“We are grateful for the partnership of our elected representatives and their commitment to working alongside us to improve educational outcomes for all students,“ said Hartford Central School District Superintendent and Chair of the Chief School Officer Advocacy Committee, Andrew Cook.
“Through collaboration and thoughtful policymaking, our legislative priorities advance equity by ensuring that every student, regardless of zip code, has meaningful access to the opportunities, resources, and support necessary for a high-quality education and long-term success.”
Key Priorities Discussed:
- Transition to Zero-Emission Buses: District leaders stressed the urgency of preparing for state-mandated zero-emission bus requirements while facing limited bus supply, infrastructure constraints, and vendor delays. Priorities include increased state flexibility, clear funding responsibility for electrical grid upgrades, adjusted implementation timelines, and expanded waiver options when districts demonstrate good-faith compliance efforts.
- School Funding: Stakeholders highlighted the importance of fully funding the Foundation Aid formula and updating it to reflect fixed district costs, mandated services, special education expenses, and local tax cap limitations. Ensuring stable, predictable funding, including full funding of expense-based aids and FAPE 22, remains central to effective long-term financial planning.
- Small Group Health Insurance: Maintaining districts’ ability to remain in small-group health insurance consortia was identified as a cost-stability priority. Participants supported making permanent the current authorization allowing districts with 50–100 employees to participate in these plans.
- Workforce Development: Persistent staffing shortages continue to affect schools statewide. Priorities include reducing barriers for out-of-state and mid-career professionals entering education, aligning the Tier 6 retirement benefits eligibility with those offered to Tier 3 and 4 members by allowing retirement at age 55 with 30 years of service, and modernizing civil service practices to strengthen recruitment and retention.
- Ongoing Capital Projects: Districts emphasized the need to modernize the school capital outlay threshold to reflect current construction and labor costs. Raising the project limit would allow more efficient facility improvements while reducing borrowing and long-term expenses.
A full document outlining these priorities and specific recommendations is available at this link.
Adirondack Studios Human Resources Specialist Maurice O’Connell was the guest speaker at the event. His company partners with WSWHE BOCES by hosting internships for Career and Technical Education (CTE) students. Adirondack Studios, located in Argyle, New York, is a design and fabrication provider that provides creative solutions for designers, artists, producers, and owners in the themed entertainment market.
O’Connell shared that Adirondack Studios recently transitioned one of their welding interns into a paid role at a union new hire salary. He noted that internships allow students to work under the guidance of artisan metal workers and to learn and work side by side with some of the most creative and talented theatrical welders in the industry.
“It will not come a surprise that the majority of our welders at Adirondack Studios are graduates of the WSWHE BOCES program, ” said O’Connell.
O’Connell said his story was but one example of how the CTE programs are making an impact on entertainment manufacturing, but there is still a need for a definitive level of continued encouragement. He encouraged educators to provide their students with opportunities to explore and play, to implement a maker space and offer tools for 3D printing, dimensional routers and continue to offer computer training, as it is the future of manufacturing.
“BOCES CTE programs provide a direct pipeline into the technical backbone of the entertainment industry. The set builders, carpenters, welders, and digital artists highlight the importance of regional collaboration to sustain our economic growth and our industry leadership right in your own backyard. Let's not just watch the show, let's encourage the future creatives who make the show possible.”
In addition to important policy discussions, attendees had the opportunity to experience firsthand the skills of WSWHE BOCES culinary arts students, who prepared and served approximately 100 guests. Other CTE programs that participated in the event were the horticulture program which created floral centerpieces and the criminal justice studies program which directed traffic. SkillsUSA and FFA students sat at tables and told guests about their respective organizations and the opportunities afforded by them.
Attendees also heard from current Early College Career Academy New Media program student Addison Barton. She told guests that her program has allowed her “to pursue [her] passion for art and turn it into a career.”
Alumna Alexis Allen, who completed the environmental conservation and forestry program, ended the meeting by telling her story about gaining a promotion as a heavy equipment operator at Barton Mines. Her employer said that the specialized training that she received at WSWHE BOCES allowed her to move up from her entry level position.
“I didn’t just get the job, I got the career that I was dreaming of.”
