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Sullivan BOCES tells Eldred board CTE and special‑education enrollment are growing; county shared services highlighted
Summary
Sullivan BOCES presenters told the Eldred Central School District board that CTE enrollment and special‑education placements have grown, and described co‑service aidable purchases, shared HVAC and finance services, new early college access aid and partnership opportunities for students.
Sullivan BOCES representatives gave the Eldred Central School District board an overview of student programs, countywide shared services and the finance mechanics that affect district costs and refunds.
Suz, identified herself as director of instructional support services and the data privacy officer for Sullivan BOCES, and Vicki Ferguson, executive director of finance and business services, summarized student supports and instructional pathways. They said special‑education enrollment has risen and that career and technical education (CTE) participation has expanded sharply: "Currently, 41% of Eldridge's juniors and seniors are attending CTE at Sullivan BOCES," the presenters reported, and the BOCES noted 63% of Eldred students in relevant cohorts earned a technical endorsement last year.
Why it matters: the presenters explained that program growth drives costs but also opens aidable revenue streams. Vicki Ferguson walked trustees through the district’s year‑to‑date student costs and said special education remains the largest expense, followed by CTE. She also described cross‑contract purchases — services provided by other BOCES that districts buy through Sullivan BOCES — and explained that any BOCES year‑end surplus is returned to member districts rather than held as a fund balance.
The presentation outlined several programs and partnerships the BOCES now offers or supports: expanded HVAC and electrical pathways in CTE; articulation agreements that allow students to earn college credit and reduce future tuition costs; the teacher‑residency program run in partnership with the state Department of Labor (TRP), which the presenters said currently has county candidates and requires no student cost for participants; and community partnerships that place health‑services students in hospital settings.
On aidable purchases, presenters said a change effective July 1 will allow instrument purchases and expanded early college access costs to be aided. The co‑ser (cooperative service) that funds early college tuition and a portion of teacher salary is capped progressively — presenters said current caps are $40,000 this year, rising to $50,000 the following year and $60,000 in the third year — which they said makes the program more affordable for districts that had previously declined to participate.
Board members asked clarifying questions; presenters offered to supply more detail about cost allocations and cross‑contract arrangements. The presenters also listed upcoming capital and maintenance work the BOCES coordinates for member districts, citing a cosmetology lab renovation and roof projects, and emphasized shared noninstructional services — for example, a county‑hired HVAC technician who visits member districts on a schedule to avoid each district hiring a full‑time technician.
The BOCES team closed by reiterating that program decisions by individual districts — for example purchasing additional tech equipment before year‑end — will change the district’s final BOCES share and any surplus refund. The presenters encouraged trustees to contact their BOCES liaisons for detailed line‑item figures.
Next steps: trustees did not take formal action on the presentation but opened time for follow‑up questions and requested any supplemental spreadsheets or contract language necessary for future budget work.
