About Western Suffolk BOCES

Mission Statement

Western Suffolk BOCES, a regional educational service agency, will provide quality, efficient, shared programs and services to school districts, their students, parents and communities. Our mission is to expand educational opportunities and alternatives enabling learners to achieve their potential.

BOCES-at-a-Glance

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The Board of Cooperative Educational Services provides educational programs and opportunities to meet distinct needs within 18 local school districts. One of three BOCES on Long Island, Western Suffolk BOCES provides 70 services to two or more districts more economically and efficiently than one district alone can provide. Western Suffolk BOCES helps school-age children and adults gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the workplace.

Western Suffolk BOCES has an elected Board of seven representatives from the 210 square mile area that makes up the western Suffolk County towns of Babylon, Huntington and Smithtown. Board members are elected for three-year terms and are responsible for policy governing Western Suffolk BOCES.

The Boards of Cooperative Educational Services were created in 1948 by the New York State Legislature. Today 37 BOCES in New York serve 721 school districts.

Watch "Welcome to BOCES" slide show!

Programs are offered through these main divisions:

Special Education
Upon request of the local Committees on Special Education, BOCES provides highly individualized educational programs to meet the unique needs of children, ages 5 to 21, who have disabilities that typically require more intensive service than can be delivered within the local school district. Non-disabled students who require specialized services also attend programs within Special Education.

Approximately 1,000 students with intellectual disabilities; autism; physical, emotional or sensory impairments; or some combination of these disabilities attend BOCES centers or classes in participating school districts. BOCES itinerant teachers provide diagnostic and support services to another 450 students in their local school districts. BOCES provides high quality instruction that enhances each student's communication and social interaction and builds skills for Regents-level coursework or functioning academic skills.

BOCES alternative programs provide a nurturing environment with appropriate support services.  Our instructional programs are individualized and provide a full array of special and related services as well as academic instruction similar to that available in local school districts.  Classes are highly structured to facilitate behavorial changes that may help the student return to general education.

Career & Technical Education
This division meets the needs for the career and technical training of nearly 2,000 secondary school students as well as 10,000 adults at the five campuses of Wilson Technological Center.  Online learning opportunities are available for both high school students and adults.  In addition to the Center for Alternative Education, Tech offers 39 programs for high school students and more than 300 courses for adults, including preparation for certificates and licenses, as well as on-line instruction.

Instructional Support Services
This division offers a variety of instructional support, planning, and technology services that take advantage of experienced instructional staff and educators knowledgeable about technological advances.

Other Services
BOCES also offers many administrative and management services to help school districts meet the needs of their students, staff and communities. BOCES can provide these services more economically and efficiently than one district alone can provide.

 

Local Funding and State Aid

Western Suffolk BOCES is financially supported by its 18 participating school districts as well as state and federal grants.  Every April, the 18 participating Boards of Education vote on the BOCES Administrative Budget.  The costs associated with the BOCES Administrative Budget and the Capital Budget are borne by the 18 participating school districts based on a three-year weighted average daily attendance rate.

School districts that request Western Suffolk BOCES services pay a prorated service fee or tuition as itemized in a shared-services contract.  School districts receive state aid on many services based on the previous year's audited expenses of BOCES programs and services.  The wealth of each component district, its aid ratio and the cost of Western Suffolk BOCES services determine how much aid participating districts receive.  Local districts receive their state aid for the BOCES programs and services they used in the year following the district's expenditures.

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Shared Services Guide

For descriptions of all programs and services offered through Western Suffolk BOCES, browse through our Shared Services Guides

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Audit Reports

Office of the NYS Comptroller, 2010 Report

Transparency and Appropriateness of Reserve Funds

Western Suffolk BOCES created reserves to avoid sharp increases in administrative and service costs which would then be passed on to local taxpayers. This audit examines the level of reserves for their stated purposes and the authorization for funding such reserves.

Office of the NYS Comptroller, 2009 Report

Audit of the Internal Controls over Information Technology and Gasoline Credit Cards. In addition to examining BOCES internal controls, the objective was also to determine whether those controls are appropriately designed to protect electronic data and whether those controls over gas credit cards are operating effectively.

Independent Auditors' Reports

Financial Statements and Supplementary Information of Western Suffolk BOCES for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Information of Western Suffolk BOCES for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

 

BOCES Report Card

Read the statistics on the programs of Western Suffolk BOCES.

Report Card 2009-10:

                       PDF version   Word version

Report Card 2008-09:

                        PDF version   Word version

Report Card 2007-08:

   HTML version   PDF version   Word version

Report Card 2006-07:

   HTML version   PDF version   Word version

 

District Superintendent

Vacant
(631)549-4900, ext. 222
centraladmin@wsboces.org

Dr. Thomas Rogers, the District Superintendent of Nassau BOCES, is the Interim District Superintendent for Western Suffolk BOCES. He was appointed to this interim position by the NYS Commissioner of Education. While serving in this capacity, Dr. Rogers will receive no additional compensation.

The Chief Executive Officer and District Superintendent is a salaried educator serving both the State Education Department and the Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

As the regional representative of the Commissioner of Education, the District Superintendent is often called upon to assist in the implementation of NYS Education Law and interpretation of the Regulations of the Commissioner and the rules of the Board of Regents. The District Superintendent has responsiblility for providing support and direction for local implementation of statewide school improvement initiatives. The Commissioner of Education may also designate the District Superintendent to represent SED on special assignments.

In the capacity of Chief Executive Officer, the responsibilities include planning, administering, supervising and evaluating regional education programs and support services which are provided at the request of the component school districts.

 


Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Superintendent

 

Dr. Michael J. Mensch

(631) 549-4900, ext 222

The Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Superintendent is responsible for planning, administering, supervising and evaluating the education programs and support services of the BOCES. The Administrative Council, consisting of the Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Director of Personnel, the Executive Director of Special Education, the Executive Director of Career and Technical Education, the Executive Director of Instructional Support Services and Administrative Assistant (Public Information), report directly to Dr. Mensch.

To insure that BOCES programs and services meet the needs of local school districts, Dr. Mensch meets monthly with the Superintendents of the 18 component school districts.

The Board of Western Suffolk BOCES appointed Dr. Mensch to this position effective Jan. 1, 2006. As the Chief Operating Officer, he prepares the agendas and organizes the meetings of the Board of Western Suffolk BOCES.

The Board

Western Suffolk BOCES has an elected Board of seven representatives who are elected for three-year terms. By law, Board members must reside in the 18 districts that comprise the supervisory district. Board members are responsible for policy governing the programs and services offered by the agency.

 Board Member
 Home School District
 Term of Office
 Jeannette Santos,
 President
 Amityville
 2011-2014
 Maryann Zumpano,
 Vice President
 Smithtown
 2010-2013
 Mildred Browne
 Wyandanch
 2010-2013
 Sydney Finkelstein
 Elwood
 2009-2012
 Ilene Herz, Esquire
 Half Hollow Hills
 2010-2013
 Salvatore Marinello
 West Babylon
 2009-2012
 Peter Wunsch
 Commack
 2011-2014
 Joan Johnson
 District Clerk
 631/549-4900, ext. 222

Staffing for 2011-2012

 Administrators and Supervisors (FTE)
59
 Teaching Staff (FTE)
327
 Teaching Assistants (FTE)
 5
 Clerical (FTE)
110
 Aides (FTE)
456
 Physical/ Occupational Therapists & Nurses (FTE)
 46
 Adult Intstructors (part-time)
155
 Food Services Staff (part-time)
 22
 Technical Staff (FTE)
 9
 Custodial/ Maintenance (FTE)
 63
 Other
 24

Student Enrollment in BOCES Programs 2011-2012

 Students are
 from these
 Districts
 Secondary
 Career &
 Tech Ed.
 General
 Career &
 Tech Ed.
 Alternative
 & Coop
 Programs
 Special
 Education
 Amityville
 62
24
0
90
 Babylon
 36
5
14
20
 Cold Spring Harbor
  5
4
1
3
 Commack
 53
12
60
50
 Copiague
189
71
60
143
 Deer Park
55
21
3
43
 Elwood
35
26
8
14
 Half Hollow Hills
62
62
3
41
 Harborfields
24
17
2
29
 Huntington
70
35
28
58
 Kings Park
36
5
2
19
 Lindenhurst
120
37
1
54
 North Babylon
46
29
0
82
 Northport
29
19
2
50
 Smithtown
110
94
11
66
 South Huntington
74
54
2
50
 West Babylon
98
39
13
52
 Wyandanch
73
29
33
38
 Western Suffolk Boces
102
 Other BOCES
0
2
0
84
 TOTAL
1177
687
243
986

 

Freedom of Information (FOIL) Requests

Under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), individuals may request existing public records from the public agencies responsible for maintaining those records.  Western Suffolk BOCES has a designated Records Access Officer who is responsible for accepting and responding to FOIL requests.

To make a request for existing public records, please complete the FOIL request form.  You may click the “submit” button at the bottom of the form or you may print the form, complete and mail it to:

                            FOIL Request

                            Western Suffolk BOCES

                            P. O. Box 8007

                            Huntington Station NY  11746-9007

When you submit this form, FOIL allows Western Suffolk BOCES five business days to make the record(s) available, deny access to the record(s), or acknowledge receipt of your request and inform you of the timeframe required to respond to your request.

Choose how to receive records

According to FOIL, public agencies are required to provide copies of records in the format and on the medium desired by the person filing the request if the agency can reasonably do so.  Western Suffolk BOCES provides records electronically, where possible, or as photocopies delivered by U.S. mail.  Please indicate your preference on the request form.

If you would like to inspect the records in person, submit the completed FOIL request form.  The BOCES Records Access Officer will notify you if such records are available and provide information about scheduling an appointment to inspect such records.  Appointments are generally scheduled between 9 am and 2 pm Monday – Friday at the Central Administrative Office, 507 Deer Park Road, Dix Hills, NY  11746.

The agency will provide an estimate of all fees prior to a request being processed. All checks should be made out to Western Suffolk BOCES and mailed to:

Records Access Officer

Western Suffolk BOCES

P. O. Box 8007

Huntington Station NY  11746-9007

To contact the Records Officer, please use this link: Records Access Officer. Visit the New York State Committee on Open Government website for answers to frequently asked questions about FOIL.

Non-Discrimination Notice

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services of western Suffolk County, New York, does not discriminate on the basis of age, religion, creed, ethnic origin, marital status, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability or handicap in the educational programs or activities it operates. This policy of non-discrimination includes the recruitment, hiring and advancement of employees; salaries, pay and other benefits; counseling services to students; and student access to course offerings; lawful political activities; educational programs and other activities; and the business activities of the Board. The coordinator of activities relating to compliance with Title IX and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) is Mr. Thomas Reilly, who may be contacted at 507 Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills, NY 11746 or 631/549-4900, ext. 204.

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