Parents and grandparents urge Princeton board to keep full‑time elementary music teacher, question $22M athletic spending

At the board’s May 7 meeting, multiple parents and a grandparent urged the Princeton City School District Board of Education to reverse a plan to stop filling a full‑time elementary music teacher at Woodlawn and instead have Allison Krosky split time between Woodlawn and Evendale.

“Musc education increases creativity, confidence, emotional development,” Misty Kaiser, a parent and vice president of the PCA, told the board. She said the district had informed families that concerts and the Evendale ensemble would not be possible under the split arrangement and contrasted that cut with a $22,000,000 athletic facilities upgrade appearing in the district’s budget.

“Where is the equity in that?” Kaiser asked, saying families choose Princeton for its arts and inclusion and that reducing music services sends a message that students at smaller schools will receive “the basics” only.

Other speakers repeated that concern. “I don’t see how cutting a full time teacher into 2 part times … is going to help,” said Laura Gory, a parent. Kimberly Cornell Marks said foundational music instruction in elementary grades is necessary to support later high school and middle school arts success. Mary Sherrill, a grandparent and former teacher, described a long history with district music programs and called the teacher “the heart of Evendale,” asking the board to preserve that staff member.

At least one former student described a personal turnaround tied to school music. Jackie Rice said orchestra and extracurriculars built her confidence when she was a student and said similar opportunities had helped her daughter with a sensory‑processing issue.

Speakers framed their appeals around equity, student development and enrollment: several said losing full‑time arts staff could reduce families’ incentive to keep students at smaller schools. Speakers also asked the board to consider separating non‑maintenance athletic items from an operating levy so voters could weigh those capital choices independently.

The board did not vote on staffing at the meeting; it approved routine consent items and moved into financial and policy business. The treasurer’s five‑year forecast presentation that followed explained the district’s fiscal pressures — information the board linked to the proposed operating levy that it approved sending to the November ballot later in the meeting.

The board did not announce an immediate reversal of the staffing plan. Parents and community members said they plan to continue outreach and urged the board to reconsider the staffing decision ahead of next school year.