Putnam Valley School District Has Director Of Operations Nicholas Bellantoni in new position

Putnam Valley School District Has Director Of Operations
Nicholas Bellantoni in new position

Two years ago, Nicholas Bellantoni had an office several floors below ground in New York City’s Carlyle Hotel. Now, five months into his new job as Director of Operations for the Putnam Valley School District, he has an office in a thirty-year old temporary structure overlooking the bus yard for the Elementary School on Oscawana Lake Road.

Besides daylight, says Bellantoni, the biggest differences between the two jobs are the limited resources of the school district, and a budget that is set a year in advance. By comparison, the Carlyle Hotel "was owned by a very wealthy man who wanted to spend money. It was his jewel box," said Bellantoni, who was the Carlyle’s Director of Facilities.

The auditor’s report revealed that the Putnam Valley School District showed a slight deficit at the end of last fiscal year. Bellantoni says that he is looking at ways for the district to save money.

Maryann Doyle, Superintendent of Schools, said that she expects cost savings to fund the new position. Because of Bellantoni’s review, she says, the District already expects to pay $20,000 less in transportation overtime.

In another cost-cutting move, a custodian was recently hired for the high school, to work a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. When events take place on a Saturday, a non-overtime custodian will now be there.

Although the District previously had a Director of Operations, the position was eliminated "about 10 years ago," according to Doyle.

Doyle pointed out that the size of the school plant has doubled in the last two years and that Bellantoni’s experience as an electrician, engineer and as Director of Facilities for two NYC hotels – the other being the Regent Wall Street – was necessary to maintain "the state-of-the-art facilities."

For example, Doyle mentioned "the ground source heating system" for the new high school that is maintained, not by the delivery of oil, but by functioning computers.

Happy in his new job, Bellantoni says his wife has noticed that some of his stress lines are disappearing. Living in nearby Somers, his commute has gone from 2 hours to 20 minutes.

In addition to transportation, the Director of Operations oversees the custodial staff and all facilities.

Earlier this week, the school district’s four trucks, which become snowplows in the winter, were in operation, removing Mother Nature’s white gift from the parking lots and drives of the three schools in the district.

During the Christmas to New Year’s break, the staff refinished tables and restored the floors in the middle school gym and the auxiliary gym of the high school.

The Director of Operations will also oversee security, said Superintendent Doyle, and keep up with state and federal regulations.

The district had what turned out to be only a drill on September 11th. A crisis team met and buses were assembled in case an evacuation had been necessary.

Subsequently, under Bellantoni’s direction, additional security procedures have been put in place. Tags identify visitors to school buildings and latex and vinyl gloves are available for staff when they open mail.

Bellantoni reports that the District has also consulted with a security expert, but has not yet received his report.

Working with Bellantoni, the District recently underwent its annual insurance inspection.

Asked if there were some items that needed correcting, Bellantoni replied, "Nothing critical — some ‘Exit’ signs might have to be made more visible."