Next PIACS Hearing in South Brunswick Set for Dec. 15

The next hearing for the proposed Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS) in front of the South Brunswick Zoning Board of Adjustments has been scheduled for Dec. 15. PIACS will be submitting an entirely new application with new legal representation, thus restarting the hearing process.

The new application will be for PIACS alone, as school spokesman Parker Block said the private school proposed to share the location with PIACS found a new location in Kingston.

"We're submitting a new application and we will have new counsel, so we're starting everything new basically," Block said in October.

The initial application from developer 12 P & Associates, LLC for the proposed location of PIACS at 12 Perrine Road, called for the charter school to share the 11.70 acre site with the 

The hearing comes on the heels of the Office of Administrative Law ruling against  in their lawsuit against the boards of education. 

The suit  and the use of governmental positions by the three school districts to fight the opening of PIACS. The suit sought relief in the form of an order restraining the three districts from using taxpayer money or resources to oppose PIACS in the zoning process. The suit also sought a judgment stating the three districts have no legal authority to continue opposing PIACS.

found that the three districts have "discretionary authority to perform all acts and do all things, consistent with the law and the rules of the state board, necessary for the lawful and proper conduct, equipment and maintenance of the public schools of the district."

"The discretionary authority includes activities at issue here, which were taken to protect the financial interest of the resident districts," Judge Beavers wrote in her decision.

Even short of a restraining order preventing school district officials and attorneys from participating in the zoning process, Block expressed confidence earlier this year that the removal of YingHua would allow the process to proceed smoothly.

"(YingHua) found a different location so they won't be part of the process," he said in October. "We think things will move much more efficiently with the new application."

Numerous issues were raised throughout about concerns over the two schools sharing facilities and whether wear and tear for shared uses, such as playground equipment, would be billed to the appropriate school. There were also issues raised by zoning board members about the 

The next zoning hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 15 at 7:45 p.m. The location has yet to be formally announced, though it's expected to once again be held in the auditorium at the to accommodate the large crowd that has attended the previous hearings.