrooms, the cafeteria, kitchen, gym, library, and an addition to the music area.

Plans for PHS include renovations to the tech area (about $2.8 million) and HVAC upgrades ($9 million-$9.5 million), and anticipated demolition costs at Valley Road are estimated at just over $4 million.

The recommendation also calls for maintaining the dual-language immersion (DLI) Spanish-English program and pairing it with at least two traditional elementary tracks at Community Park.

The BOE and LTFPC will be holding two public meetings early next month — on Saturday, January 6 at 9:30 a.m. in the PMS auditorium and on Tuesday, January 9 at 7 p.m. virtually via Zoom — for the community to learn more and provide feedback on the plans.

“One of the best things about this is how the professionals are working with the administrative team,” said Brian McDonald, BOE member and co-chair of the LTFPC, expressing his gratitude to the consultants and the district personnel who have been engaged in the planning process since 2019.

PPS Acting Superintendent Kathie Foster highlighted the work done by the LTFPC in researching and working with experts to explore different options in moving towards an effective proposal. She emphasized their “amazing balance of being true stewards of the community and being effective servants of the students.”

Foster also praised the work done by the school principals, and she added, “There will be more space for students — for learning, for play, and for pursuing future opportunities.”

In addressing the anticipated bond referendum proposal, the planners emphasized the need for prudent stewardship and the question of affordability for taxpayers. They acknowledged Princeton’s high property taxes, 50 percent of which are school tax levies, also noting that a large majority of taxpayers do not have students enrolled in PPS.

The projected timeline and process going forward include continued planning and designing, cost estimates, and enrollment projection updates, as well as ongoing dialogue with the public.

The plan recommends a BOE resolution authorizing the project and submission of the project to the New Jersey Department of Education this winter, a referendum in the fall of 2024, and construction beginning in the summer of 2025. Further planning and preparations would lead up to adoption of redistricting plans by the fall of 2026. Construction would be completed in time for the opening of the 2027-28 school year.

A recording of the planners’ December 12 presentation, along with PowerPoint slides and further information, can be found at princetonk12.org under “Board Meetings” and “Board Agendas and Minutes.”