Dear Putnam Valley Community:
Gratitude
I want to extend my gratitude to our students, families, educators, and the Putnam Valley community for your engagement, feedback, and support throughout this school year. Together, we have made it a year of growth, achievement, and opportunity.
Opportunity is one of our district’s core values and the focal point of our goal setting—and this year, we saw it come to life in countless ways. Whether it was a kindergartner learning to read their first sentence, a middle schooler discovering a passion, or a graduating senior preparing for the next chapter of life, every moment in our schools was a chance to unlock potential.
Over the last few days, it has been my honor to stand before the Class of 2025 and our fourth and eighth grade students, celebrating their important milestones. Each of our students plays a role in shaping our school district into a place where students feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow. We are proud of the inclusive programs, dedicated staff, and innovative learning environments that create opportunities for every learner.
As we look ahead to the summer months, I encourage all of our students to explore new interests, stay curious, and take time to recharge. Our team will be hard at work preparing for the year ahead—one where we remain focused on our core values of Community, Opportunity, Resiliency, and Empowerment.
Facilities Update
The scheduled replacement of our turf field, track, and fencing is well underway. Crews have already removed the old turf, milled away the track and blacktop, and disassembled all of the fencing. The current work is now focused on drainage, preparing the “D Zone” on the far end of the field/0track to be converted to turf, along with other preparation work. In the coming weeks, we expect the new turf to arrive and paving to begin throughout the complex. We are hopeful that this project will stay on schedule and be completed in a timely manner.
The voter-approved facilities project is also underway as we begin the detailed planning and development phase of the project. Architects have already met with our Elementary School nurses, administration, and district staff to discuss priorities for the renovation of the nurse’s’ office at PVES. Engineers are scheduled to be on-site in the coming weeks to begin the design work for our geothermal and HVAC work at PVES, as well as the parking lot, retaining wall, and drainage work on the middle and high school campus. This work will continue throughout the summer as we engage with the appropriate parties to plan and design each aspect of the upcoming project. We remain hopeful that at least some of the approved work can begin as early as the summer of 2026, helping to avoid any unnecessary escalation costs.
Thank you for being a part of this incredible community. Thank you for everything you do to support our schools, students, and one another.
Have a great summer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools