Princeton Board of Education unanimously approves consent agenda covering personnel reappointments and elevator refurbishment

The Princeton Board of Education approved its consent agenda by unanimous roll-call vote at a short public meeting, clearing multiple personnel reappointments, retirements and one non-personnel item for elevator refurbishment.

The action came after the board’s presiding officer opened the meeting by saying, “It is Teacher Appreciation Week. So I just wanted to say, as we recognize Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to express the board’s deep gratitude to the educators in our district,” and the board moved quickly through a personnel-heavy agenda.

The consent agenda covered items labeled G1 through G13 on the meeting packet, which the presiding officer summarized as transfer/reassignment items, end-of-assignment notices, non‑tenured and tenured reappointments, unaffiliated reappointments, central office appointments, stipend reappointments, retirements and resignations. The presiding officer identified three returning staff by name—Cecilia, John McCann and Lauren Freeman—and extended congratulations. The board also noted the upcoming retirement of Dave Harding, who will remain on staff through the summer.

Board member Dr. Foster added, “I think you said it beautifully…every single person who works for a school district is an educator,” echoing the board’s recognition of staff across roles.

Board staff requested a motion to approve the consent agenda; Beth Baron moved and Ari Meisel seconded. A roll-call vote followed. Each of the 10 board members present—Daphne Bridal, Beth Baron, Adam Bierman, Debbie Braunfeld, Mona Franceschi, Eleanor Hubbard, Susan Kantor, Ari Meisel, Chris Santarpio and Catherine Lara—voted yes, and the chair announced, “Consent agenda passed.”

The consent package included one item the presiding officer described as “not personnel related”: an elevator refurbishment contract. Board members did not discuss the elevator contract’s terms on the record during the meeting; one board member noted that the agenda attachments were large and not loading on her device. The presiding officer and staff did not read contract dollar amounts or vendor names into the public record during the meeting.

There was a brief procedural uncertainty about the timing of tenure grants. The presiding officer and others clarified that certain tenure actions referenced in the packet would take effect next year; the board did not adopt a separate resolution at the meeting to change effective dates.

The meeting opened with the board secretary reading the legally required public-notice information, including that notice was forwarded to the municipal clerk, the Princeton Packet and the Trenton Times on 01/09/2025, and that meetings are conducted under the New Jersey statutes governing open public meetings. There were no members of the public who spoke during the public-comment portion of the agenda.

The board adjourned shortly after the consent vote. The full consent-agenda packet, which contains personnel listings, retirements, resignations and the elevator-refurbishment materials, remains the official record for specific details and dollar amounts not discussed on the record at the meeting.