Princeton Public Schools

The meeting commenced with the welcoming remarks and an overview of the Board's role in setting policy for educational, financial, and personnel matters. The session included discussions regarding the adherence to New Jersey laws and regulations. Key agenda items involved the presentation and review of the annual ethics training mandated for board members, which covered prohibited acts and the code of ethics, emphasizing confidentiality regarding personnel and student matters. The board attorney also addressed board governance, the relationship between the board and administration (where the board sets policy and the superintendent manages operations), and the importance of supporting district personnel.

This organizational meeting commenced in closed session before moving to public session. Key activities included the announcement of official results for the Annual School Election and the administration of the Oath of Office to new school board members. The primary focus was the Election of Officers, resulting in the selection of Dafna Kendal as Board President and Susan Kanter as Vice President for the 2026 Calendar Year. The board also established the structure for standing committees and approved several administrative items via consent agenda, such as adopting the Roberts Rules of Order, the Code of Ethics, the annual meeting schedule, and designating official newspapers for legal advertisements. Under Business, Finance, Plant & Transportation Operations, the board accepted a resolution awarding a contract to Diamond Construction for Site Upgrades and Improvements (Project No. 5559A).

The meeting commenced with the administration of the Oath of Office to three newly elected board members following the official results of the annual school election held in November 2025. The board then elected a president and vice president for the upcoming year, with Daphna Kendall nominated and confirmed as President, and Susan Caner as Vice President. A significant discussion involved reporting on a wire fraud incident from September 2024, totaling $178,000 related to referendum projects, although the board expressed confidence that the district funds were not lost. Furthermore, the board approved operational changes, including transitioning from BoardDocs to Google Docs to achieve estimated savings of $10,000, and discontinuing the display of the agenda behind the board during meetings to reduce distraction. The structure and scheduling of standing committees (Equity, Long-Term Planning, Operations, Personnel, Policy, and Student Achievement) were reviewed, with plans to adjust certain meeting times, specifically moving Equity, Policy, and Student Achievement meetings to afternoon slots to improve accessibility for board members and the public.

The meeting commenced with a closed session covering confidential matters including Special Education Legal Cases, general legal matters, personnel issues, student discipline, and HIB & Suspension Reports. Key discussion points in the public session included the introduction of the new Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Margarita Baldeo. The Board heard a presentation on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) work by students and principals from Community Park school. Approvals included a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Princeton Regional Educational Support Staff Association (PRESSA) for the period of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and the appointment of Stacy Young as Principal of JP effective July 1, 2025. The Board also ratified a Shared Services Agreement with the Town of Princeton concerning Payments in lieu of Taxes (PILOT) revenue. Furthermore, updates were provided on the 2025 Referendum projects, including renovations and additions planned for completion by August 2029. Personnel actions included accepting resignations, approving retirements, and numerous appointments, transfers, and stipend authorizations for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Curriculum and Instruction approvals covered various hourly appointments for summer and session-based work, as well as approvals related to the HIB report acceptance and the 2023-2024 HIB Report Card.

The meeting included an initial closed session followed by the public session. Key discussion items focused on personnel matters, specifically the reappointment of staff and the granting of tenure to teachers who have completed four years in the district. The Superintendent and Board President acknowledged Teacher Appreciation Week. The agenda included numerous personnel actions, such as approvals for staff transfers/reassignments for the 2025-2026 year, the end of assignments for several staff members for 2024-2025, and the reappointments (both non-tenured and tenured) for various administrative (PAA) and teaching (PREA) staff for the 2025-2026 school year.