March 4, 2026

Statement from the Board of Education regarding the Resignation of G. Elgin Card

Because this is a personnel matter, the Board will not discuss additional contract details. The contract details are contained in the Board minutes. The vote was unanimous (5 for, 0 against).

The Board of Education will work with the superintendent to ensure an orderly transition and will share information about interim leadership and the superintendent search process as soon as those details are finalized.

Dear Princeton,

I want you to hear this directly from me.

At the February 23, 2026, Board of Education meeting, the Board offered me a two-year contract renewal, which is on the low end of a typical renewal cycle for Ohio Superintendents. I requested a renewal of my three-year contract. After careful consideration, I have notified the Board that I will not sign a two-year contract with the District. 

I understand that news like this can create uncertainty, and I’m mindful of the impact leadership transitions can have on a school community. Please know that my work continues, our schools will remain focused on students, and the day-to-day operations you rely on will remain steady and consistent. We have experienced strong growth, as indicated by our State Report Card and the awards we have earned, and will continue to hold our high standards of the Princeton Advantage.

Between now and the conclusion of my service at the end of July, my commitment is to our students and to lead responsibly and to support an orderly, respectful transition. As you are aware, my daughter will be graduating from Princeton High School in May, and I am very much looking forward to being on stage as she gets her diploma and becomes a Princeton graduate. 

I will work closely with the Board and our leadership team to ensure continuity for students and staff. As the Board of Education finalizes next steps, details will be communicated. Thank you for helping us keep our messaging accurate and respectful.

I’m grateful for the professionalism you show every day. The stability our students experience is built by you, and I have full confidence in this team as we move forward to end the school year strong.

As Always…Go Vikes!

G. Elgin Card

Superintendent

https://www.princetonschools.net/page/superintendent

Princeton City Schools proudly announced that it continues to exceed state standards, as reflected in the newly released 2025 Ohio School Report Card.

Highlights of this year’s results include:

• Princeton High School (PHS) was rated 4.5 stars for the third consecutive year. The District’s Graduation Rate component increased from 3 to 4 stars, with PHS earning 5 stars, demonstrating notable gains in preparing students to successfully complete high school. 

• Princeton Middle School earned a 4-star rating, an improvement that reflects strong growth in academic achievement and support for students during critical middle grades.

•  Overall, all Princeton elementary schools are meeting the state standards, earning 3 stars or higher, with four schools earning 3.5, two schools earning 4, and one school earning 4.5. 

• The District’s Gap Closing Component improved from 4 to 5 stars, the highest rating, showing Princeton’s commitment to ensuring all student groups achieve success.

• In the area of Progress, Princeton has earned 5 stars for four consecutive years.

• New this year, Ohio introduced a rating for College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness. Princeton earned 3 stars in this inaugural category, highlighting the district’s strong start in supporting students’ postsecondary pathways.

The report card evaluates schools using a five-star system, with five stars indicating the highest level of performance. Princeton City Schools continues to earn high marks across multiple categories, building on consistent growth over the past several years.

“This year’s report card reflects the dedication of our staff, the resilience of our students, and the unwavering support of our families and community,” said Superintendent G. Elgin Card. “Moving Princeton Middle School up to 4 stars, increasing our graduation rate, and earning 5 stars in Gap Closing are achievements we are very proud of, tying into the Princeton Advantage that we offer. At the same time, the new College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness measure gives us a clear focus as we empower each student for life beyond high school.”

All Princeton elementary schools are meeting the state standards. While Princeton continues to see notable improvements, Early Literacy (K-3) remains an area of focus. The district is working closely with the state’s Science of Reading initiative to strengthen foundational literacy skills. A new elementary reading program, approved by the state of Ohio as High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), was piloted in the 2024-2025 school year and rolled out district-wide this year.

The public is invited to celebrate Princeton’s report card success at the People of Princeton Celebration Festival on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Viking Village, 150 Viking Way.

Princeton encourages families and community members to explore the full 2025 Ohio School Report Cards at reportcard.education.ohio.gov.

Inclement Weather Procedures 2025-2026 School Year

Dear Princeton Families,

Schools are sometimes faced with the decision to delay or close school due to inclement weather, so please carefully read the following methods of communication and procedures for school delays/closings in Princeton:

All Call Phone/Text Notification Via ThrillShare  The ThrillShare communication system incorporates parent/guardianship contact information in Final Forms with the Princeton City School District. We will send you a test phone call from Princeton City Schools on October 15th. If you don’t receive a phone call from Princeton on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, please contact the building where

 your child attends school to ensure they have the latest contact information on file. Parents/legal guardians are required to update their contact information when it changes. Additional phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses can be added by contacting your child’s school to update your information on file. 

If you want to receive a text message, please ensure that the school has your cell phone number on file.   If you receive the text message and DO NOT want to receive any more from Princeton, you can reply STOP to the message and choose to Opt-Out of all further messages by text.

Media Alerts   Major media stations will be contacted in the event of a delay and/or closing.

District Web Site www.princetonschools.net

Social Media Channels @PCSDViking @pcsdvikings

Kindergarten/Preschool    Kindergarten is compulsory attendance in Ohio; pre-kindergarten programs are not subject to compulsory attendance in Ohio.  To ensure that all kindergarten students have equitable access to instructional time, the Princeton City School District will implement the following procedures during two-hour delays:  

1. A.M. Kindergarten students will be transported to school following the two-hour delay schedule.  These students will stay at school for the full day.  Kindergarten students will be transported home following the afternoon/full-day dismissal schedule.  Half-day students may participate in the school lunch program or bring lunch to eat in the cafeteria.  Free and reduced lunch applications are available if you believe your family qualifies. Please e-mail Jean Sparks, Director of Food Service, at jsparks@vikingmail.org to obtain application material or contact the Princeton Food Service Department at 513-864-1023.  Otherwise, the cost of a student lunch is $2.25. 

*Please note: On a 2-hour delay, breakfast is not provided.

2. P.M. kindergarten and P.M. preschool students will have no change in the schedule during a two-hour delay.

3. A.M. preschool classes will be canceled during days with a two-hour delay.

   
   

Innovation Center  Students will still be expected to log in and work on their courses.  If there is a two-hour delay, the Innovation Center will be closed, but students will be expected to log in and work from home. In case of Early Release, students will be transported to the main campus for their assigned bus back to the community at the amended time.

Extracurricular/Sports Activities

Unless otherwise notified, district policies/guidelines will be followed for extracurricular activities/sports.

Extended Day Program Champions through Kindercare Education currently operates the Princeton Extended Day Program.  LHOI currently operates the Extended Day Program for Lincoln Heights Elementary. Below are specifics for parents currently participating in the Champions and LHOI  programs. 

1. Two-Hour Delay: The buildings will be open at 8:00 a.m. until the start of school (delayed time) at no additional charge.  If we close after the delay is implemented, parents will be responsible for picking up and transporting their children to another location for the day within one hour of being notified. On a two-hour delay, breakfast is not available.

   
   

2. School Closing: If school is completely closed, the Champions and LHOI programs will close as well. Parents will be responsible for finding alternative childcare. 

Sincerely,

G. Elgin Card
Superintendent

Click here to view/print the letter in English and Spanish