WHY IS PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPOSING NEW INVESTMENTS FOR BUILDINGS & LEARNING?

Today, along with reading, math and traditional education, our students explore authentic, hands-on careers in healthcare, automotive technology, culinary arts, construction and engineering, manufacturing, and more. At Princeton Public Schools, the classrooms and tools our students rely on are outdated, undersized, and need safety, accessibility, and industry-standard updates.

Princeton High School Needs Critical Updates to Support Students

Many of our classrooms are over 60 years old, and we've done our best to maintain and improve them over several decades. However, our needs have exceeded our existing space, and improvements must be made to support our students' futures. 

SHOP AREAS & INDUSTRIAL TECH EDUCATION

Students can learn welding, engine mechanics, construction, and machining, but our shops are 55 years old and very undersized. They are located in pole sheds that were built in 1970 and were intended to be a temporary space for these programs.

The size of the shops limits enrollment, preventing many students from taking these high-demand courses.

The shop areas have safety concerns, such as:

  • Poor ventilation

  • Overcrowding

  • Asbestos in the learning areas

  • Inadequate lighting

Healthcare Education

Students can learn and have the opportunity to train as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). We currently do not have dedicated classrooms and equipment for this training.

  • CNA students must travel out of the district for hands-on training.

  • Only five spots per trimester are currently available in the program. Many more students are interested and are not given this opportunity.

Culinary Education

Culinary spaces are not equipped or designed to train students for the skills needed to work in professional kitchens.

  • The existing equipment is similar to what you would find in a standard household kitchen—ovens, stovetops, and tools meant for small-scale cooking. 

  • In contrast, commercial kitchens use high-capacity appliances and specialized tools. 

  • Without exposure to industry-grade equipment and setups, students miss the opportunity to learn techniques, workflows, and safety practices that are essential for careers in culinary arts.

Aging Classrooms

Our high school classrooms are over 60 years old and no longer meet today’s learning needs. 

For example:

  • Today’s educational model focuses on group learning and 1-on-1 instruction, but our current classrooms were built for an era when learning was limited to sitting in rows and listening to lectures.

  • Our classrooms limit the type of instruction we can provide. 

    • For example, only one high school science classroom features group seating and a fume hood. This significantly limits the types and number of experiments students can perform. 

  • Classroom lighting is outdated and dark, making it harder for students to see clearly, stay focused, and learn at their best.

Building Infrastructure

  • The middle school roof is approaching the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced.

  • The high school building’s boilers are original to the 1964 building and over 60 years old, over twice the average lifespan of a boiler today.

  • Stairwells and hallways at the high school are undersized, narrow, and poorly lit, creating safety concerns. Since 1964, the student population has doubled in size.

  • Locker rooms at the high school are in the basement and were built in the 1960s and do not meet accessibility and space requirements for students.

    • The location makes supervision difficult because of the proximity to the gyms and fields.

    • Locker room plumbing and lighting are severely outdated.

  • The high school student-run school store and concession stand are inadequate as learning spaces for business-education students.

Classroom Technology

Technology has become essential to today’s careers – and classrooms need to adapt.

  • Learning today is digital. Textbooks, research materials, assignments, and communication all depend on reliable technology for students to excel.

  • Modern careers require industry-standard tools, trade-specific equipment, and current software. Students need to train on the same platforms and systems they will use in the workforce. 

  • We must provide the necessary technology to support our classrooms and Tiger Career Academies with relevant resources. 

  • At every grade level, students benefit from updated classroom technology.

Learn more about the proposed referendum