By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The school district can turn its attention to completing nearly $11 million worth of renovations and improvements at its schools, now that voters this week overwhelmingly approved a bond referendum.
Superintendent of Schools Judith A. Wilson said Wednesday that steps include selling the bonds, having architects work on specifications for all the projects and then bidding those projects out. As for a schedule, some things, like door and window replacements, can start in December and January, she said in a phone interview.
”The two major pieces that will be a little more complex will be the bleacher, track and turf system, because that will all be done as a package,” she said of the project at Princeton High School. “We’ll want to work around the school calendar and the athletic calendar.”
That project could start this spring, although the football, track and field and other teams that use the field might have their schedules adjusted.
”I would never expect that it would impact a full season, but I think there might be, either at the end of a season or the beginning of next season, we would try to tilt our schedule with more away events,” she said. “We won’t know that for a little bit of time. It is a possibility.”
Ms. Wilson spoke only days after Princeton voters voted 1,238 to 571 in favor of the $10.98 million bond referendum, one of three New Jersey school districts that had ballot questions Monday. Ridgewood voters passed a $2.9 million referendum, while Westfield voters rejected a $16.9 million proposal.
During the run up to Monday’s vote, Ms. Wilson had said the projects are necessary and “much-needed.” They run the gamut from putting in energy efficient gym lighting at the high school to installing air conditioning second-floor classrooms at John Witherspoon Middle School.
”These aren’t frivolous projects, they’re basic,” Ms. Wilson said. “I think that our community fully understands the importance of good stewardship of their assets, of their public facilities. And I think they’re wise about investing.”
The tax hike will be around $150 on average per year for the life of the 10-year-bond, the district has said. Ms. Wilson said the projects cannot cost more than the amount voters approved Monday.
”The dollars are finite,” she said. “If for any reason the estimates weren’t on target and projects cost more than the $10.98 million, the projects have to be curtailed.”
Ms. Wilson said the projects could be wrapped up in 18 months or less time.
”I expect that it might come in within a shorter period of time than that,” she said.

