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Board discusses ‘‘regional planning’' with Northern BOCES; trustees to solicit community feedback before Oct. 1
Summary
Superintendent Adam Braunstein told the board that Putnam‑Northern Westchester BOCES’ regional planning is a voluntary planning process, not a consolidation mandate, and asked the community for input by Sept. 26.
Superintendent Adam Braunstein explained the Putnam‑Northern Westchester BOCES regional planning process, emphasizing that the current effort is planning‑level collaboration and not district consolidation. He said Somers and the other component districts are being asked to decide whether to continue participation in planning for four potential activity areas: expanded regional mental‑health services, cooperative pre‑K and CPSC services, cooperative transportation coordination, and regional work‑based learning coordination.
Braunstein said the regional work began last year under the banner of “regionalization” and that the state’s initial rollout had created confusion. “I’m here to say as the new guy to Somers that that is absolutely not the case,” he said, adding that any participation would preserve Somers’ voice and decision authority.
Why it matters: the proposed activities aim to identify shared services that could increase capacity or reduce costs across the 18 component districts in the region. Examples discussed included shared student‑assistance or mobile crisis teams, the possibility of accessing additional UPK seats across neighboring districts, consolidated out‑of‑district transportation routes for private‑school and special‑education placements, and a centralized internship database and coordination for high‑school students.
Process and timeline: the board agreed to present information on the district website and solicit public comment from Sept. 17–26, with the board consolidating feedback Sept. 27–29. Braunstein said the district must inform the region by Sept. 30 whether it will continue in planning for any of the four identified activities.
Community questions at the meeting focused on autonomy, timing, and the voluntary nature of participation. Trustees stressed that no dollars would be committed by simply participating in planning and that districts would retain annual choice over services. “We will only do those things which will be beneficial to our students,” Braunstein said.
Next steps: the district will post slides and explanatory text on its website, accept emailed comments to boemembers@somerschools.org, and report consolidated feedback to the region before the Sept. 30 notice deadline.
