Notices from the High School will sometimes reference different committees. For clearer understanding, listed below you will find a description of the different committees at the High School and their functions.

Building Steering Committee (BSC) - The purpose of this committee is to facilitate shared decision making in developing and revising school policies. The membership includes representatives from the larger Putnam Valley educational community and includes; parents, faculty, staff, students and administrators.

The BSC includes the following sub-committees:

• Academic Policies Committee - The purpose of this sub-committee of the BSC is to review academic concerns such as grading policies, qualifying matrices for Honors, AP and college courses. All recommendations are subject to approval from the BSC and administration.
  
  
• Attendance/Discipline Policies Committee - The purpose of this sub-committee of the BSC is to review and develop policies (within the guidelines of NYS and S.A.V.E. legislation) regarding tardiness to class and school, excessive early dismissal or late arrival, general attendance issues, and student code of conduct. All recommendations are subject to approval from the BSC and administration.
  
  
• Respect Individual Differences in Everyone (R.I.D.E.) - The purpose of this sub- committee of the BSC is to explore ways to promote tolerance and character education, as well as to encourage an environment where our students will make healthy life choices. This committee relies on periodic input from student representatives.
  
  
• Faculty Advisory Committee - The purpose of this committee is to advise the Principal on matters pertaining to the attainment of student outcomes as identified in the District’s Mission Statement and the recommendations of the High School Steering Committee (the advisory group for the design and development of PVHS).
  
  
• Staff Development Committee - The purpose of this committee is to have a representative group of faculty and staff members provide input for planning of professional development time for faculty meetings, professional development days and Superintendent Conference Days. In addition, members of this committee will serve as representatives on the district professional development committee.
  
  
• Instructional Support Team (IST) - Instructional Support Team (IST) training is an initiative of Putnam Valley High School designed to develop a school-based team of professionals who support classroom teachers' efforts to assist struggling learners. The mission of instructional support is to provide students who are at risk of school failure with the necessary academic, behavioral, communication, and/or social supports to succeed in school. This effort is accomplished through collaborative school-based teams in which the shared expertise of team members is focused on empowering teachers to meet the individual needs of students. A well-trained and committed IST precludes the need for special education classification for some students and facilitates the inclusion of students who required special education services in general education classrooms. The intended outcome of IST is a more instructionally responsive school for students and teachers alike. The membership includes representatives from the Pupil Personnel Support Services group and includes special and regular education faculty, speech/hearing specialists, psychologists, school counselors, the school nurse and administration.