PROJECTS
Princeton Public Schools Facilities Bond Referendum
Preparing for growth, preserving neighborhood schools
The district developed the proposed improvements to reflect what the Princeton community values: high-quality education, robust programming and neighborhood elementary schools.
Building renovations and additions would prepare us for projected growth from existing housing and new developments, and make our aging facilities more functional and better suited for modern educational needs. Princeton High School dates to 1928 and our newest schools were built in the 1960s.
All taxpayers in New Jersey contribute to the revenue that helps fund school building improvements. Some of that money would flow back to Princeton if the bond referendum is approved. This debt service aid would ease the local tax impact of paying for expanded and modernized schools.
The projects are grouped into three questions. Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes, and Question 3 is dependent on Questions 1 and 2 passing.
THREE QUESTIONS ARE ON THE BALLOT.
Question 1:
Community Park Elementary expansion and renovations
Princeton High School HVAC improvements
Question 2:
Princeton Middle School expansion and renovations
Princeton High School renovations
Question 3:
Littlebrook expansion and renovations
Supporting Instructional Goals
Expanding Programming Space
Community Park improvements include five new classrooms, two small-group instruction rooms, and two flexible classrooms that could adjust according to lesson needs. With the additional instructional space, Community Park could reintroduce an English-only track, welcome more neighborhood students and continue the Spanish Dual Language Immersion program.
Littlebrook would add six new classrooms to accommodate growth and handle enrollment surges without the disruptions the school has previously experienced, such as repurposing the music room as a third-grade classroom. Two additional rooms for small-group instruction would support individualized attention for enrichment and addressing learning gaps.
Princeton Middle School would receive two new classrooms, three new flex spaces to be used for larger or smaller classes as needed, and two new science labs. The expansion would provide appropriate spaces to support existing and projected enrollments, while offering more varied programming options.
Princeton High School would gain student instructional space in the underutilized area now occupied by the district technology office. Renovations are also proposed for the Numina Gallery, a student-run art space that’s used for instruction and presentations, and welcomes the community for exhibits. District technology employees would move to repurposed space at the expanded middle school.
Cafeterias/Multipurpose Areas
Community Park Elementary School would receive a new, larger multipurpose room/gym with a stage, and an expanded cafeteria to ease current overcrowsing and accommodate enrollment growth. Improvements also would include converting part of the current gym into a larger library that is more appropriate for modern use.
Princeton Middle School improvements would include a cafeteria expansion, which is needed regardless of the anticipated growth. The current cafeteria is severely undersized to serve the building’s nearly 800 students. A multipurpose room adjacent to the cafeteria would provide much-needed space for indoor recess, physical education and assemblies. The school now has one gym that is insufficient to serve the current enrollment. The new multipurpose room would be available for community use outside school hours.
Littlebrook Elementary School's student support services area would be renovated to increase space and enhance privacy.
Focus on the Arts
Community Park’s current music room would become a band room, and part of the existing gym would be converted into a larger vocal music room to better serve the increased enrollment.
Littlebrook’s current band room would be expanded, and the school would add a larger vocal music room.
The middle school vocal music and band rooms would be expanded, with more room to accommodate large student ensembles. Groups of 40-50 students are now squeezing into rooms meant for much smaller classes.
The high school’s Numina Gallery would be updated to support its use for student presentations, instruction and community art exhibits.
Meeting Building Needs
Replacement and Rehabilitation of HVAC Systems
High-efficiency boilers would replace existing equipment at PHS. Through the referendum, we also would rehabilitate chillers and around 250 classroom heating/cooling units that manage air flow and keep classrooms comfortable.
The improvements are expected to save an estimated $150,000 to $200,000 in annual energy and maintenance costs.
Improving Building Flow
Construction at PMS and Community Park would create wrap-around corridors for safer and much more effective flow of students navigating around the schools. At PMS, the corridor would reduce current bottlenecks and crowding as students travel between classes.
At the middle school, a covered student walkway would connect two building wings.
Enhancing Security & Accessibility
Princeton Middle School would receive an entrance with enhanced security that would be accessible for people with mobility issues.
Projects At A Glance
Community Park Elementary
Five new classrooms
Two new small-group instruction rooms
Two new flexible classrooms
Expanded band room, and new, larger vocal music room
Expanded library
New multipurpose room/gym with a stage
Expanded cafeteria
Wrap-around corridor for improved flow of student traffic
Landscaped courtyard/enhanced recess space
Littlebrook Elementary
Six new classrooms
Two small-group instruction rooms
Renovated student support services area
Expanded band room and new, larger vocal music room
Improved/expanded parking area
Renovated kitchen
Landscaped courtyard/enhanced recess space
Johnson Park & Riverside
Expanding and renovating Community Park and Littlebrook would provide more elementary classrooms nearest to where new housing is being built. This would reduce the scope of elementary redistricting and help balance enrollments across the district. If the referendum does not pass, Johnson Park and Riverside elementary schools will have increased class sizes and potential program impacts as enrollments grow district-wide.
Princeton Middle School
Two new classrooms
Three flexible classrooms that can be used for larger or smaller classes
Two science labs
Expanded cafeteria and kitchen
Expanded vocal music and band rooms
Enhanced security and accessibility at entrance
New multipurpose room with off-hours access for community
Wrap-around corridor for improved flow of students through the building
Covered student walkway connecting two middle school wings
Landscaped courtyard for student use
Updated main office with meeting rooms to more effectively welcome families
Princeton High School
Student instructional space, converted from the underutilized area now occupied by the district technology department (which would move to the middle school)
Renovations to the Numina Gallery, which is used for instructional and presentation space, and hosts exhibits open to the community.
Automated bleachers in main gym to replace aging, manually operated bleachers
High-efficiency boilers that would help solve the issue of classrooms getting too hot or too cold
Refurbished chillers
Rehab of around 250 classroom heating/cooling units for improved comfort, and air flow and quality
Electrical and structural work to support new and upgraded equipment