Primary science specialist eliminated; teachers and parents urge reconsideration

Community members and teachers pressed the Princeton Public School District board to reconsider its decision to eliminate the primary school’s dedicated science specialist, saying the change will reduce young students’ opportunities to explore, observe and experiment in a dedicated setting.

At the start of public comment, Alex Fay, a classroom teacher and parent who identified themself as a staff member of Princeton Public Schools, read a prepared statement calling the decision “a shock, disappointment, and frustration” and urging the board to reconsider. “This class is so important… Science as a specialist provides kids with the chance to question, observe, explore, experiment, and play to deepen their understanding about the world,” Fay said, adding that the cut hurts students and families.

During the board’s information item on budget adjustments, administrators described enrollment declines that have reduced the number of class sections in primary and intermediate buildings and created an open full-time specialist slot for next year. The superintendent explained that the district is reallocating licensed specialists to match the reduced number of sections and licensure availability, and emphasized that the district would not eliminate science instruction: “Were not reducing science. Were reducing the science specialist. That curriculum is still expected to be taught so that science is not going away,” the superintendent said.

Board members and staff debated trade-offs: some said shifting a highly skilled teacher (Tom, an art/primary teacher mentioned in remarks) to other buildings could strengthen middle-school science scores, while others noted the specialist program had drawn families to Princeton and worried about enrollment impacts.

A school bus driver who spoke during public comment also raised school-safety concerns separate from the staffing debate, telling the board that a student phone had caught fire and left a burn mark in a hallway and questioning whether students were unnecessarily exposed to hazard areas during cleanup. He also described repeated vaping incidents on buses and asked whether students who reported wrongdoing get believed and acted upon.

Administrators and board members acknowledged the pain of the change and said they tried to follow a rollout strategy that prioritized meeting with affected staff before public disclosure. They said some staff have been offered alternative placements, licensure permitting, and that the district’s aim was to avoid additional layoffs by redistributing licensed staff where needed.

The board did not reverse the staffing decisions during this meeting; budget adjustments and staffing items will be included in the June budget adoption process and staff said they will continue outreach with principals, affected staff and the community.