DCMO Boces

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Keeping up with the educational demand

by: Tyler Murphy

With its multi-million dollar project underway, DCMO BOCES is looking at the completion of a number of new facilities later this year.

“Every chance we get, we’re handing over the buildings to the contractors so they can get as much done as possible before students again need the facilities,” said Assistant Superintendent Marki Clair-O’Rourke.

The Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services draws its budget from 16 school districts in Chenango County. The fiscal budget begins in July of every year and the current total operating budget is about $37.4 million. A new budget will again be voted on in June 2008.

The most unavoidable aspect when driving past the BOCES campus along East River Road in Norwich is the expansive construction project that’s in full swing.

Staff from both of BOCES’ campuses in Norwich and Masonville got involved in the initial project design process.

For the first six months of 2006, professional architects and teachers cooperated to create a building that accommodated the center’s growing needs. Students at the technical training facility have also pitched-in by doing class projects that both educate and save building costs. For example, the conservation and equipment technology classes constructed the parking lot. The classes also did landscaping and applied life and math skills throughout the project.

Clair-O’Rourke said school enrollment has risen significantly in the last 5 years from 25 percent of all juniors and seniors attending to 33 percent. DMCO BOCES is technically the largest high school in Chenango County, with over 1,000 students in daily attendance.

The new building project was passed by a two to one voter margin and is expected to cost just over $48 million, Clair-O’Rourke said. Much of the cost will be covered by state aid, but $17.8 million of the bill is split up over the 16 local school districts.

Assistant Superintendent David Blom explained the project is paid for as part of 20-year bond and the annual average cost to each district is roughly $880,000.

However, each school pays a different percentage based upon its relative budget and size. The resident-weighted average daily attendance, also called RWADA, is the determining factor for each school’s contribution.

BOCES offers a very large range of classes at its facility; from automotive and law enforcement to culinary and cosmetology. The school focuses on applied and first-hand educational practices. About 50 percent of the BOCES student body furthers their education after high school.

The culinary arts class, for example, puts students right into the mix by having them operate a full buffet. As a project, the class prepares a dinner for the BOCES board of directors. The event includes 50 to 70 patrons and the students are left to arrange everything. The instructor even has the class choose their own manager to be in charge. The students then handle every detail without interference from the teacher. The class prepares the food and even manages the account finances.

BOCES has been in an ongoing contract dispute with its staff. The New York State United Teachers union has been working without a contract for well over two years despite continued talks with the administration. The association is seeking improved salaries, health care packages and retirement incentives.

BOCES hopes to start moving teachers and student into the new buildings in mid or late May. After the relocation, work crews will then begin the extensive renovation of the old buildings while students are out.

“It can be a balancing act between construction and students, but we must always do what’s in the best interest of our students first. Hopefully it will all keep going smoothly. Currently we are a little a head of schedule,” said Clair-O’Rourke.

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