How BOCES Works
BOCES services are created when two or more school districts decide they have similar needs that can be met by a shared program. BOCES helps school districts save money by providing opportunities to pool resources and share costs.
Sharing is an economical way for districts to provide programs and services that they might not be able to afford otherwise. It is often more efficient and less costly to operate one central service than it is to have separate programs in each school district. BOCES services are often customized offering districts the flexibility to meet their individual needs.
BOCES is governed just as local districts are governed: by a Board of Education, which is made up of one representative from component districts. Board members are responsible for curricular, financial, and other policy decisions, just as they are at the local level.
Members are elected by component school board members. BOCES board members do not need to be local school board members, but they must be eligible voters in component school districts of that BOCES.
Election to BOCES boards occurs at an annual BOCES meeting, which by law is held in April.
The duties and powers of BOCES boards, as specified in 1950 of the Education Law of the State of New York, include the following:
- Appointment of a district superintendent, subject to approval of the Commissioner of Education;
- Provision of cooperative educational services -- with the commissioner's approval and on a contract basis -- to component school districts;
- Needs assessment and long-range planning for cooperative educational services in the supervisory district;
- Employment of teachers and other support personnel to carry out BOCES programs;
- Preparation of an adjustable budget for the supervisory district program and its administration;
- Administration of payments for and costs of provided educational services;
- Borrowing of money in anticipation of revenue due;
- Entering into contracts with a variety of public agencies as well as non-public schools in order to arrange or provide services under specified conditions;
- Renting, purchasing, or selling of property or facilities under specified conditions;
- Making reports to the commissioner of education as required.
Read more about this topic: Boards Of Cooperative Educational Services (New York)
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