Dear Putnam Valley Community:
Please join us to learn more on Wednesday night.
On Wednesday, September 26, at 6:30 PM, the District will host the first meeting of the Project Implementation Committee, a community partnership that will seek to disseminate information about the District’s Facilities Proposal. As we all know, timing is everything. In 2021-2022, there will be debt retiring from the District’s annual liability. The planning with a facilities committee, that took place over the past year, has made it clear that it is critical for our district to be sure that everyone is aware of the facts that make the timing of this initiative a significant moment for Putnam Valley. The last capital project plan presented to the community was in 2004. The majority of that project was for the much-needed addition to the Elementary School. Prior to that, the dream for Putnam Valley to have its own high school was approved back in 2000, nearly 20 years ago. Thanks to the vision of the Putnam Valley community, our Putnam Valley Kindergarten through 12th-grade students can shine in so many ways, sports, art, drama, music, science, leadership, and all subject areas. Graduates are fulfilling their aspirations in careers and at colleges of their choice.
Now, the proposal is to renovate an aging middle school (1972) to meet the educational needs of the next generation learner and to build an ancillary health and wellness space on our High School/Middle School campus that will benefit the entire K-12 community. The project will also include needed updates to the elementary school (1935) auditorium and will add outdoor learning spaces to two renovated classrooms.
The critical difference between then and now is due to the timing of this proposal. Project costs would not create an increase in taxes. In a real sense, this project represents a crossroads for the community. Without a fiscal plan to manage the debt service reduction, the community would have to wrestle in the future with balancing capital improvements and educational programs within annual budgets while remaining within the New York State tax cap. This project is planned to allow for improvements with no tax impact.
The project is driven by educational goals. The changes in the middle school will affect the academic and social environment of our students, providing expanded performance space, healthful food service capacity, and a library learning commons, all designed to support our academic offerings, build social skills, and provide emotional support, in an environment conducive to next-generation learning models.
We are asking that you join our committee so that you can learn more about the project and share information through your networks so that the community is fully informed. We need your help.
Please join us – Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 26, 6:30 PM – Middle School ALL Room (Active Learning Lab).
Sincerely,
Dr. Frances Wills
Superintendent of Schools