BOCES Employee Newsletter

To enhance security at the ISC, a new visitor entrance has been completed. Soon visitors will use a

call system to contact the department they are visiting before entering the building. If you have a

BOCES badge, with access to the ISC, you can still use that.

Exciting progress continues at the O&M site! The building is now fully enclosed, and interior wall construction is nearly complete. Drywall installation and painting will begin soon. The project remains on schedule for completion in December, with staff expected to move in shortly afterward.

Demolition work has begun! The former Animal Science building has already been removed, and the remaining demolition will take place once the O&M staff have transitioned to their new facility.

Thank you for your continued support of this project, and please let us know if you have any

questions or concerns.

Check out November's excellent schedule of online classes available to individuals, couples and parents through Talkspace Go.

Simply register for the classes in advance through the Talkspace Go app.

Kristin Wittig has been promoted to Personnel Coordinator in BOCES Human Resources. Kristin has been working as an HR Liaison in support of the SCRIC and PLIC for the past 16 years and now she will be working in support of all BOCES HR business functions. We are excited to have Kristin join our HR Team!

Team,

I wanted to bring you some exciting news, O&M is currently working on a "student transportation" module for our Q-Ware system.

The goal is to create one place where all student transportation requests are kept and easily tracked, similar to what we did last year with work orders.

This is in the very early phases and I will continue to update you as we progress through implementation.

Also with this colder season on the way please keep warm and stay safe.

Part of what the Health and Safety service provides our BOCES, and component districts, is guidance and information when new laws and regulations have been passed by the State to ensure districts are following New York State law. There have been new amendments passed to the state law (Desha’s Law) regarding cardiac arrest procedures and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment. AEDs are portable medical devices that can be used by bystanders to treat someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. In the past there have been laws requiring school buildings to have AEDs available.

The new amendments require school districts to have policy and procedures for response to sudden cardiac arrest included in their emergency response plans by Sept. 1, 2025. The second part of the amendments require AED equipment locations, AED maintenance and signage, and school safety training regarding cardiac emergency response plans to be included in district wide school safety plans by Jan. 20, 2026.

The Health and Safety office has been busy assisting our BOCES as well as our component districts to ensure these new requirements are met.

With the construction from the capital project being underway the Health and Safety office has also been assisting to ensure all new buildings have the required initial inspections completed and will be ready for operations in a timely fashion. It is a busy and exciting time on our BOCES campus!

Broome-Tioga BOCES has partnered with OpenGov and will soon be transitioning from a paper-based bid solicitation process to a fully automated web-based electronic bidding and vendor management system.

Our new eProcurement Portal will allow prospective Vendors and Suppliers the ability to:

• Register to receive notifications of future bidding opportunities by signing up for our new eProcurement Portal and selecting the “Subscribe” button to create an account.

• Follow along with updates to existing opportunities by finding the opportunity and clicking the “Follow” button. This will allow all interested bidders to receive amendments and addenda automatically.
• Submit questions and receive answers online regarding open bid opportunities.
• Use a guided process of responding electronically to bids to ensure your bids have been accurately completed.
• Receive timely support for bid questions.
• Have one location for all bid opportunities issued by Broome-Tioga BOCES.

Vendors have received coming soon letters and the team can't wait to announce the official go live date. Stay tuned!

We’re thrilled to welcome Ebony Saunders, a talented student from Chenango Valley, to our Business Office this month! Ebony is joining us as a student intern, gaining hands-on experience while working alongside our purchasing and accounts payable departments. This opportunity allows her to explore real-world learning while still in high school, and we’re excited to support her journey. Welcome aboard, Ebony!

Budget season planning is also underway, with early collaboration beginning across departments and districts. Meanwhile, the Cooperative Purchasing team continues preparing bids and catalogs that help districts maximize resources through shared purchasing power.

Even in this quieter season, the CBO remains a hub of focus and consistency. Thank you to our dedicated staff for keeping everything on track and setting the stage for a strong finish to the year.

This October, members of the Document Services team attended PRINTING United, the largest print industry conference in North America. The event brought together thousands of print professionals, manufacturers, and educators to showcase the latest equipment, software, and workflow innovations across commercial, digital, and wide-format printing.

Attending gave our team the chance to see firsthand where the print industry is heading — from advances in automation and color management to sustainable materials and finishing options. We also connected with vendors and peer organizations to learn practical ways to improve quality, turnaround times, and service offerings here at BT BOCES.

The ideas and insights we brought back will help us refine our own processes across printing, finishing, design, and specialty services, ensuring that our work stays efficient, professional, and continues to meet the needs of our schools and programs.

We are pleased to share that our office recently received a letter of appreciation from the Vestal Fire Department recognizing the work completed in collaboration with their team under the Intermunicipal Agreement. This acknowledgment reflects the strong partnership and cooperative efforts between our organizations in support of public safety and community service. We extend our thanks to the Vestal Fire Department for their kind words and continued collaboration.

Congratulations to Vince Briga for earning two awards from the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA).

Vince received an Excellence Award for Maine-Endwell’s Community Newsletter, The Spartan, and an Honor Award for Excellence in Writing for his alumni spotlight featuring Olivia Collavo, Class of 2017.

These awards recognize the outstanding storytelling and creative work that highlight the achievements of our students and schools. Vince’s work continues to elevate the visibility of our districts and represents the high standard of quality our CPR Team strives for every day.

Congratulations, Vince. Well deserved.

In late October at the ACTEA Annual Leadership Conference in Verona, New York, our own Jeff Franey was named 2025 New York State Zone 2 Administrator of the Year. Jeff is principal of CTE at Broome-Tioga BOCES. We cannot celebrate this terrific accolade too much. Please join us in congratulating Jeff once again on this prestigious honor.

We recently celebrated our Early Bird Restaurant’s 40th anniversary for a second time, this one with our administrators and board members as special guests. The customers were different, but the chefs, servers and wonderful breakfast foods were just the same level of fantastic as they always are. Congratulations to Shelly Monahan, who oversees the dynamic venture, and all our staff and students who make it go!

Students from the Career Development Center's Work Experience Program took part in the BOCES Expo in Albany. Student representatives from 33 BOCES from across New York state met with the Board of Regents and New York State Ed to discuss their experiences in their BOCES programs. Our students spoke about their experiences working at their various Work Experience (WE) job sites, like Guthrie Lourdes, CHOW, Garden Cafe, etc., and advocated for our theme of "CTE for All."

On Nov. 1 at Chenango Valley State Park, we had the best time raising awareness and funding for Special Olympics at the annual Polar Plunge. This is the event at which willing participants - dressed in perfectly dry and warm clothing - either take the twisty slide or jump directly into the frigid lake. So many smiles, and all for a great cause. Thanks to everyone who took part.

Our team participated in professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences throughout the conference. The event was both inspiring and energizing, reaffirming the vital role school nutrition programs play in supporting student success every day.

This year’s event was especially meaningful as our very own Terri McMahon, Cook Manager from Binghamton High School, received the 2025 Shining Star Award, presented by NYSNA. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in their dedication to advancing school nutrition in New York State. Terri’s commitment to excellence, teamwork, and student well-being truly reflects the spirit of service and passion that this award celebrates, making her a shining example for colleagues and students alike.

In addition, Broome-Tioga BOCES was recognized with the Farm to School Partnership Award for our culinary training held last June at the Broome Culinary Center. This training brought together all 15 districts and provided hands-on instruction in knife skills, food safety, and preparing farm-fresh meals from scratch.

Finally, we would like to congratulate and thank BOCES Food Service Director Bryan McCoy for representing New York State over the past year as president of the New York School Nutrition Association.

We are proud to share that Broome Tioga BOCES Community Schools and Susquehanna Valley Central School District were honored to facilitate a session at the American School Health Association (ASHA) Annual Conference this October. The session, titled “Fostering Belonging: A Community School Approach to Substance Use Prevention,” highlighted innovative strategies for integrating prevention efforts within the Community Schools framework.

Session Highlights:

• Demonstrated how prevention strategies can be seamlessly integrated with key Community Schools practices using an Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework.

• Shared insights from the Community Schools Assets and Needs Assessment process, showcasing how data-driven decision-making identified and addressed local prevention needs.

• Illustrated the power of coordinated community partnerships in enhancing substance use prevention efforts and fostering a sense of belonging among students.
  
  

The session was well attended and received enthusiastic feedback from participants, who engaged in meaningful dialogue and expressed appreciation for the practical strategies and collaborative approach presented.

Presenters Included:

• Jessica Bowerman – Elementary Principal

• Marissa Derrick – Community Schools Supervisor

• Jessica Esperon-Meneilly – High School Teacher

• Maria Fabrizi – BC Mental Health Preventionist

• Sara Fontana – Community Schools Supervisor

• Dr. Catherine Kacyvenski – Assistant Superintendent

• Laura Karlson – Middle School Principal

• Dr. Jill Rich – Elementary Principal

• Rhonda Ruhm – Community Schools Preventionist

• Sydelle Steward – High School Principal
  
  

We are grateful for the opportunity to share our journey, celebrate our progress, and reflect on the lessons learned. This experience reaffirmed our commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive environments where every student feels a sense of belonging. As we continue to grow our community schools work, we remain dedicated to building strong partnerships, using data to guide our efforts, and ensuring every student feels seen, heard, and valued.

The BOCES Career Development Center presented its Business Spotlight Award to the SCRIC for its partnership with CTE’s IT Specialist program. For more than five years, SCRIC staff have supported IT students through co-op placements in local districts. Ten students are placed this year, the highest number to date, bringing the five-year total to 31.

This partnership gives students hands-on IT experience close to home. It removes transportation barriers and opens access to real workplace training. Students at SCRIC sites learn from experienced staff who guide them as they prepare for the IT workforce.

Aaron Davis was promoted from IT Assistant to PC/LAN Technician

On Oct. 17, the Department of Homeland Security partnered with BTBOCES to conduct a cybersecurity tabletop exercise. This was an exciting milestone, as we were the first district in our region to host a tabletop exercise with DHS. It provided a valuable opportunity to bring together all the key stakeholders who would play a role in responding to a cybersecurity incident.

The session included a diverse group of participants from across the organization. All cabinet members were present, along with field technicians, our insurance representative, managers from the business office, and others. The exercise offered an excellent chance to hear how each department would approach different scenarios and highlighted the unique structure of BOCES compared to a traditional school district. Overall, it was an insightful and collaborative experience that strengthened our preparedness and understanding of cybersecurity response.

Broome-Tioga BOCES held the first combined meeting of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and the Wellness Committee on Nov. 12. The joint session focused on clarifying roles, identifying priorities for the year ahead, and reviewing ongoing initiatives that promote belonging and well-being across the organization.

Although the two groups will continue to meet collaboratively, they will pursue separate goals throughout the year.

Building Belonging
Guided by the theme “Belonging Begins Here,” the DEI Committee reported strong progress from the past year. Six new affinity groups have launched, each designed to bring employees together through shared experiences and support. A new webpage now offers details about the groups, how to join, and frequently asked questions.

Committee members also discussed ongoing professional learning focused on DEI. Four internal trainings were held this year, and an “Enrichment” tab will soon be added to The Academy to house DEI training and resources. The group also highlighted continued learning opportunities related to Title IX, unconscious bias, and employee belonging.

Improving Access
Accessibility remains a key focus. BOCES has launched a translation request tool and made translation resources available in offices. The committee is also compiling a list of physical accessibility needs, including areas such as wheelchair access to certain buildings. A new emphasis on digital accessibility will ensure school websites meet ADA standards and that communication is inclusive and clear across all platforms.

Supporting Wellness

The Wellness Committee adopted its mission to “Live Well. Be Well.” The committee is committed to supporting healthy habits, promoting balance, and creating an environment where well-being is part of everyday success. Through sharing resources, opportunities, and initiatives, we aim to encourage wellness and demonstrate that BOCES truly cares about you.

Upcoming priorities include creating a wellness webpage, developing a calendar of activities, launching winter wellness programs, and sharing a community resource list.

If you are interested in joining either committee, contact Kerri Bullock or speak with your supervisor.

Feeling like Teams is buzzing non-stop? You’re not alone! Between chats, mentions, and channel updates, it can be tough to keep up without feeling overwhelmed. Here are two quick ways to fine-tune your notifications so you stay informed — not distracted.

1. Control Your Chat Notifications

Keep your chats manageable by deciding what deserves a ping and where notifications pop up.

How to toggle:

1. Click on the three dots (...) next to your profile picture→ Settings → Notifications and activity.

2. Choose your preference for General settings (sound, message notifications, etc.).
   
   

2. Manage Channel Notifications

Not every channel update needs your attention. Customize which ones break through.

How to toggle:

Revisit your settings every few months — as your Teams activity changes, your notification needs will too!