Princeton Public Schools is home to nearly 4,000 students, and with six schools across the municipality, it can be difficult to do major renovation projects while school is in session. That is why it takes advantage of the summer months to make progress. And Summer 2025 was full of it!
“This summer, our district has been busy with many referendum projects, including HVAC projects at PMS and the elementary schools, new gym bleachers at PHS, a replacement of the PHS turf field, and PHS tennis court resurfacing. These projects were designed to support our students’ learning, wellness, and extracurricular experiences. We look forward to welcoming them back in September to enjoy the improvements,” shares Princeton Public Schools Board of Education President Dafna Kendal.
The initiatives were approved over the past several years, from the 2022, 2023 and 2025 referendums. Let’s take a look at what has moved forward.
2022 REFERENDUM PROJECT UPDATES
It might be hard to think of heating when this summer has been such a hot one, but before we know it, winter will be here. To prepare, Princeton Middle School made good on its referendum promise from 2022, as it updates the outdated rooftop HVAC. Existing baseboard radiation was demolished where needed, and new control valves installed. This will offer up better control of the temperature when the weather cools off.
2023 REFERENDUM PROJECT UPDATES
Two years ago, the community supported a referendum vote that included improvements to some Princeton High School sporting facilities. This summer, the contractor started with demolition at the tennis courts and drainage basin. They removed much of the vegetation from the basin to access the retaining wall. At the tennis courts, the existing base was removed and prepped making way for installation of a new court surface. The courts are expected to be fully usable by September 22nd.
Next door, everyone is excited for the new turf field. The old ball stop netting, gates, athletic events and carpeting were removed from this multi-use area to allow for improvements and upgrades. Footings were installed to support the new ball stop netting system. Additionally, new storm drainage, curbing and pavement were installed at the D zone. On the field, fine grading took place and new events were installed. The shot-put event concrete was laid and new carpet delivered for placement across the field. There is still a bit more work to be done, such as track surface line painting. By Homecoming, in early October, all should be completed.
2025 REFERENDUM PROJECTS
Of the 10 major projects that were approved this past January as part of the latest referendum, the first was completed this summer. Princeton High School students get excited because new gym bleachers are in place! The existing ones were demolished and within two weeks earlier this month, new ones were delivered installed and are ready for the next big game or assembly. With a fully electronic feature to open and close, they will be much more efficient for use.
Who is overseeing all this summer’s work? With the departure of Matt Bouldin, PPS’ new Business Administrator and Board Secretary Andrew Harris joined the district on July 1st. Coming from South Hunterdon Regional School District, he has experience with many large construction projects that will be very useful as these, and other referendum projects, move forward.
PRINCETON’S MOST SENIOR STAFF
PPS also had its most senior staffing change take place with the July 1st start of new Superintendent Michael La Susa. La Susa replaces Kathie Foster, who served as Interim Superintendent following the resignation of Carol Kelly in November 2023. He was superintendent of the Chathams for 13 years, and La Susa also previously taught social studies and Spanish. Some of his actions as Superintendent there mirror some efforts that took place at PPS in recent years, including a focus on mental health and a later start time at the high school. He also created a mandatory Holocaust and Genocide Studies course at Chatham Middle School, which he is hoping to bring to Princeton.
Officially just seven weeks in (though he’s been around the district for many months), La Susa has been pleasantly surprised as he works to get to know the community.
“I have been fortunate to have met with many staff, parents, and community members over the past month or so. What has surprised me the most is the degree of pride I see not only in the school district, but in how it is central to the community of Princeton as a whole. I was lucky to serve as the superintendent in my former district for 13 years, and what was tangible there was the intensity of interest and pride in the school district, but I felt like that interest stood somewhat apart from the community at large. Here in Princeton, the Princeton ‘community’ is a unifying force for all, at least that is my impression thus far,” he states.
Approval of the $89.1m PPS Bond Referendum by the town in January is an example of such community. There is also other recent evidence. Though the municipal government is a separate entity from Princeton Public Schools, in May it made a commitment to provide the schools with annual payments made from the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement with Avalon Bay Thanet Circle. Local government is also seeking ways that its purchase of the nearby Westminster property could be of benefit to the school district in the coming years.
To get to know the greater community, PPS posted various locations and hours throughout July and early August where La Susa made himself available for people to come say hello. He also attended public and private events, of which one really made an impact.
“The most exciting experience I have had so far is attending the Not In Our Town celebration on May 15 at the Unitarian Universalist church. The entire program was moving, but a student named Sheena Ash sang a spiritual song at the end of the evening that brought me (and many others) to tears. I would pay $100 in an instant to see her perform again and I would bring my whole family along with me. It was extraordinary and that type of event does not happen in any old place.”
Though it has been a busy summer for La Susa, Harris and the entire PPS team, they are eager and ready for the new year to begin on September 2nd.
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!