BOCES Employee Newsletter
BOCES Team,
This year, we introduced a new framework to guide our work and measure our progress as an organization. It’s built on four key areas:
Service: Student/Customer Service and Responsiveness- Deliver high-quality support and solutions to school districts and the community.
Employee Engagement and Development- Foster a workplace where employees feel valued, heard, and motivated.
Innovation and Collaboration- Encourage creative solutions and teamwork across departments and districts.
Process Improvement and Efficiency- Streamline operations, reduce waste, and optimize resources.
BOCES Annual Meeting
On April 9, Broome-Tioga BOCES hosted its Annual Meeting, welcoming district superintendents and board members from across the region to learn more about the programs and services we offer.
The highlight of the evening was our students. From Oak Tree and the Work Experience Program to CTE, New Visions, Culinary Arts, and Special Olympics—students shared how their experiences at BOCES are helping them build skills, gain confidence, and prepare for life after graduation.
We're proud to provide real opportunities for students to explore their passions and plan for bright futures. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special night.
For the month of April, we will be conducting Asbestos triennial reinspections in all of our districts. Under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response ACT (AHERA), which was passed in 1986, schools were mandated to identify and manage asbestos-containing materials (ACM) to prevent health risks. The key requirements involve identifying asbestos-containing material through an initial inspection with six-month periodic inspections following every year thereafter. Every three years, a triennial reinspection must occur. Schools must develop and implement asbestos management plans to address ACMs, and they must also take appropriate actions, such as encapsulation or removal, to address asbestos hazards. An annual notification needs to be sent out by the district informing staff and parents regarding the availability of the Asbestos Management Plan and any response actions taken in the plan.
New Work Order System at BOCES
We are proud to introduce our new Q-ware system for inputting work tickets.
This new system is designed to streamline our operations and improve efficiency.
You can access the Q-ware application on the BT BOCES My Apps dashboard.
To assist you in navigating this new system, we have also created a short instructional video on how to create a work ticket.
The video can be found on the BOCES Academy portal.
All staff have been enrolled in the course, but there is no requirement to take it.
The course should show as an optional course under their "my courses tab" called "BT:Operations and Maintenance"
Below are directions to locate the video.
The BBO celebrated the retirement of Bruce Hartquist. The BBO got together on a brisk but sunny day for a tour of the Capital Project site which was hosted by Johnny Garcia. We appreciated seeing the tangible evidence of work coming across our desks as budget transfers, bids, RFPs, invoices, and checks were issued. Also, Jamie Thorne led the team on a tour through the Education Center, which was an eye-opening experience for our newer employees.
The CBO has been conducting an interdepartmental exercise. This exercise is being spread out amongst our monthly department meetings and has been a collaborative effort to discuss and showcase various procedures and department work! It has been wonderful to work alongside each other and share more parts of our roles with other departments at the CBO.
Over the past month, members of Document Services visited the GST BOCES print shop to learn more about their equipment and operations. By building relationships with other BOCES print shops, our team is gaining valuable insights, sharing ideas, and finding ways to improve efficiency and innovation.
With budget season approaching, the team is in full preparation mode. Last year alone, we mailed 89,251 budget postcards and 84,442 budget newsletters—making this one of the busiest times of year for our shop.
Our team leads, Amy Tomminello, Dusty Day, and Kerry Tinder, participated in the BOCES annual meeting, where we had the chance to showcase our work to superintendents and board members. It was a great opportunity to highlight the quality and range of services we provide.
We recently hosted our annual meeting, welcoming district superintendents and board members from across the region to learn more about the programs and services we offer. The highlight of the evening was our students. From Oak Tree and the Work Experience Program, to CTE, New Visions, Culinary Arts, and Special Olympics, students shared how their experiences at BOCES are helping them build skills, gain confidence, and prepare for life after graduation.
Criminal Justice Students Welcome Broome Co. SWAT Team
Our students often are treated to guests in our Criminal Justice program here at Broome-Tioga BOCES. Law enforcement, military and security personnel from across our region make their way on our main campus for lectures and demonstration. Recently, two representatives from the Broome County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team – both former BOCES students – visited Don Enwistle’s CJ classes, first offering a classroom presentation, then a close look at the “Bearcat,” which is the Sheriff’s Department’s SWAT armored vehicle.
Sgt. Quy Tran was the lead speaker, as he is a graduate on our Criminal Justice program (with Entwistle his teacher when he graduated from Johnson City High School in 2011). Deputy Derek Linebaugh (Susquehanna Valley 2012) joined him, and is a BOCES graduate of the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) program.
Check out the story from WBNG below.
Members of the PLIC's Ed Tech Team Present at the NYSCATE Southern Tier ConnectEd Conference! On March 24, the PLIC EdTechTeam traveled to the NYSCATE Southern Tier ConnectED Conference hosted at the Elmira School District. Our team of specialists presented 12 sessions for over 600 attendees. The rooms were packed with teachers and leaders learning from our team. We received great feedback on the work our team has been doing and the thoughtfulness that is put into making these topics accessible to teachers and leaders. The topics included Embracing Generative AI in Education, UDL and Triple E Crosswalk, Accessibility by Design, and Empowering Diverse Learners: Leveraging AI for Differentiation. An overall great day, and great work by the team!
Over 100 Students Participate in Seal of Biliteracy Event
On April 10 and 11, the PLIC hosted the annual Seal of Biliteracy presentation day for students across the region. Throughout the two days, there were over 150 presentations in the Instructional Support Center by students from 16 districts, in 22 different languages. This day celebrated the work of HS students who were demonstrating their proficiency in at least one language other than English. The students presented their culminating projects to a panel of judges who spoke the presentation language and were evaluated used the state-provided rubric. Students who were successful will earn a Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma at graduation. Students and panelists were also treated to a special lunch, including a menu of various cultural cuisines, created and prepared by our own BOCES culinary students. All students involved in the two days were impressive in showcasing their skills!
Congratulations to all!
Celebrating Champions: Telling the Story of a Community Win
Our Communications and Public Relations team has had a busy and rewarding month helping tell the stories that matter most to our districts. One standout moment came from our team in Binghamton, where the Boys Basketball team brought home a state championship title—a historic achievement for the district and the community.
The celebration extended well beyond the court. Our team coordinated media coverage and school-wide celebrations and supported a community parade honoring the athletes. From the moment the final buzzer sounded, our team was on the court—capturing video and photos from the floor of the arena, preparing graphics for banners, posters, and social media, and creating apparel designs to help students, staff, and families share in the pride.
Behind the scenes, our team crafted messaging for parents and students, ensuring clear communication during a fast-moving and emotional event. It’s a powerful reminder that when our schools win, our entire community wins—and that story deserves to be told.
A special thank you to David Hermanovitch and Chris Whalen for their outstanding work supporting the district during this unforgettable championship season. Telling stories like this is one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of what we do.
ServiceNow Tip: How to Update Your Contact Information
Have you recently moved offices or classrooms? Please note that ServiceNow contact information does not update automatically. We need your help to ensure we have your current details so we can promptly address your technological needs.
To update your contact information, follow these steps:
1. Access ServiceNow: Go to MyApps and open ServiceNow.
2. Find the Update Contact Info Tile: Under "Popular Request Types," locate the tile labeled "Update Contact Info." If you cannot find this tile, you can use the search function to find the ticket type you need.
3. Update Your Information: Fill out only the portions of your contact information that have changed.
Take a moment to verify that your contact information, including your phone number and location, is accurate. This helps us provide better support to you. Thank you!
