Legislators, NYSUT leaders hear directly from students about the value of SWBOCES programs

Breakfast event, tours demonstrate some of the many ways BOCES supports students

State legislators and education leaders toured Southern Westchester BOCES’ Career Services campus in Valhalla Thursday, Oct. 24, hearing directly from students about the impact these programs have made for them.

The Legislative Breakfast co-sponsored with the BOCES’ Teachers Association was attended by state Sens. Shelley Mayer and Peter Harckham; Assembly members Matt Slater, Steve Otis, Chris Burdick, Dana Levenberg and MaryJane Shimsky; May Cowan representing the office of Assemblywoman Amy Cowan; and Dr. Frances Wills, a member of the state Board of Regents. Representing New York State United Teachers were President Melinda Person, Sophia Abassi, Joan Deem, Jim Larson, Tom McMahon, Alithia Rodriquez-Rolon, Marty Sommer, Lonnie Threatte, and Emijana Ulaj. 

Leaders of several Southern Westchester BOCES divisions were also on hand as presenters discussed the need to support BOCES programs while students made that case from firsthand experience.

“I can fairly say that the decision to come to BOCES was one of the best decisions I ever made,” said Nora McCormick, a senior at New Rochelle High School.

Nora described how she contended with a learning disability. BOCES took the way she learned differently and brought that out. “I’m able to come here and do what I love,” she said.

A Fashion Design & Merchandising student, Nora said she loves being surrounded by classmates who share her passion. She looks forward now to applying to colleges and entering the workforce with the portfolio she built at BOCES.

Students from the Culinary Arts program catered the breakfast. Culinary student Christopher Johnson, also a senior at New Rochelle High School, expressed thanks for the opportunities his program has provided him.

Christopher was encouraged to come to BOCES by a counselor. Attending BOCES turned things around for him and made him a better student, he said. He plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America next year.

“It’s just so amazing having all these (programs) here, and they’re just so patient with us,” he said of his instructors. “This school has done so much for me. I appreciate you all.”

NYSUT President Melinda Person said she had visited a number of BOCES recently and learned that waiting lists for BOCES programs are common across the state. Among the advocacy items supported both by the union and BOCES is the proposal to increase the $30,000 limit on the portion of a CTE teacher’s salary that is eligible for state aid. That cap has been in place since the formula was devised in the early 1990s.

“The experiential learning that takes place at BOCES is a prime example of what we want to see in public schools now and in the future”, Ms. Person said.

“We need to fight for programs like this and to find ways to pay for it,” she added.

BTA President Mairead Schuelein noted hundreds of students attend many more BOCES programs across the county than those whom visitors would meet on the tours that followed the breakfast. Ms. Schuelein asked legislators to review the list of advocacy items provided to them.

She recounted how carpentry students at the CTE campus fabricated accessible planting beds for use by medically fragile students in Special Services programs in Tarrytown and Rye Lake. Those same Special Services students helped craft the floral arrangements that adorned tables at the breakfast.

Board of Education President John Filiberti said the event brought together “the people who make education work.”

“Attendees’ support of BOCES programs in turn fuels the success of the 32 component districts whose students attend those critical programs”. He also thanked the representatives of NYSUT who were on hand for their partnership.

“Thank you for everything you do, because everything you do helps our daily successes,” Mr. Filiberti said.

District Superintendent Dr. Harold Coles said this event was an important way to demonstrate the value of BOCES programs and the work that takes place daily to support students. He thanked the BTA for co-hosting the event.

“Our most important resource we have here is our teaching staff,” Dr. Coles said. “They are ambassadors for us.”

The final student speaker, Lilia Corona, was actually a former student. Ms. Corona told her story of coming to the U.S. from Mexico at a very young age and speaking no English. ESL classes brought her to BOCES, and she eventually also enrolled in the GED program too.

It was 16 years later that Ms. Corona was hired as a Teacher’s Aide at Southern Westchester BOCES. She fell in love with the work and sought certification for the Teaching Assistant position she now holds. She spoke adoringly of her former GED teacher, Ms. Rudner, and said that in her current role she continues to learn from excellent BOCES teachers.

“I couldn’t be more blessed,” Ms. Corona said. “Thank you very much to everyone who makes these opportunities possible.”