Will cater to students in special education
The Putnam County Legislature on Tuesday (June 10) approved the creation in Patterson of a learning center that is expected to benefit preschool students eligible for special education services.
County officials said the opening of the center at Hudson Valley InterArts, in partnership with Community Based Services, will save money by reducing the costs of transporting children long distances for services, including to other counties.
It will combine occupational and speech therapy and other services for 40 to 50 special-education children with classroom instruction, and host classes for pre-K students from the Brewster and Carmel districts.
Putnam will pay $2.2 million in construction and financing costs to build space at InterArts, plus $15,000 a month in rent. The investment “will cut commuting times for children, save taxpayers money on a mandatory educational service and provide well-deserved peace of mind to parents of special-needs students,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne in a statement.
