Princeton Referendum Vote Delayed: District

PRINCETON, NJ — There will be no vote on the proposed upgrades in the Princeton Public School District in November, the district announced Tuesday afternoon.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) informed the school district that it is still in the process of reviewing the district’s facilities referendum plans, along with multiple projects from other New Jersey school districts, the district said in a release. Due to the backlog, the state review is not yet complete.

The additional time needed for review means that the referendum will not be on the November ballot as anticipated. Referendum dates are set by the state. Pending approval from the NJDOE, the next target date for an election will be announced at a later date.

The referendum ballot question scheduled to be heard by the Princeton Board of Education Tuesday night has also been postponed, according to the district.

“We remain excited about the facilities referendum and will continue to communicate the facts to our community as we plan to address needed improvements to our buildings as well as needed space for our current and growing student population,” Princeton Superintendent of Schools Steve Cochrane said. “Our goal continues to be to make critical upgrades to our security and HVAC systems at all six schools while expanding our capacity with needed and innovative spaces that are cost-effective, sustainable, and supportive of how our students learn and how our teachers teach. We recognize the importance of this vote to our current students and staff, to the generations of students to come, and to a community with a tradition rooted in high quality education for all. We will take advantage of this additional time to ensure that everyone has accurate information about the district’s needs for space and security, the impact of the proposal on learning and wellness, and the associated costs both short and long-term.”

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