The state’s regional education agencies received a boost with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing of legislation that allow the cash-strapped Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to provide services to students and institutions across state lines.
Both Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, and Southern Westchester BOCES have sought such legislation so they could serve students from Connecticut.
Promoting the legislation were Assembly members Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale; Sandy Galef, D-Ossining, and state Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown. The bill that was signed was similar to bills introduced by all three legislators.
“This new law will be a great opportunity of BOCES to not only share their innovate educational curricula and programs with schools, faculty and students outside the state, but also lessen the burden on taxpayers by raising revenue from other sources beyond New York,” said Galef.
Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES recently designed curricula on sustainability for the second graders. Now the agency can sell the curricula across the country. James Langlois, district superintendent of Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, and interim district superintendent of Southern Westchester BOCES, welcomed Cuomo’s support.
Southern Westchester BOCES had been interested in enrolling students from Greenwich, Ct., in its culinary arts program.
“By allowing BOCES to sell services and products out-of-state, it will reduce the per unit cost to New York school districts, ensure they have needed resources, and help them constrain budget increases,” Langlois said.
A steep decline in demand for services at Southern Westchester BOCES has led to widespread layoffs and retrenchment, with the biggest losses in special education services.
