Town, School District Open To Land Swap In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — With a growing enrollment and the need for more space, the Princeton Public School District had been eyeing the Westminster Choir College’s Princeton campus for possible purchase. However, last week, Rider University announced that it had found a partner to purchase the college and maintain the Princeton campus. It now looks like a new option may be open to the school district.

Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert said she is open to the idea of exchanging land with the school district, the Princeton Packet reports. She would consider trading the Monument Hall municipal building to the district for the Valley Road School. Although there have been no discussions between the sides, Princeton Board of Education President Patrick Sullivan told the newspaper the district looks forward to “sitting down with them and negotiating something that’s in the best interest of everyone.”

The district has been considering ways to handle an expected increase in student population as the result of two new residential developments. Discussions have included the possibility of a referendum early next year.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the school district put in a bid to buy the Westminster Choir College’s Princeton campus. Rider University announced it would sell the campus after it was revealed that it had been considering closing the campus and consolidating the school to the Lawrenceville campus.

Earlier this month, the university announced it had selected an international partner that has proposed to acquire Westminster Choir College and maintain the campus in Princeton.

Patch file photo