Superintendent’s Message

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

As required by the New York State Department of Health, we are notifying you that a person in our elementary school was recently diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is an illness particularly notable for its severe and long-lasting cough. The following information has been provided by the Putnam County Department of Health.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms followed by a cough that becomes much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs (“coughing fits”) sometimes followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults, and very young infants may not develop the whoop. There is generally only a slight fever. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching breath. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.

If you have been experiencing a cough illness, a visit to the doctor is highly recommended.  You should be tested (PCR test) by your health care provider.

Vaccination is the best defense against Pertussis.

Please consider the following Putnam County Department of Health recommendations:

• Vaccinate your child following the recommended guidelines which include a pertussis-containing vaccine (Dtap) at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age.  A booster dose is given at 4-6 years.  A Tdap booster is given at ages 11-12.
• Adults are often carriers and should receive one Tdap booster in their adult life. Adults do not have to wait until their next Td (Tetanus/Diptheria) booster is due, they can receive Tdap at any time.
• Infants under one year old, especially those under six months, are most likely to have severe symptoms if they develop pertussis. When possible young infants should be kept away from people with a cough. Infants with any coughing illness should be seen promptly by their doctor.

If you have further concerns or questions please contact your doctor or the Putnam County Department of Health
at (845) 808-1390.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

The District is aware of the discoloration of the water on the High School/Middle School campus.  We have been in contact with the Yorktown Water District which provides water service to those buildings.  They have received similar complaints from residents along that section of their system. The discoloration is a result of yesterday’s fire along Peekskill Hollow Road and the fact that the Fire Department needed to tap into the fire hydrant on the school’s property.

The Yorktown Water District expects the discoloration of the water to dissipate throughout the day as water continues to flow through that pipe.  We have been notified that the water on campus is potable and that any questions regarding its safety can be directed to the Yorktown Water District.

All bottle-filling stations throughout the building contain water filters and bottled water is available to anyone who requests it.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

From: Yorktown Water Lab <ytwlab@yorktownny.gov>

The continued discoloration of your water is not an indication of unsafe drinking water. Nothing has entered into the water main, it is due solely to the high rate of water flow disturbing the water in the main. This will dissipate as water at the school is used & water that has already settled replaces it. I hope that this information will ease any concerns that staff or students may have. My contact information is listed below should there be any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Dahlke
Yorktown Consolidated Water District #1
Water Quality Lab / GIS
Asst. Distribution Superintendent
1080 Spillway Rd.
Shrub Oak, NY 10588
Work # (914) 245-6111, Ext. # 631
Cell # (845) 265-7621
ytwlab@yorktownny.gov

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

Peekskill Hollow Road remains closed at this time.  We expect student dismissal from our High School and Middle School to be on time. However, due to the road closure, the dismissal process could take longer and may impact the Elementary School dismissal. We expect any delays to be minimal.

Please note: Parent pick-up at the High School/Middle School campus is not an option until the road is reopened, and we do not know when that will happen. All students will be directed to take the bus (car traffic will be allowed to leave campus – but not enter). For students who do not usually take the bus, the main office staff will assist students in finding their appropriate bus.

After-school activities at the High School/Middle School will continue as scheduled.

Thank you for your cooperation and your patience.

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

As you know, we held our capital project vote on Tuesday, January 28. While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, we deeply appreciate the engagement, feedback, and support from our community throughout this process. Encouraging voter turnout has been and will continue to be a focus for PVCSD. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, we were unable to get more voters to the polls. In fact, turnout on Tuesday was slightly less than the turnout for the annual May vote, with approximately 15% of registered voters casting a ballot (625 Yes votes to 667 No votes, a small difference of only 42 ballots).

Our commitment to providing the best possible educational environment for our students remains a priority. In the coming weeks, we will carefully review the results, gather additional community input, and determine the best path forward to address the needs of our schools. Your voices are critical to shaping our next steps, and we will continue to explore ways to communicate accurate information with the Putnam Valley community.

We have been asked by many community members “What comes next?” The reality is that despite the failed vote, the work outlined in the project must still be done. Roofs still need to be replaced, the retaining wall is still failing, and the elementary school will still need heat as the current system is quickly reaching the end of its useful life. The district must now weigh whether to go out for a second vote, revise the project, or break it up into smaller chunks and include some of these costs in the operating budget. Including these costs in the operating budget would have financial implications for current programs and staffing and would eliminate our eligibility for state aid on those portions of the project.

Over the next several weeks, we will reconvene our Facilities Planning Committee, the group of community members, parents, and staff that spent nearly two years putting this project together, to provide insight on what direction they believe the district should go. We will continue to seek feedback from the larger community, our administrators, teachers, and support staff.

More information will be shared soon, including opportunities for further discussions and community input. Thank you for your dedication to our schools. We look forward to working together to ensure a strong future for our students and our district.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

To clarify, all public votes conducted by the school district must abide by the strict guidance outlined by New York State Education Law and the Commissioner of Education. Annual budget votes and special votes, like today’s capital project vote, follow the same training, safeguards, and vote-counting processes.

Our priority is to ensure that every voice in our community is heard and counted. To do this, we follow strict protocols.

• All ballots are carefully accounted for and secured throughout the voting process.
• Voters are checked in through an electronic system that confirms the voter is registered in the Putnam Valley School District.
• Ballots are safely secured in locked ballot boxes for the entirety of the day, the keys to open these boxes are securely taped to a table adjacent to the ballot boxes, all in public view and under the watchful eye of election staff.
• Ballots are only counted after the polls close at 9 PM.
• Once the polls close, ballots are electronically scanned, and absentee and early ballots are counted by hand.
• All scanning and counting of ballots are done in view of members of the public in attendance.

We encourage anyone interested to cast a ballot and witness the process firsthand.  Please check in with our District Clerk who is on-site in our Elementary School cafeteria and can answer any questions. Entrance doors must be locked at 9 PM when the last voter in the room has voted and will remain locked until all ballots are counted.  Members of the public may remain for the ballot count but must arrive prior to 9 PM.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28, the PVCSD community will have the opportunity to decide on the next steps for much-needed capital improvements to our school buildings and grounds. Our capital project vote will be held in the Elementary School between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM. The goal was always to present a project that would be tax-neutral; to minimize and stabilize the tax burden while thoughtfully planning repairs and improvements.

The proposed project includes both campuses and all three school buildings. Infrastructure improvements include replacing the aging oil burners at the elementary school by expanding and completing the existing geothermal heating and air conditioning system, redesigning and repairing the parking lot on the high school/middle school campus, including replacing the retaining wall, and improvements to the elementary school library and nurse’s office.

We have received inquiries regarding how the project can be tax-neutral, the high school weight room, and the elementary school play area.

To clarify:

• Tax-neutral: All proposed work can be completed without additional cost to the taxpayer.  A combination of existing debt payments that will be rolled into the new project along with the use of capital reserve funds allows the project to be tax-neutral. State aid will offset the expense of the bond payments needed to support the project.
• Update High School Weight Room: This space is currently used for academic and physical education classes during the day, including adaptive physical education classes. Improvements will make the space more suitable for student needs and provide the IB (International Baccalaureate) dance class with a dedicated space. Some of the equipment in this space date back to 2001 when the high school first opened.
• Elementary School Play Area: An additional play area will be installed, specifically designed for students with physical disabilities and young children K-2.

For more information, please visit our website, where you will find:

• Details from our Facilities Committee meetings (beginning in May 2023)
• Our project overview video (3 minutes)
• Why Now? (Timing of the facilities vote)
• FAQ
• Five Fast Facts
• Benefits of our geothermal systems
• Newsletter mailed to all residences of PVCSD
• Board of Education presentations and videos

Vote – Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28  

• Hours: polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Location: Putnam Valley Elementary School.
• Parking: As always, designated parking will be available across from the cafeteria doors. Signage will be posted.
• Who Can Vote: Any registered resident of the Putnam Valley School District, can vote. If you have voted in any public election in the last four years you are registered to vote.

Thank you for considering the district’s proposal.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

It looks like we will break out of the frigid temperatures next week, but just slightly. I am happy to report that our geothermal heating systems on both campuses are fully operational and working effectively, despite any inaccurate information to the contrary.  Our geothermal systems have served this community very well and we appreciate the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems in the deep cold of winter and during those warm and humid days of early summer, as they are used to both heat and cool our school buildings.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Lunar New Year Observance – As a reminder, all public schools in New York State will be closed on Wednesday, January 29 in observance of Lunar New Year.
• Capital Project Vote – On Tuesday, January 28 the District will hold our Capital Project Vote.
  • Hours: polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
  • Location: Putnam Valley Elementary School.  (As always, designated parking will be available across from the cafeteria doors.)
  • Who Can Vote: Any registered resident, who lives in the District, can vote. If you have voted in any public election in the last four years you are registered to vote.

Additional voting information and details about the project can be found on our website. The Capital Project/Winter Newsletter was mailed to all residences within the Putnam Valley School District, including our Cortlandt Manor residents. (approximately 5000 addresses in total)

You can read the newsletter here.

FAQ

Five Fast Facts

Check out our video here.

Residents of Putnam Valley who do not have children in school are encouraged to join our electronic mailing list via the link on our website home page.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Geothermal and Solar Energy Savings/NYSED Green Ribbon School Nominee

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

We are excited to share that Putnam Valley Central School District has been nominated by the New York State Education Department for the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) award.

To be named a Green Ribbon School, a state-nominated school must demonstrate high achievement in each of the three ED-GRS Pillars:

• Reducing environmental impact and costs;
• Improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and
• Providing effective environmental and sustainability education.

Our proposed capital project supports the district’s continued commitment to sustainable energy and includes completing the conversion to geothermal heating and cooling at the elementary school, as well as adding solar panels at the high school campus.  With these improvements, the district will completely eliminate its dependence on fossil fuels and reduce electric utility costs.

Since 1999, the middle school and high school have been powered by geothermal systems, resulting in savings of an estimated 4 million gallons of oil and $13 million over the past 25 years. The anticipated capital improvements are projected to save an additional $1​00,000 annually and eliminate the need for 30,000 gallons of heating oil each year.

The district’s commitment to clean energy extends to harnessing solar power, with solar panels generating approximately 1,250,000 kWh of electricity since their installation. These systems have saved the district $150,000 in utility costs since 2019. Looking ahead, adding solar panels to the Wellness Center is expected to generate 200,000 kWh of electricity annually, saving approximately $20,000 each year.

These initiatives underscore the district’s dedication to environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient future.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

We are committed to ensuring that every member of the Putnam Valley community has the information they need to make an informed decision regarding the District’s facilities project vote scheduled for Tuesday, January 28.

Please take a few minutes to review the information below and please consider joining me for a Superintendent’s Listening Hour on Wednesday, January 15, from 6 pm to 7 pm in the High School Library. This Q&A format is a great opportunity to learn more about the project, ask questions, and learn about the impact this project will have on our schools.

Please join us on the 15th and don’t hesitate to contact us directly with any questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools

Vote – Tuesday, 1/28/25 – @ PVES – 6 am to 9 pm
Project Details
Board of Education Presentation – video
FAQs
Registered to vote? / Absentee Ballot Information
Newsletter mailed to all residences within PVCSD

Dear Putnam Valley Community:

Best wishes to all for a happy and healthy 2025!

Inside this newsletter you will find highlights of how our District is strengthening connections within our community and creating meaningful opportunities for our students. We are also providing key details about the upcoming capital project vote focused on infrastructure needs and upgrades.

For more than a year, the Capital Improvement and Facilities Planning Committee composed of community members, teachers, parents, support staff, and administrators worked diligently reviewing documents, touring buildings, and meeting with architects and financial advisors before deciding on a scope of work that will be presented for voter approval on Tuesday, January 28.

The committee remained dedicated to proposing a project that addressed critical infrastructure needs, improved academic spaces, addressed the needs of our cultural arts and athletics program, and offered the District long-term savings through the implementation of sustainable energy sources (solar & geothermal); all at no additional cost to the taxpayer. To ensure a tax-neutral proposal, the District will use $2.5M of District capital reserve funds and strategically replace retiring debt. The total principal cost of the project cannot exceed $14M. In addition, based on our current building aid ratio, the District expects to receive approximately $9.2M in state aid.

Current estimates provided by the District’s architects project an 18-month design, approval, award, and mobilization timeline. The work must begin in the summer of 2026 to capitalize on the funding opportunities that allow this project to be completed without raising taxes. Therefore, a vote date in the winter of 2025 was necessary to meet our anticipated start date while minimizing the project’s impact on our students and staff. This approach, at this time, ensures the project is fully funded without adding a tax burden on the community.

We hope the information provided will help you cast an informed vote on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The polls will be open from 6 am – 9 pm at Putnam Valley Elementary School.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together we are building a foundation for the future.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools