Dear Putnam Valley Community,
As the weather outside warms, we are reminded that spring is right around the corner. However, I do wonder if at least one more snow day could still surprise us. Tonight, many families of our third and fourth-graders will be treated to a joyful production of The Jungle Book. I had the privilege of attending the dress rehearsal yesterday, and I am still smiling. The students and staff involved in this production are a shining example of the talent and dedication within our community.
In addition to the play, we have many other reasons to celebrate. Our cheerleading team just placed 3rd in New York State, and two of our wrestlers competed in the first-ever NYS Girls Wrestling Championships. Meanwhile, our young scientists have been actively presenting their research, and students across the district are thriving in a wide range of activities.
While our District continues to excel within the classroom, on the stage, and through athletic competition, much of our attention over the past several months has focused on the much-needed infrastructure work that must be completed. Following the defeat of our capital project, 625 Yes votes to 667 No votes, a difference of just 42 ballots, we remain committed to providing the best possible educational environment for our students while completing the necessary infrastructure work at no additional cost to our taxpayers. (The majority of the proposed project, 66%, will be supported by New York State Building Aid.)
In response to the vote, we continue to engage with our community and carefully review the path forward. On Wednesday, February 26, we held a Facilities Committee meeting with nearly 100 people in attendance. During this meeting, attendees worked in small groups to review the proposed scope of work for the capital project and identified their priorities. The results were tabulated and reviewed at a second meeting on March 12, where we further discussed the community’s feedback and the impact of the failed vote.
The committee’s work was then presented to the Board of Education at their meeting last night. The newly proposed project would provide a slight tax savings to the taxpayer while still completing the work that was determined most necessary by our community. Facilities Committee Presentation/BOE Meeting 3/13/25
All of the work identified by the committee is important and necessary, but the failed vote in January has changed the critical timeline, and the Board must carefully consider what work can be removed from the project, as well as the costs associated with those changes.
Please continue to follow our progress. We will keep you informed about the next steps and provide further opportunities to answer questions and share information with the community. The District has established both a Communications and Financial Subcommittee to help engage the community with accurate information that will empower an informed decision when they cast a ballot on Tuesday, May 20. If you are interested in joining either of these subcommittees, please contact Jeannie Denike at JDenike@pvcsd.org.
On another note, I wanted to inform the community of some of the additional security measures that we put in place following the incident last month when a student from another school, accompanied by a Putnam Valley student, boarded our school bus and briefly entered our high school. While it was determined that this individual did not present a threat and was escorted off campus, it was clearly a violation of our security protocols.
As is our practice, the district conducted an incident debrief that included district administration, staff, law enforcement, and our school security consultants. Immediate changes were made to our protocols to better prevent an incident like this from happening again.
As part of these enhanced security measures, a monitor is stationed at the front entrance of the high school each morning and during departure and arrival to and from BOCES. All students are now entering through the two doors on the left side of the building. Additionally, we have confirmed with our contracted transportation company that only students on our official roster are permitted to board the school bus.
Student and staff safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to strive to always improve. Our schools remain extremely safe, and Putnam Valley continues to serve as a model for many districts in our region.
Our schools have always been the heart of the Putnam Valley Community. Our buildings have served as a place of celebration and support. We welcome and host a wide range of community events and organizations that enrich the lives of our residents. We must continue to invest in our facilities to ensure they are available for generations to come, just as they were for me when I first attended Putnam Valley Elementary School over 40 years ago. Thank you for your continued support and for being an informed voter on Tuesday, May 20.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools
Facilities Committee Presentation/BOE Meeting 3/13/25
Facilities Project – to be updated after 3/27/25 BOE Meeting
pvcsd.org