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Sullivan BOCES representative outlines program growth, grants and Eldred investment
Summary
Sullivan BOCES told the Eldred Central School District board that career-technical enrollment and special-education programming have expanded, citing new CTE tracks, increased articulation agreements and several grants; Eldred's historical investment in BOCES and expected aid returns were summarized.
Dufour, the county commissioner’s representative to the schools, told the Eldred Central School District board that Sullivan BOCES has seen a marked rise in career-technical education enrollment and expanded special-education offerings.
“This year, we started the year with over 700 students in our degree tech program,” Dufour said, noting career-tech enrollment grew by about 200 students over the past two years and that a newly opened electrical program is fully subscribed. He said BOCES has shortened typical program rollouts from two to three years down to roughly 12 months from concept to inception.
Dufour summarized financial relationships between Eldred and BOCES, saying Eldred’s investment in Sullivan BOCES over recent years has been “between $1.8 and $2,000,000.” He told the board that the 20-day aid the BOCES generates has averaged near $401,000 and that surplus distributions to component districts have fluctuated between roughly $360,000 and $420,000; he cautioned final year-end numbers are not calculated until June 30.
The presentation covered special-education placements and new district-accessible services. Dufour said special-ed placements at Sullivan BOCES have fallen as more programs are rehoused in-district; he cited 10 students currently in special-education placements at Sullivan BOCES and described three newly opened elementary classrooms and a Community Schools (COSR) program that offers telemedicine, counseling and social-worker support.
Dufour also described grants that will fund student supports. He said Sullivan BOCES secured a $50,000 grant to bring the Catch My Breath vaping-prevention and a HOPE suicide-prevention program to schools across Sullivan County. He also referenced a $150,000 award tied to the New York State Attorney General intended for school safety programming; distribution details were not specified in the presentation.
On workforce-aligned training, Dufour said BOCES will add two programs next school year: an aesthetics (cosmetology) track and a plumbing/HVAC program aimed at providing certifications that match county needs. He highlighted postsecondary articulation, saying students in CTE can earn three to 13 college credits depending on the program, and that 68 eligible CTE students earned a technical endorsement requiring a two-year program, work-based learning and a technical assessment.
Dufour closed by describing shared services the BOCES supplies — itinerant instructors, shared electrician and HVAC technician, telecom support and professional-development contracting — and urged districts to view the services as voluntary and collaborative rather than mandatory.
Board members asked follow-up questions about welding certificates and program accreditation; Dufour said students earn a flat-sheet welding certificate and can pursue additional partner-program credentials.
