Good evening families of Bus HM 1, HM 2 and ES1:
As you may have heard, the State Department of Transportation is planning on closing the Taconic State Parkway center median as of December 2. Traffic will still be able to make a right turn into and out of the Roaring Brook Lake community, however, this is not a viable option for our school buses. Beginning Wednesday, November 20, the High School/Middle School AND Elementary School bus runs will use the Richardsville Road access to Roaring Brook Lake. This change will require Elementary School students to be out at their bus stops 10 minutes earlier than usual. High School and Middle School should continue to expect pick up times that went into effect on November 12. (Students from Wiccopee Road have been contacted directly with information regarding changes.) We will be monitoring arrival times and if any additional changes are necessary we will let you know immediately.
Please note, drop off in the afternoon will also be affected by the route change. Please expect your children at their drop off stop approximately 10 minutes later than usual. Any assistance in sharing this communication with friends and neighbors would be appreciated. Elementary school children will not be let off their bus if there is not a parent waiting for them.
The route change to Richardsville Road is one we have expected, it is just coming much earlier than anticipated. We have been in regular contact with the representative from the State Department of Transportation, Town Supervisor Mr. Oliverio, Putnam Valley Highway Superintendent Mr. Cobb, as well as the Town of Kent and the Carmel School District. Our PVCSD team will continue to thoughtfully consider the impact of the project on students and families. Bus drivers will complete practice runs prior to the change on Wednesday.
This email will be partnered with a phone call to numbers listed in Power School, our student portal.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools