BOCES Employee Newsletter

At Opening Day, we began the school year with a simple but important message: Our Story Shapes the Future.

That message is especially meaningful as education in New York continues to evolve. Through NY Inspires, our state is asking us to think more broadly about what it means for students to be prepared for college, careers and life, and how we recognize the knowledge, skills and experiences they develop along the way.

One of the most important voices in that conversation is the voice of our students.

On Sept. 30, our student Board of Education representatives participated in training designed to help them better understand their role and prepare them to bring a student perspective to the Board. I am grateful to these students for taking on this responsibility. Their participation is more than an opportunity to learn about leadership. It gives us an opportunity to listen and learn from the young people our decisions affect every day. BOCES has two student representatives serving on our Board. Douglas Drake from the PALS program and Kylie Loomis from PTECH Health.

That connection is particularly important as we prepare for NY Inspires. The New York State Portrait of a Graduate places greater emphasis on the skills students need beyond academic knowledge, including communication, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and the ability to plan for their futures. Giving students authentic opportunities to participate, lead, communicate and contribute is one way we can help develop those skills.

In September, the New York State Board of Regents authorized NYSED to move forward with the next phase of NY Inspires. Under the state's current implementation plan, New York is moving toward one state high school diploma beginning with students graduating in 2028. The Board of Regents has authorized NYSED to advance this work, with proposed regulatory changes expected to come before the Board by February 2027. There are no immediate changes to current graduation requirements.

There is an important distinction I want to emphasize: Regents exams are not going away.

Regents exams will continue to measure student achievement of New York State learning standards. What will change is their role in determining whether a student earns a diploma. Under the new framework, schools will use multiple sources of evidence to measure learning, including classroom assessments, student work, performance-based learning experiences, portfolios, projects and state assessments.

The goal is not to lower expectations. NY Inspires is intended to maintain rigorous statewide standards while expanding the ways students can demonstrate what they know and can do.

There is still much work ahead, and many details are still being developed. At BOCES, we have an important role in helping our programs, component districts, educators and students understand and prepare for these changes. And throughout that work, we must continue listening to our students.

Our student Board representatives remind us that students should not simply experience the future of education we create. They should have opportunities to help shape it. As we continue our work with NY Inspires, their perspectives will help us better understand what prepares students to succeed, where opportunities exist and how we can create learning experiences that are meaningful and relevant.

Our story shapes the future, and our students are at the center of that story.

Dr. Rebecca Stone

The BTTC Building is complete, and we’re one step closer to final project closeout with NYSED!

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) has been officially closed out and filed with the DEC. All punch list items have been completed except for one remaining contractor item. It’s exciting to see this project nearing the finish line!

The O&M Building is also complete and awaiting final closeout from NYSED! The SWPPP has been closed out and filed with the DEC, and contractors are wrapping up the final punch list items. With only a few minor items remaining, we’re getting closer to putting the finishing touches on this project.

Construction on the CTE Addition continues to progress, with exciting work underway throughout the site! Sitework and foundations are complete, structural steel installation is nearing completion, and slab pours are substantially complete. Exterior framing, weatherproofing, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work are also underway. Roofing is scheduled to begin next week, marking another important milestone!

Inside the existing building, renovation work continues in several areas, including mechanical installations, firewall construction, roofing, painting, and finishing work. Work in the Area D East (Autobody) area will remain on hold until summer 2027 as the project continues to move forward in phases.

There’s plenty of progress to celebrate as our capital project continues to take shape! Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes to keep things moving while helping ensure our campus is ready to support our students and staff.

To improve efficiency and support our organization's ongoing efforts to go digital, the Operations and Maintenance team has integrated student transportation requests into the Q-Ware work order system.

This new process streamlines all transportation requests into a single location, making it easier to:

• Submit transportation requests
• Track the status of your trips
• Receive timely updates
• Improve communication and overall service

We understand that transitioning to a new process can take time. To make this change as seamless as possible, we have incorporated the student transportation module into the same Q-Ware system you are already familiar with.

The Student Transportation Module is now live, and we encourage everyone to begin submitting transportation requests through Q-Ware and become familiar with the new process.

Our goal is to fully transition to digital transportation requests by Dec. 1, 2026.

• Now through Nov. 30, 2026: We will continue to accept transportation requests through our current methods, including mail, email, and other existing submission processes.
• Beginning Dec. 1, 2026: All student transportation requests must be submitted through the Q-Ware work order system. Requests submitted through other methods will no longer be accepted.

If you would like a refresher on using the Q-Ware work order system, don't worry O&M's very own AI assistant, Aria, is here to help. Aria provides a quick, easy-to-follow tutorial that walks you through the process of submitting a Student Transportation Request in under four minutes.

Please watch the tutorial video below to learn how to submit your requests through Q-Ware.

The Central Business Office is rolling out their annual Cooperative Bid request. An upcoming nvision upgrade should benefit districts by making supply requests clearer, more consistent, and easier to manage.

The Cooperative Bid program allows districts to combine their purchasing needs and seek competitive pricing from vendors. The program covers teaching and office supplies, art supplies, janitorial supplies, and physical education and athletic supplies.

The enhancement will also help district and CBO staff manage requests more efficiently by reducing duplicate files, missing information, and incomplete submissions. The updated process will affect BOCES and component district employees who request supplies through the Cooperative Bid program. As in past years, building secretaries, administrators, business office employees, and purchasing agents will continue to support local reviews and approvals. CBO staff will manage the bidding process and assist district contacts.

Customers will receive clear instructions, deadline reminders, and access to new support materials, including a brief explainer video, frequently asked questions, and a final checklist. These resources are intended to make the process easier to understand and reduce the need for individual assistance

Additional information will be shared with customers before Cooperative Bid wish lists open.

Document Services has been working with our districts on several creative projects connected to the new Portrait of a Graduate initiative. We are seeing districts take very different approaches to bringing these concepts into their schools.

Owego-Apalachin Central School District developed "River Hawk Ready, Portrait of a Graduate", highlighting skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, responsibility, career readiness and wellness.

Binghamton City School District is also incorporating its "Portrait of a Patriot" into school signage, reinforcing expectations and school culture in everyday spaces.

These projects are a great example of how wide-format printing can take an initiative beyond a document or presentation, turning it into something students and staff see throughout their buildings.

We have also continued improvements at our North Loder Avenue facility, producing new exterior window graphics, entrance graphics, and signage to better identify Document Services and other BOCES services located at the facility.

Document Services continues to support a high volume of work for our districts and BOCES programs while expanding the types of projects we can produce in-house. One of this month's highlights has been seeing our wide-format capabilities used for more than traditional signs and banners.

From Portrait of a Graduate displays and school branding to custom window and door graphics, we continue to find new ways to help districts turn their ideas into finished products. The improvements at North Loder Avenue are another example. New exterior graphics and signage are helping transform the building while giving the BOCES departments housed there a stronger, more professional presence.

The Communications and Public Relations team has started the school year with a busy schedule of projects supporting BOCES programs and our component school districts.

A major focus this year is communications planning. The team is developing roadmaps that identify communication goals, audiences, priorities, and services. This work helps ensure communications efforts are purposeful and connected to the needs of each district or department.

Support for our component districts continues to be an important part of CPR’s work. Recent projects have included publications, photography, special events, media relations, leadership communications, superintendent search materials, and other district storytelling.

Within BOCES, CPR is working with departments to make complex information easier for customers and employees to understand. Regional collaboration is another priority. CPR continues to support communications surrounding NY Inspires and New York State’s Portrait of a Graduate. The team is developing shared resources and messaging that districts can use to help students, staff, families, and communities understand changes taking place in education.

The start of the school year also brings important transitions for the CPR team as we celebrate the retirements of Linda Myers and Regina Felice.

Linda concluded her work supporting the Union-Endicott Central School District in September. Linda has been a public information coordinator with Broome-Tioga BOCES for 30 years.

Regina is also preparing to retire after 20 years of supporting the work of Communications and Public Relations. The team will come together in October to celebrate Linda and Regina and recognize their contributions.

We thank Linda and Regina for their service, creativity, and commitment to sharing the stories of our students, staff, schools, and programs. We wish them both the very best in retirement. We also welcome Mark Mayes as the new public information coordinator for the Union-Endicott Central School District.

As Regina retires, Jacob Russo will take on public information support for the Susquehanna Valley Central School District, in addition to his work at Newark Valley CSD.

As the school year continues, CPR remains focused on thoughtful planning, clear communication, creative storytelling and responsive service. Most importantly, the team looks forward to continuing to highlight the people, programs, and accomplishments that make BOCES and our component districts special.

Congressman Josh Riley stopped by on Friday, October 2, to get a quick tour of our new Broome-Tioga BOCES Nursing School recently home to a new class of students.

We’ll hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony later this month and we hope the congressman can join us, because he’s been very supportive of the endeavor, as he worked to secure $1.1 million in funds, earmarked for school rehabilitation.

Offering the tour were Wendy Antalek, BT BOCES nursing supervisor, and Matt Sheehan, our director of CTE.

If you haven't yet had a chance to check this WNBF story from Bob Joseph, it's a pretty good one about our new BOCES School of Nursing in Johnson City. Wendy Antalek, BOCES Nursing supervisor, is interviewed for this report.

#theheartofhealthcareeducation

Link to the story online:

We recently introduced our latest video about our New York State No. 1-ranked LPN program, and this time it’s about a graduate AND an employee: Jennifer Marvin, all in one, as she graduated from the Broome-Tioga BOCES nursing program just a few years ago and today is a school nurse at our East Learning Center.

Congratulations Jenn! And thank you to our BOCES videographer Allen Lown for his terrific work.

It is especially exciting to recognize one of our own BOCES locations and the staff who work each day to provide great meals and service to our students. Thank you to the entire West Learning Center team for the work you do!

We are looking forward to celebrating National School Breakfast Week and highlighting the important role breakfast plays in helping students start their day ready to learn. We recently celebrated with our own Big Apple Crunch at a department meeting, a great way to recognize New York agriculture and the local products we are fortunate to have available.

Community Schools are a nationally recognized framework developed by the Coalition for Community Schools. This collaborative approach centers the whole child and brings educators, families, and community leaders together to co-create solutions that help students thrive. From health to housing, the framework aligns support with each child's needs.

Sept. 21 marked the start of a new learning opportunity for regional educators through the B-T BOCES Professional Learning and Innovation Center's Performance-Based Learning Assessments (PBLA) Pilot.

The SCRIC has had an exceptionally busy and productive month. During the first three weeks of September, our team received over 14,000 support requests while helping districts navigate the important start-of-school period. Despite this significant volume, the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, and many shared that this was a very successful start to the school year.

This achievement reflects the dedication, teamwork, and professionalism of staff across the SCRIC. A sincere and well-deserved thank-you goes to every SCRIC team member for your outstanding efforts, responsiveness, and continued commitment to supporting our districts and their communities.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Broome-Tioga BOCES recently brought local school leaders together to prepare for possible cyber threats.

On Oct. 7, leaders from BOCES and its component school districts took part in a cybersecurity tabletop exercise at the Instructional Support Center.

The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) led the exercise in coordination with BOCES District Superintendent Rebecca Stone and the South Central Regional Information Center (SCRIC).

Participants worked through a simulated cybersecurity incident and discussed how they would respond. Topics included making key decisions, communicating with staff and families, keeping important services running, and working with outside agencies.

The exercise gave school leaders an opportunity to test their plans, identify challenges and discuss ways to improve their response before an actual emergency occurs.

Held during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the event also highlighted the importance of protecting school information, technology systems and services while preparing for potential disruptions.

Michelle Fata - Promoted -Software Support Specialist

New York State has made changes to Tier 6 retirement benefits that may affect BOCES employees. Tier 6 generally includes New York public employees who joined a state retirement system on or after April 1, 2012.

For NYSLRS members

Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, many Tier 6 members of the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) will contribute a smaller percentage of their pay toward retirement.

Depending on your salary, the new contribution rate will range from 3% to 5.75%. Employees who receive a lower rate will have less money deducted for retirement, which may result in a small increase in take-home pay.

The state also temporarily changed how overtime is used to determine Tier 6 contribution rates. This may further reduce the contribution rate for some employees.

For NYSTRS members

Tier 6 members of the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) are not included in the Oct. 1 NYSLRS rate change.

However, NYSTRS Tier 6 members received other changes. Members with at least 30 years of service may now retire as early as age 58 without an age-related reduction in benefits. The state also temporarily changed how certain additional earnings are used to determine contribution rates.

Do I need to do anything?

No action is required. Payroll changes will be made based on information provided by the appropriate retirement system.

Because retirement benefits are different for each employee, visit NYSLRS or NYSTRS for more information.

From improving building accessibility to helping employees navigate difficult conversations, the Broome-Tioga BOCES Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is working to make our organization a more welcoming and supportive place for everyone.

At its October meeting, the committee shared updates on several projects that are already making a difference across BOCES.

Breaking Down Language Barriers

The Human Resources Department has introduced a portable translation device to help employees communicate with job applicants and visitors who speak different languages. The device allows two people to have a conversation in their preferred languages, helping make the application and interview process more accessible.

Making Our Buildings More Accessible

Improvements are coming to the Instructional Support Center. Automatic door openers are planned for the east and west employee entrances, making it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to access the building. The improvements have been funded, and installation is pending.

Building Stronger Workplace Relationships

Two BOCES employees, Carla and Sharon, recently became certified Dignity Index trainers. The Dignity Index is a tool that encourages respectful communication, even when people disagree. The goal is to help employees have productive conversations, understand different perspectives and build stronger working relationships. The committee is exploring ways to bring this training to more employees across BOCES.

Expanding the Work at East Learning Center

The East Learning Center is taking additional steps to strengthen its workplace culture. Staff members are being invited to participate in a new building-level DEI Committee, which will help identify priorities and guide future initiatives.

The building is also introducing an "Oops! Outch!" protocol, which gives employees a way to seek support when a conversation causes misunderstanding or hurt feelings. The goal is to encourage open communication and resolve concerns respectfully.

These efforts build on Unconscious Bias training that was provided to Instructional Programs administrators this summer. Additional training opportunities are being planned for other departments.

Celebrating Our BOCES Community

A new hallway mural is another example of the committee's work in action. Created through collaboration among departments, including Communications and Document Services, the mural reflects the many people and perspectives that make up our BOCES community.

What's Next?

The DEI Committee is focused on bringing its work to more employees throughout the organization. Members are exploring additional training opportunities, ways to share resources and strategies to ensure employees from different departments and programs have a voice in shaping the BOCES workplace.

Creating a welcoming workplace is an ongoing effort, and the DEI Committee is committed to turning conversations into meaningful action.

On Sept. 14, you may have noticed something phishy 🐟 in your inboxes. As you know, BOCES practices Phishing Campaigns, where realistic (but fake) phishing emails are sent to all staff. The email that was sent to you all was from “Suport” <microsoft-notifcation.com> and looked like this:

98% of staff did not click on this link. Great work 🎉

Here are some ways to identify this email as phishing:

• External Sender Message. Always exercise caution when receiving an email with an external sender message.
• From. It is being sent from “Suport” <microsoft-notifcation.com>. If you take a closer look, "Suport" and "notifcation" are spelled wrong.
• Sense of urgency. Exercise caution with messages requesting immediate action. For example, "If you did not initiate this request, please ignore this email and contact IT immediately"

Phishing Campaigns will run about once a month during the year. They will not harm your computer and are for educational purposes only.

Feel free to reach out with any questions about suspicious emails. Please screenshot the email and do not forward it to me.

Remember to always pause before you click a link.

If it hasn’t happened yet, it probably will. That dreaded message that mockingly counts down, every day, until your password, that you’ve spent the last year learning, has finally expired. So why does this have to happen? And now what should I do when I create a new one?

Why do I need 15 characters or more with all sorts of variety?

Short answer, computers are a lot faster than they used to be. Even though the least secure part of the personal security chain is the person just telling their password to somebody shady, the speed of computers does make it easier to break a password. With 2026 technology, under ideal hacker situations, a computer can generate 10 BILLION guesses for your password per second.

What does that mean? Well, if you take your 4 character, numeric passcode that you use to unlock your fancy iPhone 18 Pro, a computer would break your password instantly. Simply by making your passcode 16 numbers, you increase the length of time to 5 days of constant computing to break into your phone. Length matters. Also, variety is super important. If you take those 16 characters and include letters, both lowercase and capitals, along with a bunch of special characters you can take those 5 days to brute-force your password to a length of time that is longer than the universe has existed. Math is wild.

How do I make a good password?

Security is best with a long, varied and truly random password. Unfortunately, that makes it almost impossible to remember a password, even if you use it to login to your computer every day. A great suggestion is to tell a personal story with your password. For example, maybe you are a New York sports fan and you are a little bitter that your $300+ million payroll baseball team can’t manage to field a slow rolling ground ball in the playoffs.

You could use a password like, 2much$4thismuchPAIN which according to www.passwordmonster.com, would take 47 years to crack, which is pretty good! Best advice is to go for balance. Length and variety mixed with something memorable and you’ll have a safe and secure password that you might actually remember.

Good luck and be safe!