About a month ago voters here in Putnam Valley approved not only the school budget for next year but also a proposition that will enable our district to transfer funds to maintain and upgrade our school facilities. The successful passage of these two proposals was no small feat. Statewide the passage rate of school budgets, though high, was lower than last year.

There are several groups and individuals who deserve credit for our District’s success in this arena: our teachers, our parents, our administrators, and our Board of Education. All articulated the necessity of these funds to assure continued academic achievement of our students. The formation of a Budget Committee, who upon being educated on school finances in general, as well as the District’s needs and finances, was most significant. Each member of this committee took their role seriously and proposed recommendations both short term and long term, for the Board of Education to consider.

What does this mean? For students, continued access to instructional materials and supplies, opportunities to participate in extra curricular activities from debate to soccer. Opportunities for community organizations like the Putnam Valley Business Association to conduct meetings in our schools, and for government agencies, such as the town and the state, to hold forums in our schools, such as Assemblywoman Galef’s discussion on property tax relief. But it also means that we can dedicate funds to provide improved classroom settings at our Elementary School by assuring that each room will be properly air-conditioned and expanding our physical space there so that all children can be educated in an appropriate setting.

When I first came to Putnam Valley and interviewed for the position of Superintendent, what I first noticed upon entering the school grounds were how well-maintained the grounds were; how clean and bright each building was and how the facilities were devoid of apparent vandalism and graffiti. It revealed to me two aspects of Putnam Valley that no words could convince me of: that the community took pride in what was here and the District took responsibility to maintain the quality of facilities that the community had provided. With your pronounced support on May 20, we will continue to upgrade and maintain not only the high quality of instruction that occurs here within these facilities but the facilities as well.

Dr. Marc Space
Superintendent of Schools