Princeton Students May Have Late Start In 2020-21 School Year

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton students may start school later than usual, after Labor Day in fact, for the 2020-21 school year.

The Princeton Board of Education passed the first reading of a proposed district calendar for next year on Tuesday night where students would have their first day of school on Sept. 9, 2020.

The late start is being considered due to the scope of the referendum projects taking place at all schools during the summer. Construction is slated to be completed by Aug. 21, 2020.

"We are striving to hold to that date, however, we want to be cognizant in the fact that sometimes construction projects run over. And we want to minimize any conflict between staff and students returning to school and getting the school up and running with construction taking place in the building," Superintendent Steve Cochrane said at the Dec. 17 meeting.

Summer projects include HVAC installation at Community Park, Littlebrook, and John Witherspoon, security vestibules and new doors at the elementary and middle schools, some additional classrooms at JW and the start of various projects at Princeton High School.

Riverside received HVAC upgrades last summer and Johnson Park will receive similar upgrades in the summer of 2021.

It is likely that school will also start for students after Labor Day in 2021 as well.

"We want to play it safe and have the first day of school be Sept. 9," Cochrane said.

Additionally the board is looking into offering an extended summer camp or service for students and families who may incur financial difficulties as a result of a late start.

The draft calendar has been sent to partners of the school to see if a solution can be offered for those students, board member Betsy Baglio said.

The proposed calendar is still open to public comment and will be finalized in Jan. 6 meeting.

Here is a look at the proposed calendar:

What do you think of the new calendar? Comment below.

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