Published: Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 10:04 AM     Updated: Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 10:43 AM

Martin Griff / The Times of Trenton

PLAINSBORO – Stalled in its plans to open a Mandarin Chinese-English language school, Princeton International Academy Charter School may have competition for its intended spot at St. Joseph’s Seminary on Mapleton Road.

The American Boychoir School and the French American School of Princeton both have expressed interest in holding classes at the aging Catholic retreat center, which is being downsized as a result of church cutbacks, said officials close to the negotiations.

Members of the PIACS school charter group had hoped to open in September but ran out of time to meet qualifications specified by the state Department of Education. The group will have to wait another year and in the meantime other school groups might take up the desired space at St. Joseph’s, a 44-acre campus with neo-gothic buildings, playing fields and a gymnasium.

“Our lease (with the seminary) was null and void as of July 15,” said Parker Block, one of the charter school’s founders and its spokesman.

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