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Where we began...
| In 1934, with 35 students in kindergarten
through 8th grade, a faculty of three and a budget of $8,250, Poughkeepsie
Day School was a decidedly small operation. Located on the corner
of Hooker and South Grand Avenues (on the site of the current Georgetown
Square Condominiums--see archived photo at right), it was a special
place, full of creative expression, thematic curricula and the happy
voices of children. Closely affiliated with Vassar and, specifically,
its child study department, PDS was hailed even then as part of the
innovative educational movement built on the progressive writings
of John Dewey. |
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Growth and change provide
challenge and opportunity
.With pressing space needs and the desire for a more modern facility,
PDS launched its first-ever capital campaign in 1963 to raise the necessary
funds to construct a new building on the Vassar campus. Designed by parent-architects
William Gindele and Jeh Johnson, the 20,000 square-foot structure, located
at 39 New Hackensack Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie, became home to
PDS for the next 35 years. In 1970 the program was expanded to include
grades 10 through 12.
Twenty years later, with the school's plan to significantly increase
enrollment, and the Vassar lease drawing to a close, the PDS board of
trustees galvanized a search for an alternative site. In 1993, Kenyon
House, an elegant mansion owned by IBM, along with 15 adjoining acres
became available. PDS initiated a capital campaign—The Partnership
for Learning— in 1994, and raised $1.3 million through the generosity
of PDS families, alumni/ae and friends for its purchase. Although most
contributions came from members of the PDS community, for the first time
in the school's history PDS received foundation grants in support of this
effort.
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The
"new building" was officially opened in the fall of 1998,
with one student from each of the three divisions assisting with the
ribbon cutting ceremony. The building was named the Elizabeth C. Gilkeson
Center, after the school's founding director in 1999, shortly after
her death. |
In the fall of 1995, the middle and upper schools, as well as most of
the administrative offices, moved into Kenyon while the lower school—separated
from the new Boardman Road campus by almost two miles— remained at “39.”
Boardman Road Facing its next challenge of reuniting the lower, middle
and upper schools on one site, PDS began to explore the cost of constructing
a new building to accommodate its lower school and to provide additional
space for middle and upper school classes, as well as a library and a
gymnasium. The Edward E. Ford Foundation approved a $50,000 matching challenge
grant to assist with the gymnasium project, which PDS successfully met.
In the meantime, however, a comprehensive feasibility study of projected
costs deemed construction of the school’s newly-envisioned physical plant
prohibitive.
Two years later, a second IBM building, including 20 additional acres
adjacent to the Kenyon property, became available. Upon reviewing the
cost of purchasing and renovating this facility for classrooms, a library,
plus the addition of a new gymnasium, PDS concluded that the $2.7 million
cost was more affordable than the school’s previous plan to build from
the ground up.
In June of 1996, with a letter of credit from The Bank of New York, PDS
was able to apply for and receive tax-exempt financing, in the form of
a bond issue through the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency,
for the purchase and renovation of the building and for the construction
of a gymnasium. Without this unconventional financing, it is doubtful
PDS would be where it is today. Under the expert guidance of the board
of trustees’ buildings and grounds committee and with much hard work by
faculty members, parents and staff—as well as the creative vision of parent-architects
Beth Walters and John Storyk—what seemed nearly impossible just seven
short years before became a dream come true.
In the fall of 1998, the entire school was reunited on a beautiful 35-acre
campus in three buildings, including a new library, auditorium and gymnasium,
encompassing more than 70,000 square feet. In January of 2000, PDS dedicated
newly-renovated theater space as the James Earl Jones Theater; the completion
of a theater annex and construction of a new soccer field followed.
Transitions unite the community again
Sadly, in June of 2001, Tony Buccelli, the school's director during the
past decade, died. Community trustee Mary Jane Yurchak, Ed.D. became interim
director in August of that year and was selected as the "permanent"
director in February of 2002. She was officially installed as the head
of school on Founders' Day 2002.
PDS celebrated its 70th anniversary in the fall
of 2004. In the spring of 2005, Mary Jane Yurchak resigned and a search
for her replacement began, culminating in the unanimous selection of Josie
Holford as the new head of school, effective July 1, 2006 who was officially
inaugerated as the 14th head of PDS on Founders'
Day (Saturday, September 30, 2006).
In June of 2007, the PDD Board of Trustees approved a new, three-year
Strategic Plan. And in September of 2007,
the school opened with a record-breaking enrollment of 353, including
85 new students, another historical high. We look forward to academic
year 2007-2008.
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