Demolition seen as inappropriate when school is in session
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY Board of Education President David Pettit told concerned residents this week that the board supports their view that demolition work at Skillman Village, the former North Princeton Developmental Center, should not be undertaken while school is in session.
About 100 buildings are slated to come down during the site cleanup and Monday’s board session drew another wave of township residents expressing concern about the impact of that work on students attending the nearby Village Elementary School.
In response, Mr. Pettit told them that the board has a "strong desire" for the demolition work at the NPDC site to take place only during the summer break. He also noted, however, that the work schedule will be up to the Township Committee. If the committee is unwilling to confine it to the summer months, Mr. Pettit said the board will consider other options such as moving classes to other schools within the district or even to houses of worship in Montgomery.
"Obviously consequences are involved with either of those, namely with family life and costs," said Mr. Pettit.
Township Committeeman John Warms, who also attended Monday’s board meeting, said that it would take more than one summer to complete the demolition and cleanup.
In recent meetings, some township officials have said they would like to see most of the cleanup work near the school completed while classes are not in session but preferred not to have the work suspended when classes resume.
"We’ve come to a point where we have to do what’s right," said Mr. Warms. "It’s clear to me at this point that the demolition and the abatement cannot be done in one summer. It’s going to take at least two, maybe more, if we’re going to do it carefully."
Mr. Warms said he wanted to see the school board meet with the Township Committee, get input from residents and work out a solution and a timetable.
"I think that the best way to resolve it, rather than the subcommittees, is to have the entire board and the entire Township Committee meet even if it takes all day or two days so that we have a complete understanding so that people’s fears and concerns are ameliorated," Mr. Warms said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Mr. Pettit said he and the board were amenable to the idea of meeting with the entire Township Committee.
Board Vice President Charlie Jacey agreed.
"We can’t put a single child at risk," he said. "Thinking of that, everything is put in perspective as to where we have to go."
In other business, the board distributed a packet outlining budget priorities for 2007-2008, including a reassessment and improvement of school safety and security, a commitment to reasonable class size, improved relations within schools and the community, recruitment and development of a highly qualified teaching staff, generation of additional revenues and attention to facility and transportation needs.
However, a planned discussion of the budget was postponed to a special meeting to be held next week, either Wednesday or Thursday, because of the time spent on discussion and public comments regarding NPDC and the status of High School Vice Principal Chip Clymer. Residents were advised to check the district’s Web site at www.mtsd.k12.nj.us for the date and time.

