Superintendent Pat Divine urges broader turnout for May 12 school referendum, explains absentee options

Superintendent Pat Divine of the Princeton Public School District urged parents to vote in a referendum set for May 12, saying low turnout in last November’s election left decisions about school building improvements to a small share of voters.

"We had 22% of our voters turn out to vote in November," Divine said. "That means 13% of the people that chose no to have this referendum are determining the quality of our buildings moving forward." He did not further define the 13% figure in the address.

Divine described materials the district will distribute to voters, including a “vote from home” QR code that residents can scan to request an early absentee ballot that will be mailed to their homes. He said the QR form will let voters fill out and return their ballots by mail, and that the district will also publicize other early-voting options.

The superintendent encouraged parents and community members to review the district’s fast-fact sheets about the referendum and to contact district staff with questions. He also invited residents to tour the high school to see firsthand why specific locations and spaces need upgrades.

"If you're a parent and you want to determine the quality of our school, you need to vote," Divine said, asking the roughly 84% who did not vote in November to participate in the May election.

The address closed with a general expression of thanks for the winter-season activities and a call to community support as the district moves toward the referendum. The Superintendent’s announcement did not include a formal board vote at this appearance; the next public milestone is the May 12 referendum date noted in his remarks.