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Two residents raise ADA-poster compliance and school discrimination at Princeton reorganization meeting
Summary
During public comment at Princeton’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting, a resident said the municipal building lacks legally required nondiscrimination posters and another raised concerns about alleged discrimination and special-education supports in Princeton public schools.
Two members of the public used Princeton’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting to raise civil-rights and education concerns during the public-comment portion of the session.
Rhonda Abbott identified herself as deaf and said she has repeatedly inspected municipal workplaces and found required state nondiscrimination posters missing. Abbott cited state poster requirements and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and said the municipal building, police department and court did not display required notices. “Princeton still isn't” displaying the poster, Abbott said, adding that she planned to file a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights. Abbott asked the municipal administrator to provide contact information for the town’s ADA coordinator so she could pursue a complaint.
Melissa Guzman of 85 B Bayard Lane said her child experienced discrimination at Princeton public schools and that she is now homeschooling. Guzman asked the mayor and council to press the Board of Education and the new superintendent to address racial and economic segregation, special-education Individualized Education Program (IEP) implementation and student safety, including cyberbullying. She requested follow-up from the municipal clerk’s office and was directed to email the clerk’s office for a response.
Council members did not debate or act on the public comments during the meeting; the mayor closed the public-comment period after the two speakers and the meeting moved to adjournment. The town did not offer an immediate administrative response to Abbott’s claim about posters during the meeting record, though the mayor invited the clerk’s office to respond via email.
