Princeton school district officials have approved a new, five-year contract with Superintendent of Schools Mike LaSusa.
The Princeton Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a new contract for LaSusa that runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. It replaces a previously approved contract that ran from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2030.
The new contract, which was approved at the school board’s Sept. 22 meeting, also grants significant increases to LaSusa’s salary as compared to the previous contract.
Under the prior contract, LaSusa’s salary started at $285,000 in the first year of the five-year contract, but was bumped up to $295,000. By the end of that contract, which would have expired on June 30, 2030, he would have been paid $319,317.
But the new contract sets his salary in the first year of the contract – which is the 2026-27 school year – at $315,000. In the fifth and final year of the newly approved contract, LaSusa will earn $354,535.
School board president Dafna Kendal said the school board has been “blown away” by LaSusa and his stewardship over the district during the past year. He began work in the district on July 1, 2025.
“We would like to extend the contract by another year, which you agreed to,” Kendal told LaSusa.
Contracts are limited to five years under state law, so the contract that was approved by the school board is a new one. It must be approved by the Mercer County Superintendent of Schools.
School board member Adam Bierman said the vote to grant LaSusa a new five-year contract was a clear vote of confidence in him and will provide continuity to the school district.
“Not that you are going to be perfect, but I think you show leadership. I feel that it gives us much leadership stability that we have not had,” Bierman said.
LaSusa began work on July 1, 2025. He replaced former Superintendent of Schools Carol Kelley, who took a a paid leave of absence in October 2023 in advance of her Aug. 31, 2024 resignation. Her five-year contract would have expired on June 30, 2025.
School board member Eleanor Hubbard said the district is lucky to have a leader who understands the issues facing the school district and who has the energy to resolve them.
School board members Mara Franceschi and Beth Behrend echoed Kendal’s remarks that she – and they – were “blown away” by LaSusa’s performance.
“I am not prone to hyperbole, but ‘blown away’ is absolutely the right term. Your skill set has been unbelievable. It’s just unparalleled and we are thrilled to have you for another year,” Franceschi said.
Behrend also said she was “blown away” by LaSusa’s ability to lead. This district is lucky to have him at the helm.
“I’m just grateful that I can continue to work with you. I really appreciate that we have another five years together,” Behrend said.
During public comment, former school board member Brian McDonald said that when LaSusa was hired in January 2025, he had served as the Superintendent of Schools in the School District of the Chathams for 13 years. He is now in his 15th year as a schools superintendent, making him one of the longest serving superintendents in New Jersey, he said.
“He was and is the most accomplished, highly respected and high achieving superintendents in the state. This is an opportunity to keep Mike here for one more year until 2031 – six years instead of five years,” McDonald said.
Having a strong, experienced leader is a must-have at a time when public school districts are under tremendous financial stress, McDonald said. Many districts have been forced to lay off dozens of employees, including teachers and staff. There are cutbacks in other areas, as well.
“I believe Mike is the best superintendent currently serving in the State of New Jersey. He is deeply committed to public education, to New Jersey and to us, Princeton,” he said.
“His presence is a gift and a blessing to our students and our staff and our teachers, and I strongly urge you to approve this employment agreement,” McDonald said.
LaSusa said that “blown away” was a little bit of an exaggeration, but he was grateful to the school board and the people with whom he works every day, as well as community members and staff who have been kind to him since he arrived in the district.
“I didn’t anticipate necessarily wanting to extend my career at this point in the game, given the number of years I have worked and how old I am,” LaSusa said.
“But this community has been so embracing and energizing and warm and welcoming to me that I love being here and I’m going to keep trying to do my best on behalf of the students and the school district as a whole.”
