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Putnam Valley Students Honored for Peace Posters
Putnam school districts mulling ways to share services
by Margaret Sternberg
 | | Students who participated in the Putnam Valley Lions Club Peace Poster Contest after receiving their certificates of appreciation. |
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The December 21, 2006 meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education was the occasion for an uplifting ceremony during which all of the student participants in a Putnam Valley Lions Club-sponsored Peace Poster Contest were each presented with certificates honoring his or her work.
Maureen McLaughlin, a representative from the Club, said that the contest, which is international in scope, involves each club selecting a grand prize winner, who then advances to the district level. The winner from that level advances to the international level for the chance to win a $2,500 scholarship and receive a plaque at the United Nations during “Lions Day.” Twenty-three runners-up each win $500 scholarships. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Peace.”
Robert Tendy, Jr. was the local grand prize winner, with Doris Baclija, Maria Rao, Kyle Marks, Melissa Steen, and Carl Fristrom the runners-up.
The other contest entrants were: Mace Coleman, Kate Baumann, Alissabeth Minnich, Nicole Belen, Danielle Alba, Jonathan Helm, Hugh McCann, Thomas Faraone, Kyle Fitzsimmons, Kelly Brown, Marissa Gonzalez, Alexis Lussier, Richie Gonzalez, Jessica Spiegel, Ashley Riley, Tyler Schaber, Michael Vendetti, Mariah Fontane, Gina Castro, and Gabrielle Honors.
Their posters are on view at the Putnam Valley Town Hall through the holidays.
In other business, Superintendent Gary Tutty said local school superintendents were discussing ways of sharing resources in order to decrease expenses. Options discussed included the sharing of the School Resource Officer and the use of “shared space,” including the use of county storage space at a “much lower rate than if we had to start renting places.” Vehicle sharing was another option as well as the sharing of any items that might be eliminated during the budget process.
Trustee Marie Zarcone suggested that if the County became actively involved in the sharing of services, it was possible that some of the towns would follow. Superintendent Tutty responded that the sharing of skilled positions with the County had been discussed, and he was studying the county contract with CSEA to see what was possible.
Director of Operations Nick Bellantoni gave an update and short visual presentation on facilities work that had occurred since the opening of school.
In the new gym of the elementary school, wall padding has been installed throughout, and a climbing wall has been added. The outdoor gym that replaced the “Big Toy” has been installed, and “the kids love it…are having a great time on it.”
In the cafeteria of the middle school, new curtains and a new projector screen have been installed. The roof work for the high school has been done and has addressed the interior leaks the school was having when it rained. The repairs to address the cascading water that falls from the front of the high school are almost completed.
Bellantoni also said an area has been cleared for the middle school students to work on an environmental project, building and operating a compost pile. In the sports complex, plans have been started for a building that will house a concession stand and restrooms.
Among numerous resolutions approved that evening, the Board approved setting the dates and time for the Special District meeting, during which the public will be asked to approve the following:
Shall the proposition set forth in the notice of this meeting authorizing the construction of addition to and reconstruction of the elementary and/or middle school building(s), including site improvements at a revised maximum estimated cost of $3,490,000.00; with $2,400,000.00 of previously authorized funds to be used therefore and providing that the remaining $1,090,000.00 shall be funded from $613,039.00 of EXCEL aid and $476,961.00 from State building aid and other available funds, be approved?
The $613,039 are funds given, not lent, by the state to a district and require voter approval to accept the monies. The additional $476,961 in building aid funds are also given by the state and are contingent upon the voters’ acceptance of the EXCEL aid.
The vote will take place February 13, 2007, from 2-9pm. The alternate date is February 15, 2007 during the same times. The next meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education will be Thursday, January 11, 2007, at 7pm.
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