Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the BOCES Shared Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board presses administration on $17 million BOCES shared‑services line and in‑house CTE options
Summary
Trustees scrutinized a roughly $17 million Eastern Suffolk BOCES shared‑services package, asked for itemized detail and cost comparisons, and urged district staff to report on what CTE programs could be run in‑house to reduce long‑term costs. Administration said the list contains about 800 line items and noted tradeoffs including potential loss of some BOCES aid.
Board members raised concerns about a $17 million total for Eastern Suffolk BOCES shared services and asked whether the district could itemize the package to identify services that might be provided in‑house. A trustee asked for "a rundown of what we've looked into" for bringing CTE programs back on-site; administrators said they have been evaluating space, staffing and cost tradeoffs and will present more detailed options.
Administration explained the BOCES list includes roughly 800 discrete services and that not every menu item is billed unless used. They also cautioned that moving services off BOCES can reduce BOCES aid tied to certain programs. Trustees discussed examples—transportation testing, HR/payroll software and career programs—and requested data showing enrollment, per‑program costs, space requirements and any lost aid projections so the board can weigh potential savings against startup costs.
Several board members urged concrete next steps: an inventory of the BOCES line items in question, a cost‑benefit analysis for plausible in‑house CTE programs, and proposals for short‑term programs that could be piloted in available district space. Administration said it has been investigating options and will prepare a synopsis for the board, noting 240 students have applied to CTE programs across BOCES campuses.
