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Parent raises concern that budget limits could reduce BOCES career-program slots
Summary
A Beacon parent urged the board to preserve access to BOCES career-technical programs for interested students after hearing that budget constraints might limit openings.
A Beacon parent told the Board of Education on Feb. 10 that the district may be limiting spots for students who wish to attend a BOCES career and technical program and asked the board to consider expanding capacity if budget constraints are causing limits.
Caesar Cruz, who identified himself as a Beacon resident and parent, said his son is a sophomore at Beacon High School and "has been looking forward to attending BOCES in his junior year" after taking a BOCES summer program in middle school. Cruz said he was told—apparently by another student and mentioned by a counselor—that there could be as few as 20 available slots for the BOCES program next year, a figure he described as "very low" and asked the district to revisit if true.
Superintendent Matt responded that he would investigate the source of the messaging. He told Cruz the district typically sends "around 40 plus students" to the CTI program at BOCES and said he would speak with Mr. Dwyer and follow up with the family.
Board members did not take immediate action during public comment; the superintendent said staff would look into the reported limitation and return with clarification. The concern was raised during the meeting’s public-comment period and was not the subject of a formal agenda item or vote.
If the district moves to restrict BOCES placements because of budget constraints, any formal change in capacity and the criteria for selection would need to be presented to the board as part of budget or program recommendations, Matt said when answering the question.
