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Putnam Valley School Board Celebrates Retirements, Tenures and Recipients of Pride in Putnam Valley Awards
High School moves toward more AP classes
by Margaret Sternberg
Retiring Superintendent Gary Tutty holding his Pride in Putnam Valley Award with School Board Trustee Frank Reale and Board President Tina Mackay.
The June 14, 2007 meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education was mostly a night of celebration, with much of the meeting conducted in something approaching a somewhat subdued party atmosphere.
A Pride of Putnam Valley Award was given to Middle School Principal Ed Hallisey, who was commended for his selfless work in implementing the Technology Program. Superintendent Gary Tutty praised Hallisey for his "commitment to his teachers and, through his teachers to his students, and he's done that much through this technology program."
And in a letter read by Tutty, the district itself was commended by NYS Commissioner of Education Richard Mills for meeting, and in most cases exceeding, a number of educational improvements and teaching milestones.
Board President Tina Mackay then presented a Pride of Putnam Valley Award to Superintendent Tutty, to thunderous, lengthy applause and a standing ovation. Calling him "a true leader," Mackay said Tutty had captured "the hearts and minds of the Board, his colleagues, administrators, staff, students and community," adding that he had come with a clear vision as to how Putnam Valley could become a better district and made it a reality.
Mackay was only one of several people, including Gerry Carlin, head of the Putnam Valley Federation of Teachers, who expressed appreciation for Tutty's leadership, including his strong yet fair manner in dealing with the union.
Principal Hallisey said Tutty had been "responsible for restoring respect to our schools."
Tutty responded in kind, saying "leadership isn't easy, but it's easy to lead people you love. I love you" and, deflecting attention from his own achievements, Tutty said he was "so proud of the people here tonight; they are our top performers."
On this night of celebration, a number of teachers had cause to join in the festivities as they were granted tenure. Those teachers are Alissa Aurigemma, Susan Baumgartner, Maria Bradfield, Catherine Dreessen, Keith Fiore, Dr. Barbara Fuchs, Craig Glenn, Michael Hanna, Cheryl Kahn, Travis McCarty, Joseph Natalie, Carolyn Pasquale, Toni Pratt, Marissa Squicciarini and Kimberly Thyrre.
Finally, aside from Superintendent Tutty, retirees included middle school instrumental music teacher Edwina Pratt and high school physical education teacher Glenn Buckhout.
In other business, Acting High School Principal Richard Herlihy discussed the high school's move in the direction of implementing a two-track high school curriculum of Regents and Advanced Placement ("AP") classes. Herlihy said that because the current Honors classes have the same result as the Regents classes, the taking of the same Regents exam, the two classes could be combined. He suggested the standards should then be raised in the Regents classes to more embody Honors classes' challenges and the second track would be AP.
He said more AP classes would provide greater challenges to the students, and AP classes are looked upon more favorably by colleges. Herlihy said the administration is already looking at the schedules to see where changes could be made. Before final decisions are made, Superintendent Tutty suggested the students should be canvassed for their feelings. If implemented, Tutty said, the program should provide for an easy move for any student in AP who would prefer to return to the Regents track.
Director of Operations Nick Bellantoni gave an update on the Elementary School construction, which will go out for bid in November 2007. The base bid includes installation of an elevator in the main building, new ceiling on the third floor and adding an addition off the back of the building. The new addition includes four full-size classrooms, two small group instruction rooms, a small conference room, an office, one faculty restroom, one each of a boys' and girls' restroom and one electrical and one custodial closet.
An alternate bid is also being requested in the event there remain leftover funds. The alternate bid would encompass adding two more full-size classrooms and two more group instruction rooms in addition to the base bid. Work is scheduled to begin in March 2008.
Among numerous resolutions passed that night, the Board approved CSEA personnel title changes, the issuance of $1 million in serial bonds to finance the purchase of buses for the 2007-8 school year, the merger of the boys' swimming team with that of the Lakeland Central School District, a merger with John F. Kennedy High School for students to play ice hockey, and a resolution permitting students in no lower than the seventh grade to compete on interscholastic athletic teams.
The next meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education, which will include the Reorganization Meeting, will be Thursday, July 12, at 7 pm.
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