Senior Class Trip Is Approved; PHS Parking Still Has Problems

Candace Braun

"We're going to Disney World!" That's what Sasha Jean, senior class president at Princeton High School, was able to tell her classmates Tuesday, October 26, after the Princeton Regional School Board approved their senior trip to Disney World in Orlando for a week in April.

First presented to the Board at its September meeting, the trip was originally rejected because it lacked an educational component, a requirement for it to be school sponsored, said Board President Anne Burns.

At the October Board meeting, Ms. Jean presented information on YES, a Youth Education Series at Disney World providing two-hour field study programs for students in either arts and humanities, natural science, or physical science. If the trip were approved, each student attending would commit to one of the programs, said Ms. Jean.

However, some Board members had also objected to the cost of the trip, which had risen from $600 to $700 per student since the last presentation. In addition, after stating at the Board's finance committee meeting last month that the students would be able to raise $10,000 towards the trip, Ms. Jean admitted that $5,000 was a more likely amount.

Presuming all 200 seniors attended, that would only give each student $25 towards the trip, said Board member Walter Bliss, who voted against it.

"At $700 per student ... this idea doesn't begin to be inclusive of the entire senior class ... It ultimately divides them," he said, adding that the trip would put the financial burden on the parents of students wanting to go.

Board member Jeffrey Spear contended that the school has a system to give larger amounts anonymously to those students who qualify. He added that while he believed the trip was a mistake, he voted in favor of it because "the students can learn from their own mistakes."

The Board also approved a separate high school softball trip to Orlando, for the team to participate in the Disney Softball Spring Training. The expenses will be paid for through fundraising events.

PHS Parking

In related news, PHS Principal Gary Snyder addressed the Board at its October 26 meeting regarding the parking situation at the high school. He said that after meeting with Township officials last month, they decided that parts of the plan might need to be "tweaked throughout the year."

With very few students parking on Guyot Avenue, which has been designated for them, Mr. Snyder said the school is looking to provide additional parking decals for the remaining students to see if more would park on the road. He added that PHS might also consider offering spots to residents.

Another concern is that certain roads surrounding the high school with 6 p.m. permit parking hours have caused a problem for family members and visitors attending special events, such as concerts or sports games. The school may either change the hours to end permit parking at 3 p.m., or else see if it would be possible to notify the Township and Borough not to ticket certain roads on special-event days, he said.

Mr. Snyder said that the issues will be brought to the ad hoc parking committee, which will determine what measures should be taken next.