BOCES Employee Newsletter

The 2025-26 school year is off to a strong start. It was exciting to see so many of you on the first day, and our board members shared how much they enjoyed visiting opening day meetings. Thank you for the positive energy and care you bring to students each day.

We have a lot of new faces on our campus this year. One of those is my own executive assistant, Wendy O’Neil. Some of you may recognize Wendy from her time working in Instructional Programs. She has worked at BOCES for eight years as a Program Assistant in the PALS/ MOVE program. She is taking the role left by Michelle Hans after her retirement this summer.

We are also proud to welcome two student representatives to our BOCES Board of Education: Douglas Drake and Brenden Horn. A new state law requires all districts with high schools and all BOCES to have at least one ex officio student board member. You will learn more about our student board members in their bios below. Their voices will add an important perspective as we continue to grow. NYSED will host training for all of our region’s new student board members right here at BOCES, giving these students the opportunity to understand their role and build leadership skills.

Along with new people, our campus is changing too. Construction projects have been moving quickly, and it can be hard to keep up with all the progress. A video update is linked below, and you can also visit our Capital Improvements webpage to stay informed.

One of the most exciting updates is the completion of the Broome-Tioga Trades Complex (BTTC). It was nearly a year ago when we broke ground on this project, and now we will be celebrating the opening of the facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m. All employees are invited to attend.

The 25-26 school year will be one of exciting changes and opportunities for our students and staff, and I look forward to seeing what we all accomplish together.

Dr. Rebecca Stone
District Superintendent

Wendy has been part of Broome-Tioga BOCES for the past eight years, most recently serving as a Program Assistant in the PALS/MOVE Program. Prior to joining BT BOCES, Wendy had a career in the shipping and transportation industry for 20 years, as well as five years in banking. As she steps into her new role, Wendy shared, "I’m excited for this new opportunity to learn another side of the BOCES organization, and to build new relationships with the awesome people here."

Congratulations Wendy!

"My name is Brenden Horn, and I am a senior at Vestal High School. I'm currently enrolled in the Video Production CTE class. Traditional classroom learning has never been my favorite approach, which is why I’ve taken full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Career and Technical Education programs.

Outside of school, I’m actively involved in several community and school-based activities. I volunteer with my local fire department and EMS agency, and, at school, I assist with media production and live broadcasts during sports games and other events.

I was interested in becoming a member of the BOCES Board because I believe the student perspective is incredibly important. As someone who is directly impacted by school decisions, I can offer insights that board members might not otherwise see. I want to help make sure student voices are heard when it comes to the programs and policies that shape our education."

Also joining the BOE as a Student Representative is Douglas Drake! Douglas is a student at Susquehanna Valley Central School District and is also in the PALS Program at BT BOCES. Douglas wants to represent the students at Broome-Tioga BOCES by making sure every student is able to have their ideas heard throughout the school year, especially when it comes to helping them increase their learning ability! Douglas is passionate about education, and wants to help as many students as he can!

BOCES leaders came together in August for the annual Summer Leadership Forum, a day-long session designed to prepare for the year ahead.

The forum featured updates on the Framework for Organizational Success and provided an opportunity to set goals for the 2025-26 school year. Leaders also received organizational updates on employee contracts and ongoing capital projects across BOCES.

The day included a tabletop exercise focused on strategies for managing challenging behaviors, as well as a team-building challenge that had participants stepping out of their comfort zones, and onto the dance floor.

The forum set the tone for a productive year of collaboration, learning, and leadership at BOCES.

It’s been an exciting summer of progress, and we’re thrilled to share what’s been happening around our campuses. From new buildings to important safety upgrades, there’s a lot to celebrate!

We’re almost there! The BTTC building is officially complete—just a few finishing touches left. To mark this milestone, we’ll be holding a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m.

The structure for our brand-new O&M Building is up on the west end (this will be where the offices are located), and sitework is underway on the east end. It’s exciting to see this project happening.

This beautiful new facility is now open and ready for students! And the upgrades don’t stop there, coming soon:

• A fence around the HVAC system
• A brand-new greenhouse
• Safety bollards for added protection

Alongside our larger projects, we’ve also made several important improvements, including:

• Fresh flooring in the Document Services garage/storage area
• Relocating the trash compactor at the Education Center to make room for the new bus loop
• Installing panic buttons in Education Center offices, allowing staff to quickly secure the building in case of an emergency

We’re proud of all the progress that’s been made, and we can’t wait to see these spaces in action this school year!

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

It's been a busy summer and finally the new agriculture science space is now complete and in full use.

While the interior of the AG science building is finished, we are currently working on installing some bollards in front of the building for security purposes, so students must use the back entrance of that building.

As we continue to make security enhancements across the org, the ISC main entrance is also currently closed and under construction and visitors are asked to use the side entrance.

We also continue to work on the bathrooms at the ED Center Building to give those spaces a facelift.

Finally, I want to remind everyone to use Q-ware to put in all of your work requests, but please remember we complete work orders in the manner they are received any time sensitive items should be reported to the O&M department via phone or email.

Greetings from Health and Safety and welcome back!

The summer months have been busy with Health and Safety. We worked on fire inspections , water testing as well as eyewash, drench shower and fume-hood inspections. We also helped with updating our districts' emergency response plans with the regular annual updates as well as a few new regulations set forth by the state so they are all set for the new school year.

BOCES will be holding its first districtwide Safety Team meeting on Sept. 25, so planning is underway for that as well. The beginning of a new school year is always a busy and exciting time.
Thank you for all you do to keep our buildings a safe and healthy place to work and learn!

We’re thrilled to announce that BOCES is entering a strategic partnership with OpenGov, a leading provider of cloud-based software for public sector organizations. This collaboration will enhance our procurement processes and provide a more efficient, transparent way to manage contracts across departments.

With OpenGov, BOCES will gain access to tools that simplify vendor engagement, improve compliance, and offer real-time insights into procurement activities. This marks a significant step forward in modernizing our operations and ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality services to our school district.

Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out the platform!

To celebrate the end of summer, several staff members took a well-deserved break during lunch to enjoy some lighthearted fun at a local carousel. Laughter, music, and a few spins brought smiles all around—proving that even a short escape can brighten the workday. Thanks to everyone who joined in and helped make it a memorable moment!

As we shift into the new school year, the Accounting Department has been hard at work wrapping up external audits and closing the books on another successful cycle. Payroll is in high gear, making sure everything is in place to get staff paid smoothly as the year kicks off. Budget and Financial Analysts are already diving into preparations for budget season (yes, it’s that time again!), while our Purchasing and Accounts Payable department are finalizing the flood of summer orders.

Coming off a busy summer, our Internal Claims Audit team continues to play a vital role in reviewing expenditures before payments are issued. They verify accuracy, ensure compliance, and confirm proper approvals—safeguarding our financial practices with every transaction. Meanwhile, the Financial Support team—responsible for fixed assets, cash receipts, and income statements—keeps everything aligned behind the numbers. Both teams’ steady, detail-oriented work supports every part of our operations!

This summer has been a busy one for Document Services. Our team has been hard at work producing district calendars, back-to-school newsletters, and handbooks to prepare families for the start of the school year.

We’ve also expanded our services by adding custom campus wall designs at Vestal, Harpursville, and right here at the ISC. The crew has been learning the ins and outs of installation, and the results have been outstanding.

As of September 1, Document Services is now under the leadership of Chrissy Choi. Beginning in October, Chris White will take on day-to-day operations at the print shop. We want to extend our thanks to Christina Kunzman for managing the department in the interim and helping guide the team through this transition.

Looking ahead, Document Services will be showcasing products and services at the SCRIC's upcoming Leadership and Innovation Showcase and Conference in October. We look forward to connecting with district leaders and highlighting how our team can support schools with professional-quality print and design solutions.

Earlier this month, we welcomed back our staff for the start of the 2025-2026 school year!

Check out the photos below of our Board of Education members on the first day our staff was back in action at Broome-Tioga BOCES!

As we wrap up the 2025 Summer Food Service Program, Nutrition Services is proud to share that our team served more than 46,800 breakfasts and 70,000 lunches to students across our region. Together we helped ensure that thousands of children had access to healthy meals even when school was not in session.

This achievement was made possible by the collective efforts of our operations team, support staff, community partners and everyone in between. From menu planning and daily logistics to meal prep and site supervision, every step reflected teamwork. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this summer a success.

With summer behind us, our team is already deep into preparations for the first day of school. From onboarding new staff for 15 school districts, to finalizing menus and coordinating deliveries, our team is working hard to ensure a smooth and successful start to the 2025–2026 school year.

The nutrition department would like to extend an open invitation to all BOCES staff: join us for lunch at a school near you. It’s a great way to see our team in action and enjoy a meal alongside the students we are proud to serve.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Board of Regents officially adopted the New York State Portrait of a Graduate on July 14, 2025. This significant development introduces a forward-looking framework designed to prepare students for college, careers, and life as engaged, thoughtful citizens by integrating academic excellence with the demands of a dynamic, rapidly changing world. The Portrait's final version has been informed by extensive stakeholder feedback, thorough review of relevant research, evidence-based practices, and an examination of similar initiatives undertaken by school districts and other states.

Understanding NY Inspires and Implementation Timeline

While we anticipate that changes to the current diploma requirements are forthcoming, the adoption of the Portrait of a Graduate does not immediately alter existing graduation requirements. The NYSED created informational flyers that outline the phased-in implementation plan and roadmap. More details about when to expect specific changes can be found in the flyers linked here. Additionally, there is a Frequently Asked Questions page dedicated to the changing graduation requirements that is a helpful reference for school districts, students, and families.

Key Attributes of a New York State Graduate
The Portrait describes a New York State high school graduate as someone who is culturally responsive, building strong, respectful relationships and valuing diverse perspectives as essential to a rigorous, inclusive learning community. These graduates will embody cultural responsiveness and academic readiness, demonstrating creativity, critical thinking, communication, reflection, and global awareness. They will be equipped with the interpersonal and intellectual skills necessary to thrive in an interconnected, ever-evolving world.
The core attributes of a New York State Portrait of a Graduate include:

• Academically Prepared: Demonstrates a strong foundation in the NYS learning standards and is equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, careers, civic engagement, service, and life.
• Creative Innovator: Utilizes imagination, curiosity, and flexible thinking to solve problems creatively, develop new ideas and products, and adapt to evolving circumstances and challenges.
• Critical Thinker: Analyzes information thoughtfully, evaluates evidence critically, and identifies patterns and connections between different pieces of information across multiple content areas.
• Effective Communicator: Articulates ideas clearly and confidently through speaking, writing, and the use of different types of media for various purposes, while engaging with diverse audiences and actively listening to different perspectives.
• Global Citizen: Acts responsibly and ethically within local, global, and digital communities, employing civic knowledge, skills, and mindsets to promote global sustainability and contribute positively to a culturally diverse, democratic society.
• Reflective and Future Focused: Engages in self-reflection to identify strengths and areas for growth, sets meaningful goals, uses social awareness to maintain supportive relationships, and demonstrates responsible decision-making.

Engagement and Support
The Department encourages all interested parties to provide feedback on the implementation of the New York State Portrait of a Graduate by participating in the ThoughtExchange discussion by October 12, 2025. Additional information about the Graduation Measures initiative can be found on the Department’s Graduation Measures website. Questions regarding the Portrait of a Graduate may be referred to GradMeasures@nysed.gov.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025, is National IT Professionals Day. After the chaotic start of school, this gives us a chance to pause and celebrate the contributions of the entire team. We are incredibly grateful for the 200+ IT Professionals here at the SCRIC.

Ashleen Speen - Promoted to Data Security & Privacy Coordinator

Kaleb Twitchell - Promoted to PC/LAN Technician

Michael Walton - Promoted to IT Specialist

Have you ever picked up a call that sounded official, only to realize later it was a scam? That’s called vishing—voice phishing—where attackers impersonate trusted figures like school staff or tech support to trick people into giving up sensitive information.

In education, these scams are becoming more targeted, hitting students with fake financial aid offers and staff with urgent IT requests, especially during busy times like the start of the school year. The damage can be serious: stolen data, financial losses, and disruptions to learning systems. It also creates stress and confusion for everyone involved.

That’s why our organization is making cybersecurity a top priority—investing in awareness, training, and stronger systems to protect our people and data.

The Communications and Public Relations team has had a strong start to the 2025-26 school year. Our focus has been on delivering high-quality video, design, and messaging projects to support BOCES and our districts.

This fall, we produced training videos for the BOCES Academy, new district videos, and a convocation video for the Binghamton City School District. We also captured dynamic drone footage showcasing both students and staff.

Our team has been working on new campus designs for the Education Center, creating welcoming spaces for learning and collaboration. In addition, we developed start-of-year messaging across the region and are preparing materials for the SCRIC Leadership and Innovation Conference to ensure BOCES is well represented.

The beginning of the school year is always a busy season, and we are proud of the work completed to set a positive tone for the year ahead.

Belong begins here at BT BOCES. We have made a commitment to all staff to ensure a sense of belonging in the workplace. That has been a key focus of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)committee the past year. During the 24-25 school year, the committee created resources to support translation services for staff, added information about affinity groups to the website, and added training videos about cultural competence, bias, and microaggressions to the BOCES Academy.

The committee will continue to focus on goals and actions related to strengthening a sense of belonging this school year. To learn more or to share your interest in being part of these conversations, please visit the DEI page of the website at https://www.btboces.org/DEI.aspx.

As the new school year approaches, you may be juggling countless responsibilities. One powerful, often underutilized tool in the Microsoft 365 suite that can help streamline these tasks is Microsoft Planner.

Microsoft Planner is a visual task management tool that enables teams to create plans, assign tasks, set due dates, and track progress—all within a collaborative, easy-to-use interface. It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams and Outlook, making it a natural fit for school environments already using these tools.

Here is a quick tutorial for you on how to use Planner: How to use the NEW Microsoft Planner in Teams

Ways Microsoft Planner Can Be Used to Stay Organized

Here are several practical ways you can use Planner:

🧑 🏫 Classroom Management

Use Planner to streamline daily classroom responsibilities and routines.

Examples:
Lesson Planning: Create buckets for each subject or week, and add tasks for preparing materials, activities, and assessments.

● Student Progress Tracking: Assign tasks for grading, feedback, and parent communication for each student or group.

● Classroom Supplies: Track inventory and restocking needs for items like markers, paper, and cleaning supplies.

🤝 Team Collaboration

Facilitates communication and shared planning among grade-level teams or departments.

Examples:
● Grade-Level Planning: Share a Planner board for weekly goals, curriculum alignment, and resource sharing.

● Staff Meetings: Track agenda items, discussion points, and follow-up actions from team meetings.

● Resource Development: Assign tasks for creating shared lesson plans, digital resources, or bulletin boards.

Tips for Success

● Use Due Dates and Reminders: Keep everyone on track with automated notifications.

● Integrate with Teams: Add Planner tabs to relevant Teams channels for easy access.

● Review Weekly: Set aside time each week to review and update your plans.

● Encourage Collaboration: Empower your leadership team to contribute and take ownership of tasks.

Microsoft Planner is more than just a to-do list—it’s a collaborative hub that can transform how you plan, communicate, and execute your goals. By leveraging this tool, you can bring clarity and structure to the busy school year.