School board backs new Littlebrook principal
After accepting its previous principal’s resignation last month, the Board of Education moved to install a new leader at Littlebrook Elementary School on July 1.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — superintendent recommendation, legal update, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The superintendent said seven finalists emerged from a strong field, but one candidate stood apart and looked like the right fit for Littlebrook.
A key school leadership decision landed this week. The Superintendent told the Board of Education that the search for a new Littlebrook Elementary School principal began after the board accepted the resignation of Mr. Luis Ramirez about a month ago. He said the applicant pool was strong, with seven finalists advanced shortly after the prior board meeting, including sitting principals and assistant principals from other districts.
He recommended Lisa Cuddy for the job, effective July 1. In his remarks, he first referred to the candidate as Lisa Cottell, then the recommendation and vote identified her as Lisa Cuddy. He said she stood out as exceptional and pointed to her elementary teaching background, especially in upper elementary grades. He said she had earned respect in Hillsborough Township and now serves at Orchard Hill Elementary School in Montgomery Township, which he described as a large pre-K school with 700-plus children.
The Superintendent said that experience gave her a broad set of skills that matched Littlebrook’s needs. He added that she was at the meeting and would be able to address the board after action was taken. The appointment sets up a leadership change at the school at the start of the next academic year, with the new principal scheduled to begin July 1.
Legal update: dismissal of lawsuit challenging seminary site redevelopment plan portion
A court ruling cleared one piece of a long-running local dispute. In announcements, board counsel Jerry said Judge Loi issued an opinion and order dismissing a lawsuit brought by the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development over part of the seminary site redevelopment plan, specifically a multi-use inclusionary development.
Jerry said some recent newspaper coverage had not gotten every detail right. He did not walk through the court’s reasoning or the legal arguments in the case, though he said the suit had affected discussion of the master plan.
He stopped short of predicting the final outcome. Jerry said he was holding back for now and wanted to see what happens next, while suggesting he believed the matter would eventually be dropped. Board members called the dismissal good news, but the update left open whether there will be another step in the case.
Board pauses meeting for 15 minutes
The board voted to take a 15-minute recess after opening public comment and said it would return at 7:35 p.m. The break split the meeting before members resumed the rest of the agenda.
procedural
Applicants press board on res judicata
After a concept review, applicants asked how the board would decide res judicata if they file a formal subdivision application. Counsel and staff said the question would be handled within a specific application, and they did not identify a clear way to separate that issue from a fuller submission.
leadership change
Board approves Canon Dial Elm Club plan
The board approved the Canon Dial Elm Club application at 21 Prospect Avenue for preliminary and final major site plan approval, parking variances, and waivers. Members attached conditions covering lighting, bird-safe materials, and other details, then later adopted the memorializing resolution unanimously.
The club can move ahead with its approved project at 21 Prospect under conditions affecting construction and site design.
344 Nassau Street case carried, then memorialized
The board first carried the 344 Nassau Street application to a later date and asked for more engineering, parking, and affordable-housing information. At a later meeting, it adopted the memorializing resolution for the variances, site plan approvals, and design waiver, with edits to parking and affordable-unit language.
This project affects housing, parking arrangements, and commercial activity on Nassau Street.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Princeton had 270 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEBoard backs Westminster redevelopment-area designation. The Board opened a hearing on whether the Westminster Choir College site should be designated a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment, heard the planning consultant's findings, questioned counsel and the consultant about legal effects and standards, and took extensive public comment. It then adopted a resolution recommending designation of 27 Franklin Avenue and 101 Walnut Lane as a non-condemnation redevelopment area.
- GOVERNANCESubdivision and use variance application introduced and continued — 1128 Great Road (Block 301, Lot 4.01), RA/RB Zones. The Board began hearing an application by Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart seeking preliminary/final minor subdivision approval and multiple variances to create a school lot and a “manor house” lot intended for sale to Woods Wayside International for environmental education and public trail access. Staff memos raised issues including lot line determinations, survey discrepancies, easements, access, parking, and D-variance proofs. Due to time, the hearing was continued to June 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. with jurisdiction retained.
- GOVERNANCEAcceptance of donation of cleaning services for Princeton Wars Memorial (Garden Club of Princeton). Council considered Resolution R-26-147 accepting a donation of cleaning services for the Princeton Wars Memorial from the Garden Club of Princeton. Council thanked the organization, and a Garden Club representative spoke in support of continuing the partnership. The resolution passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEBonding and NJ Infrastructure Bank Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program (exceeding $1,934,000). Council approved Resolution 26-153 determining the form and details of bonds exceeding $1,934,000, providing for sale to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, and authorizing execution of agreements under the Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program.
- GOVERNANCECouncil buys and outfits police vehicles. Council approved one contract to buy police interceptors and other department vehicles from Pamis Ford and another to have Elite Vehicle Solutions upfit them. Together, the actions cover both the vehicle purchase and the equipment needed to put them into service.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of 2026–2028 collective bargaining agreement with FMBA Local 72. Council considered Resolution R-26-144 approving the 2026–2028 collective bargaining agreement with the Princeton Firefighters Mutual Benefit Benevolent Association Local Number 72 (FMBA Local 72). The resolution passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEPublic hearing and vote: term deed conservation easement for Community Park North Reforestation project (NJDEP). Council held a public hearing on Ordinance 26-19 authorizing conveyance of a term deed conservation restriction to NJDEP for the Community Park North Reforestation project. Staff said the restriction would last 25 years after project completion (anticipated October 2027) and would not change public use because the area is already subject to Green Acres restrictions. The ordinance passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproving limiting medical benefits offered under SHBP/local government plans (additional plan options). Council approved Resolution 26-155 regarding limiting medical benefits offered under the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) / local government plans. Staff explained the state was offering 10 new, less expensive plans and that the municipality needed to act by June to opt into offering these additional plan choices to employees.
- GOVERNANCEAdoption of municipal emergency management basic plan. Council considered Resolution R-26-148 adopting the municipal emergency management basic plan. The resolution passed unanimously without recorded discussion.
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