School enrollment numbers in WW-P are projected to increase based on future residential development planned in the two townships, but several unknowns remain. In a presentation at the school board’s May 26 meeting Superintendent David Aderhold outlined the expected impact while reiterating that projections are not exact due to the unknown status of the Howard Hughes property as well as the Transit Village in West Windsor’s redevelopment area.
Of the known developments, five properties in West Windsor and one property in Plainsboro are expected to eventually add 300 students. Aderhold’s presentation noted “potential impact on Maurice Hawk based upon pending developments.”
“There is nothing tangible just yet on whether we need to expand,” board member Yingchao Zhang says. “It looks like we may need to do something to accommodate new students.”
Calculations of student enrollment projections are based on a formula by former school board member Stan Katz.
The Forrestal Village apartment development in Plainsboro, with more than 370 units, will add 58 students, and a groundbreaking is scheduled next spring.
In West Windsor, the completion of the 460-unit Princeton Terrace development this summer will add 50 additional students. The Princeton Theological Seminary apartment complex, at more than 200 units, will add 104 students, though West Windsor is still awaiting a concept plan. The Toll Brothers development on the Maneely Property, with 55 townhouses and 46 apartments, has an anticipated impact of 50 students, and township approval is expected sometime this year.
Sixty apartments at the Ellsworth Center and the blighted property behind it will contribute 36 students, though ongoing litigation with the owner of the blighted property has stalled both projects.
Looming on the long-term horizon are the 658-acre Howard Hughes property and the 350-acre Transit Village. Roughly a third of the Howard Hughes property is wetlands, and the district estimates a potential 300 acres available for development. Howard Hughes has not announced any details beyond the intention to create a mixed-use development.
The number of housing units at Transit Village is estimated at 800 apartments, though Aderhold says fewer, bigger units could be built in that would yield more students. At the high end, 300 students could come from the Transit Village, though no developer has announced construction plans.
Affordable housing requirements, now going through the state judiciary rather than the Council on Affordable Housing, pose yet another uncertainty for the district. Both townships have indicated they will follow the new judicial process.
The board also addressed numerous personnel changes and professional services agreements.
In personnel news, Allan Johnson was appointed supervisor of technology, training, and media resources, effective July 1. His salary has not yet been determined.
Teachers hired to replaces ones on leave or who have left the district include: Julia Arnold, fifth grade at Village; Jaime Conlon, fifth grade at Millstone River; Ryan McMichael, special education at High School North; Paige Ozdonski, third grade at Millstone River; Fontine Stamataros, fifth grade at Millstone River; and Ilysa Wagner, speach language specialist at Dutch Neck.
Additionally, Trina Colt and Mary Ann Giambagno were named school nurses at Maurice Hawk and High School South, respectively.
Staff who announced their retirement include Shirley Allan, science teacher at Grover, after 20 years in the district; Tobi Arias, social studies teacher at North, after 13 years; and Diane Lantz-Hecker, school psychologist at North, after 27 years. Brandon Horn, a technology education teacher at South, also resigned from his position.
Among the special services rates voted on at the meeting were: $26,000 per year for district medical services, provided by Dr. Gerald Raymond; $95 per hour for medical coverage at home football games, provided by Drs. Scott Miller, Mark Pressman, and Ahmar Shakir of Lawrence Orthopedic Group; hearing audiologist Dr. Julie Gonzalez at $110 per hour; interpreters Sylvia Dall’Asta (Spanish), Neera Kothary (Gujarati), Julie Troger (sign language), and Gwendolyn Yick Yeung (Mandarin) at $50 per hour; psychiatrists Elliot Gursky at $475 per evaluation, Nidagella Gowda at $400 per evaluation, Kani Langovan at $450 to $500 per evaluation, and Ricardo Fernandez at up to $1,050 per evaluation.
Also Princeton Healthcare System/Occupational Medicine Services, $50 for a substance abuse panel, $55 for ecstasy test, $35 for breath alcohol test and breath alcohol confirmation, $65 for a student examination, $110 per session; and US Health Works, $79 for a substance abuse panel, $40 for breath alcohol test, $28 for breath alcohol confirmation, and $48 for a student exam.
Among many bid awards made was a lump sum bid of $132,400 for HVAC upgrades at the Wicoff Elementary School cafeteria. The winning bid was submitted by Performance Mechanical Corp. Other bids for the project, which had been recommended by Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie Architects/Planners, ranged from $144,675 to $300,000.
