Board Update Fellow Board Members, On behalf of the Sullivan BOCES Board of Education, I am pleased to provide you with our first issue of the Sullivan BOCES Board Update. We recognize the importance of keeping you, our valued component board members, abreast of what's happening at BOCES. This electronic news update will be in addition to the BOCES Edge Newsletter and be geared toward providing updates on student programs, back-end services, and upcoming initiatives. As a Board member, I feel disseminating this information will expand your understanding of what BOCES provides to your students and school district. I hope you find this quarterly publication about your students and your BOCES beneficial. Linda Berkowicz, BOCES Board President
Highlights
January 2023
Organizational Goals Guide BOCES In April of 2021, the BOCES Board of Education began the process of creating a strategic plan and revised our Mission Statement. During this process, we also created a Vision Statement to help guide our organization for the years to come. Our Stragetic Plan will be the foundation of our efforts to build equity and ensure the lifelong success of all students in Sullivan County. To view the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan visit bit.ly/BOCES-StrategicPlan_22-25
Support Group Improves Educational Experience This fall Sullivan BOCES started a Student/Parent Support Council Group. The Support Council is a group of parents, teachers, staff, board members, and community stakeholders meeting 3-4 times a year to educate families and improve the educational experience at Sullivan BOCES. Meetings will consist of sharing information on current topics and processes and allow time for its members to give invaluable input on the needs of our students and their families. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan 12, from 3:30-5:00 pm at the Rubin Pollack Education Center in the Career & Tech Dining Room. Board members and district personnel are welcome to join the meeting.
What's In This Issue: Organizations Goals Support Group Sharing Poetry Student Recognition Cultural Diversity Real Life Experience Career & Tech Ctr. Offers New Programs 10th Grade Tours Budget Development
Sullivan BOCES | 15 Sullivan Avenue Suite 1W, Liberty, New York 12754 | (845) 295-4000 | scboces.org
Classroom News Sharing the Love of Poetry Sullivan County Poet Laureate, Sharon Kennedy-Nolle shared her love for poetry with students at the Rubin Pollack Education Center and the Career & Tech Center. The students had a good time learning how they can use poetry to express themselves.
Students Recognized for Their Accomplishments Each month, students are chosen from the Alternative and Special Education programs to celebrate their accomplishments. The students are selected based on their academic success, character, attitude, respect for others, and attendance. The Career & Tech Center also holds a recognition ceremony each quarter to honor its students using similar criteria.
Students Learn About Cultural Diversity December has been a busy month for students as they learned about and participated in different activities about all of the various holidays. They enjoyed counting Christmas bulbs and the candles on a menorah. Students also enjoyed decorating reindeer, elves, wreaths, and ornaments.
Real Life Experience Adds Excitement Career & Tech students have started their community internships and are having a great time learning what it is like to use their skills working for local businesses or in their future professions. The Cosmetology students have also opened the "Class Act Clinic" to the public. The clinic offers a full array of salon services at a minimal cost. Hours of operation are Wednesdays from 9:00 am 5:30 pm. The customers have been pleased with the services received, and the students have a great time putting their skills to work while running a business.
Sullivan BOCES | 15 Sullivan Avenue Suite 1W, Liberty, New York 12754 | (845) 295-4000 | scboces.org
Career & Tech Center The Career & Tech Center recently announced three new programs for the 2023-2024 school year Electrical Trades, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and Fire Science. All three programs will provide students with the training needed to fill vital positions and positively impact the workforce of Sullivan County. The Career & Tech Center is also hosting 10th-grade tours of its programs. These tours allow students to see first-hand what programs are available to them in the 11th grade. Students can also spend a half day in the program of their choice to experience how CTE will benefit their post-secondary education and career paths.
ELECTRICAL TRADES The Electrical Trades program was created for students looking to specialize in the electrical field. Students will use the current curriculum, safety standards, and up-to-date equipment to explore career opportunities that will prepare them for a bright future.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (EMT) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program consists of two years of study; year one is comprised of 216 hours of Health Science Core. In year two, students participate in 108 hours of clinical experience and 108 hours of theory. *Students must be 17 years of age by June 30th of their senior year to be eligible for this program.
FIRE SCIENCE
The Fire Science program is designed for students interested in becoming volunteer or professional firefighters. The program consists of one year of study where students will work towards earning interior and exterior firefighting certifications.
Sullivan BOCES | 15 Sullivan Avenue Suite 1W, Liberty, New York 12754 | (845) 295-4000 | scboces.org
2023-24 Budget Development The BOCES budget is developed annually in a collaborative manner with our component school districts. While there are some similarities to a school district budget, overall the BOCES budget differs greatly. There are three major components of a BOCES budget - Administrative, Capital/Rental and Program. It’s also important to note that a BOCES does not levy taxes nor does it receive state aid, its primary source of revenue is from tuition and program fees charged to participating districts.
Administrative and Capital Budgets The administrative budget supports the cost of the BOCES board of education, central offices, including the district superintendent, the business office and human resources. Also, the law requires that all Other Post-Employment Benefits (retiree’s health insurance & Medicare reimbursements) be included in the administrative budget. The capital and rental budget includes the cost of capital projects and leased spaces. Charges for the administrative and capital budgets are allocated to districts based on a State Education Department-developed formula known as RWADA (Resident Weighted Average Daily Attendance). Based on student attendance/enrollment, each district pays a proportionate amount based on their share of the total RWADA. Therefore, larger districts pay a larger share while smaller districts pay a smaller share of the administrative costs.
Program/Service Budgets Program budgets are specific to each service the BOCES provides and must include all of the actual costs of running each individual program. This is another distinct difference from a school district budget as the BOCES basically develops over forty “mini-budgets” within its general fund to account for all of its program/services. Annually, local boards of education review their district’s needs and make decisions about BOCES services. As districts’ needs change every year, decisions to purchase specific BOCES services also vary from year to year. The information each school district provides in its Initial Services Request response is critical to the BOCES budget development process. We look forward to sharing more information about the BOCES budget in the months ahead as we prepare our budget booklet and present more detailed information at our Annual Meeting on April 13th
Key Dates April 13, 2023 - BOCES Annual Meeting April 25, 2023 - BOCES Board Member Election & Budget Vote Sullivan BOCES | 15 Sullivan Avenue Suite 1W, Liberty, New York 12754 | (845) 295-4000 | scboces.org