PPS Back-to-School Letter Details Construction, Device Restrictions, Activity Fees

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Mike LaSusa outlined a series of changes for the 2026-27 school year, including new restrictions on student device use and a new extracurricular activity fee, in a letter sent to parents and caregivers on Aug. 19.

"It has been an eventful summer and we are eager to welcome all of our students back to our buildings and into a year of learning and growth," LaSusa wrote.

Construction

All six district schools underwent some level of construction over the summer. Site work at Johnson Park, Riverside and a portion of the Littlebrook property was expected to be complete by Friday, Aug. 28. Larger projects at Princeton Middle School, Community Park, Littlebrook and Princeton High School will continue throughout the school year.

"We know that there will be disruptions to routines and need for ongoing adjustments as we proceed through phases of work," LaSusa wrote, thanking families for their flexibility. Principals will communicate school-specific details, and progress can be tracked on the district's facilities webpage.

Device & Technology Use

The district is establishing a districtwide goal of reducing the amount of time students spend on devices and screens during the school day, LaSusa wrote.

"We are familiar with the research regarding excessive device and social media use, the decline in time spent reading books, and other emerging evidence about how we all are affected by the screens in our hands," he wrote.

As part of that effort, the district will:

• Implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban in accordance with New Jersey law, covering the entirety of the school day at all schools.

• Designate one day per marking period dedicated to "unplugging," with activities varying by grade level, including unstructured play, device-free lesson planning and time for students to meet with teachers.

• Eliminate iPad and Chromebook use during indoor recess at the K-5 level.

• Require that Chromebook and laptop screens remain closed by default in all classrooms unless a teacher instructs students to open them for a specific activity.

The district has already installed restrictions on YouTube access, implemented content filtering and monitoring tools, and removed devices from kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, according to the letter.

"We will continue to discuss and evaluate our relationship with technology, especially as AI now advances into every facet of life," LaSusa wrote. "For now, though, we are taking steps to reorient our school cultures to be more thoughtful about technology use and our students to have less of a defaultish mindset that their devices are appendages."

Activity Fee

The Board of Education has adopted a new activity fee for participation in extracurricular activities carrying a district expense. The fee is $150 at Princeton High School and $100 at Princeton Middle School for the current school year. Revenue from the fee will be used to offset costs including coach and advisor salaries, equipment, officiating and event registration fees, facility preparation and maintenance, insurance and security.

The fee can be paid through MySchoolBucks. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are not subject to the fee. Parents facing financial hardship outside the federal free or reduced lunch program may contact their school principal.

Annual Notifications

The letter also reminded families of several annual notifications required under New Jersey law:

• Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying: The district maintains a policy in compliance with New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, with information available on the district website.

• Directory Information and FERPA: Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, parents may opt out of having their child's directory information shared with groups including the PTO, booster organizations and school-contracted vendors for services such as school photos or yearbooks. Families who wish to opt out must do so through the PowerSchool parent portal by Friday, Sept. 4.

• Asbestos Management and Integrated Pest Management: The district maintains management plans for asbestos and pest treatment, overseen by Director of Facilities and Operations Tony Diaforli.

• Student Assessments: Information about state and local student assessments, including the state's assessment schedule, is available on the district website.

"Thank you for reading to the end and for all that you do to support your children and our schools," LaSusa wrote. "I look forward to a great year!"

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