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BOCES seeks expanded Lewis County footprint as enrollments rise; plans for EMS, heavy equipment and adult programs
Summary
BOCES officials told county legislators rising enrollment has filled existing classroom space; they highlighted successful Lewis County programs (heavy equipment, EMS) and proposed additional adult and youth training, including CDL integration, solar installer certification and cosmetology.
Jeff Ginger, director of career and technical, adult and continuing education at BOCES, and Steve Todd, district superintendent, briefed the committee on rising enrollments and opportunities to expand career-technical programming in Lewis County.
Ginger said overall BOCES enrollments have climbed since 2021 and that Lewis County programs are approaching capacity. He said the Lewis County Extension Center (a partnership location with Jefferson Community College) has been filled in recent years and that the 2025–26 school-year projected enrollment could approach 1,500–1,600 students, including a wait list.
Ginger and Todd described recent and proposed program expansions in Lewis County: the heavy equipment operations program (with an agriculture/forestry focus) that will include CDL training in 2025–26; an EMS training program launched in partnership with county stakeholders and supported in start-up by county funding; environmental/forestry training; adult education expansions (cosmetology and electrical wiring) and short-term workforce courses such as NABCEP-certified basic solar installer training planned to start in September at the Watertown campus with potential Lewis County offerings.
Todd and Ginger said partnerships — with the county, Jefferson Community College and local employers — have enabled BOCES to use available classroom space and to respond flexibly to workforce needs. They stressed that training youth in high-demand local careers is a key strategy to retain workers in the county.
Ending: BOCES representatives asked the county to continue partnership discussions on facility needs and program expansion as enrollments grow and workforce demand increases.
