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The statistics for BOCES grads in the Practical Nursing program speak for themselves! Those adults who took the Practical Nursing exam for NYS board licensure in the third quarter of 2011 had a 97% pass rate compared to 85% in NYS and 87% for the U.S. We are proud of students AND staff! The Practical Nursing program at Western Suffolk is approved by the NYS Education Department. Adults can complete the full-time day program in 13 months; the part-time day program in 24 months and the evening program in 18 months. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Prerequisites include a high school diploma or equivalent plus a satisfactory score on the Pre-Entrance Exam. For more information about how you can enroll in the BOCES Practical Nursing program for adults at Wilson Tech's Northport campus, click here or call 631-261-3721 x219.
The annual BOCES Board Dinner took place Dec. 1 at Wilson Tech's Dix Hills campus. Board members from the local school districts, including Smithtown members featured above, toured exhibits to learn more about the programs and services of Western Suffolk BOCES. Students from both adult and high school programs at Wilson Tech were there to demonstrate programs as varied as audio production, cosmetology and aviation maintenance technology. This year's featured event was an outdoor welding demonstration. Following the exhibits, board members enjoyed food prepared and served by students in the Culinary Arts progam. See the festivities! And, thanks to the work of Jake Barbal, Professional Photography 2 senior from Deer Park High School, you can see the other hard working students who made the night such a success!
Jeannette Santos (l.), president of the Board of Western Suffolk BOCES, recognizes Jeanne Osias (c.), Suffolk County Police Officer assigned as 1st Precinct's School Resource Officer, for being an extraordinary resource to the staff and students across all BOCES' special education programs. Most recently Officer Osias has worked closely with students from Brennan Middle School who have undertaken a project to educate themselves about the harm that bullying inflicts on others. Chandra Rivera, principal of Brennan Middle/High School, commended Officer Osias for her help in creating a school atmosphere devoid of bullying. See more photos from the recogition ceremony.
Veterans can gain computer skills through the “No Man Is An Island” program taught by Western Suffolk BOCES in partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs, NY Regional Office. This program is an adjunct to the VA medical treatment program to help increase veterans’ awareness, mental alertness, socialization and interaction in the world. The program teaches computer applications to help build the veterans’ basic computer knowledge and enable the veterans to augment their interests and global access. The six-month computer training program enables veterans to reconnect with family and friends. Upon successful completion of the program, these veterans are eligible to receive a computer and printer for their home. Veterans describe being overwhelmed at first, but they appreciate the many ways that technology can positively impact their lives. One veteran described how he reached out to a war buddy after 40 years. Now they email to stay in touch. The “No Man Is An Island” program serves disabled veterans at the VA’s Northport, Brooklyn and Manhattan medical centers. Veterans generally range in age from 25 to 95 and represent all eras of conflicts. For further information contact 631-667-6000 x320.
The Aviation Maintenance Technology Program hosted a Career Fair and Open House on 15 from 9 to 11 am at Wilson Tech's Republic Airport campus for adults interested in preparing to earn FAA licenses. Employers from major Long Island airports including Sheltair, Delta Technical Operations, A&P Aircraft Maintenance, Mach II Aviation, US Airways, New York State Police, Vaughn College, AAR Aircraft Component Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 106th Rescue Wing, Air National Guard, NYC Business Solutions Transportation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Academy of Aviation, and Jet Blue talked to prospective students about career opportunities for those with FAA licenses.
The AMT program at Western Suffolk BOCES is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. For questions, call 631-752-1957. See more photos about the Career Fair.
Graduates of the James E. Allen Jr./Sr. High enjoyed a celebration with family and friends. See the 2011 graduates at the festivities.
The Board of Western Suffolk BOCES recognized 16 employees (above) for their Outstanding Achievement along with this year's retirees at the June Board Meeting. Outstanding employees were selected by the Site-Based Shared Decision-Making teams in each school. Take a look at the festivities. Kudos to all!
The Board of Western Suffolk BOCES recognized outstanding students who attend programs or schools in Career and Technical Education and Special Education at its May meeting. Take a look at the Outstanding Students who were honored!
 For more than two years Raul Rivera has commuted from Brooklyn to Western Suffolk BOCES programs. His perseverance has helped him earn his long-awaited high school diploma and prepare for two nationally recognized exams in Wilson Tech’s Aviation Technology program. In recognition of his hard work, the Faculty Association of Western Suffolk BOCES recently presented him with a $50 award. After earning his high school diploma from Kings Park High School through the External Diploma Program at BOCES, Raul continued to commute from Brooklyn in pursuit of two licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration. Upon Raul’s graduation from the BOCES aviation program in May, he will be qualified to take the national exams for FAA Powerplant and Airframe licenses. To present Raul’s award were (l. to r.) Henry Delarosa, his Airframe instructor; Nadine Singer, his counselor in the External Diploma Program; Debra Montaruli, principal of BOCES adult education programs; Ila Gaffney, adult counselor; and John Colandrea, assistant principal of Tech’s Aviation Facility in Farmingdale. EDP is a study-at-home program where adults receive credit for skills they have acquired and for demonstrating mastery of specific academic requirements in weekly sessions with a counselor/teacher. EDP is offered at no charge through Western Suffolk BOCES and New York State. For more information about the EDP program, call Wilson Tech's Career Center at 631-667-6000, ext. 327. For a tour of the BOCES aviation program, call 752-1957.
Dr. Michael Mensch, Chief Operating Officer, congratulates Karina Brazzi of North Babylon on her outstanding performance as Belle in the musical Beauty and the Beast at James E. Allen Jr./Sr. High School. Kudos to all the cast!!!
The 2011-12 administrative budget of Western Suffolk BOCES was approved by its participating districts by a vote of 16 to 2 on April 28. The local boards also re-elected Peter Wunsch of Commack and Jeannette Santos of Amityville to serve three-year terms on the BOCES Board. Western Suffolk BOCES will hold the increase for the combined administrative and capital charge to 0.65% for 2011-12. The total increase across all 18 participating districts is $39,936. The administrative charge, which is analogous to the tax rate in local districts, is set by subtracting revenues from the administrative budget. The BOCES capital budget is based on the cost of renting facilities plus the cost of maintaining and making repairs to BOCES facilities. No increases were added to the capital budget for next year, therefore, the overall capital charge will not change. Five districts will see declines in their combined administrative and capital charge which is distributed to local districts based on a three-year weighted average of their student attendance. Thirteen will see increases, the largest will be $9,253 in Smithtown, which has had the largest increase in enrollment compared to the others. The total proposed Tentative BOCES budget for 2011–12 is $148,389,523. Of this, 3.1% will go to administration; 4.4% will go to post-retirement benefits; and 2.1% will go to the capital budget. The balance, 90.4%, of this proposed budget is driven by the programs and services that local school districts request.
Western Suffolk BOCES has been re-approved by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for all classes in its adult education programs at Wilson Technological Center. Adults can learn new skills for entering the workforce, changing careers, advancing on the job, or developing a hobby in more than 300 classes that Wilson Tech offers. To achieve this prestigious status as an Authorized Provider, BOCES completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor, and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard addressing the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its programs. “Wilson Tech is proud of our adult education programs which train more than 8,000 each year in skills ranging from automotive and cosmetology to computer networking and videography so that Long Islanders stay on the cutting edge,” said Dr. Michael Mensch, Chief Operating Officer of Western Suffolk BOCES. “Our ongoing partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs, and we are very pleased to join an elite group of organizations that offer excellent continuing education and training programs.” Western Suffolk BOCES joins nearly 650 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met. IACET, a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs, is the only standard-setting organization approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for continuing education and training. Wilson Tech is the career and technical education division of Western Suffolk BOCES. It offers both part-time evening courses and full-time day programs including 43 that help adults earn certificates or licenses. Juniors and seniors in high school can also attend Wilson Tech for half-day programs. For more information about both, go to www.wilsontech.org .
Western Suffolk BOCES will hold the increase for the combined administrative and capital charge to 0.65% for 2011-12. The total increase across all 18 participating districts is $39,936. To hold down these charges, the BOCES Board has been working with its employee groups and has achieved significant savings from collective bargaining agreements including: Higher Health Insurance Contributions • All active and new members of BOCES’ clerical, custodians, aides and administrators’ units contribute between 11 and 25% to the cost of their health insurance. • BOCES teachers agreed to increase their contribution toward the cost of their health insurance to 20%; new teachers contribute 25%. Salary Reductions • In September 2010, BOCES’ teachers forfeited 1% of their contractual salary. • Dr. Michael Mensch, BOCES Chief Operating Officer, has waived his contractual salary increase scheduled for July 1, 2011. These adjustments coupled with reductions made in the administrative budget by reconfiguring staffing, reducing equipment and supply purchases, and eliminating non-essential conferences helped offset the significant increases in the costs for the retirement systems and health insurance. The proposed administrative budget, exclusive of retiree health insurance costs, has declined by 0.2%. The administrative charge, which is analogous to the tax rate in local districts, is set by subtracting revenues from the administrative budget. Lower revenues earned from less on interest from deposits resulted in the 0.65% increase in the combined administrative and capital charge. The capital budget is based on the cost of renting facilities plus the cost of maintaining and making repairs to BOCES facilities. No increases were added to the capital budget for next year, therefore, the overall capital charge will not change. Five districts will see declines in their combined administrative and capital charge which is distributed to local districts based on a three-year weighted average of their student attendance. Thirteen will see increases, the largest will be $9,253 in Smithtown, which has had the largest increase in enrollment compared to the others. Details are in the Budget News newsletter. The BOCES Board will present the budget and answer questions at its Annual Meeting on Thurs., April 7 in the Large Conference Room at the Central Administration Office, 507 Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills. By law, the 18 Boards of Education within Western Suffolk BOCES will vote on the BOCES administrative budget in local meetings. This year’s vote is scheduled for Thurs., April 28 when local boards will also elect two members to serve three-year terms on the BOCES Board. The total proposed Tentative BOCES budget for 2011–12 is $148,389,523. Of this, 3.1% will go to administration; 4.4% will go to post-retirement benefits; and 2.1% will go to the capital budget. The balance, 90.4%, of this proposed budget is driven by the programs and services that local school districts request. Charges/Pupil are Next to Lowest in NYS According to the State Education Department’s most recent Report to the Governor and the Legislature on BOCES, the combined administrative and capital charge per pupil* for Western Suffolk BOCES is the second lowest in New York State. “When the high regional costs on Long Island are considered, it is significant that the combined administrative and capital charge per pupil for this BOCES is below all but one other BOCES in the state,” noted Peter Wunsch, president of the Western Suffolk BOCES Board. For copies of the proposed BOCES 2011-2012 Tentative Budget, call 549-4900, x224. *per pupil refers to the Resident Weighted Average Daily Attendance (RWADA).
The energy level at a recent Islander Hockey game was thrilling. Approximately 125 students from JEA Jr/Sr High and their families joined the school’s staff and their families as guests of honor. And, what guests! The students sang the National Anthem to roaring applause.
While overall enrollment in the 18 school districts in the Western Suffolk BOCES region has declined 2.7% since 2004, enrollment patterns have not been consistent across the 18 districts. As the overall number of students declined from the peak of 91,076 in 2004 to 88,591 last year, enrollment actually grew 6.1% in Huntington and 2.9% in Smithtown during the past six years. To illustrate the highly variable enrollment data within the region, the recenly released Demograhic Study of the 18 School Districts in Western Suffolk BOCES cited figures from just one year (between 2009 and 2010) when enrollment grew 3.1% in Amityville; declined approximately 2 - 3% in Commack, Half Hollow Hills, West Babylon and Wyandanch; and remained stable in the other 13 districts. These overall enrollment figures as well as grade by grade data are included in the annual study concluded for the 18 districts in Huntington, Smithtown and Babylon. In 2010, Smithtown remains the largest district in the region, at 10,810 students, while Babylon is the smallest district, at 1,788 students. Enrollment in the region’s secondary grades grew from 2004 to 2010 due to the large elementary enrollments of a decade ago moving through the educational system and to more students in grades 10 to 12 staying in the public schools. This growth, however, was more than offset by the decline in elementary and middle grades. Overall regional enrollment is projected to decline by 1,981 students by 2013 as losses in elementary and middle grades, primarily reflective of smaller kindergartens beginning in 2005 progress through the system until 2013. This loss is mitigated by the anticipated growth in the secondary grade configurations as the larger cohorts currently in those grades continue moving through the system. These trends are consistent with those noted in previous studies. Gains or losses in enrollment are largely reflective of housing sales; housing is an important consideration for potential school enrollment. Records between 2005 and 2009 showed a decline in housing sales in the three towns of Babylon (62%), Huntington (46%) and Smithtown (44%), although 2009 saw less of a decline. This may reflect increased buyer confidence paired with continuing low interest rates and may signal a trend toward continued improvement in housing activity. The median selling price of housing declined beginning in 2007, with losses continuing between 2008 and 2009 of 10% in Babylon, 12% in Huntington and 3% in Smithtown. The regional decline in housing sales has contributed to declining kindergarten and subsequent grade enrollments which has led to overall enrollment decline. A reversal in this trend typically brings younger children and more children into the schools.
The Western Suffolk BOCES Office of School Planning & Research has conducted Comprehensive Long Range Planning Studies for over 125 school districts during the past five years. Comprehensive Long Range Planning Studies include analysis of demographic factors that have influenced historical enrollment or can impact future enrollment. These factors include population, housing, economy, and non-public school attendance. For more information, call Joan Townley at 595-6802.
Imagine walking into the earth and then taking your seat for a lesson! That’s just what 75
Brennan High School students included (l. to r.) Timothy Cuiffo, Alyssa Justiniano, Sabrina Hyman, and Scott Weissman. Standing are (l. ro r.) Chandra Rivera, principal; James Geis, BHS teacher coordinator; Ms. Cone; and Mary Jean Alimena, assistant principal.
Click here to see the new high school graduates. In this study-at-home program, these adults received credit for skills they had acquired and demonstrated mastery of specific academic requirements in weekly sessions with a counselor/teacher. For more information about the EDP program, call Wilson Tech's Career Center at 631-667-6000, ext. 327.
The Surgical Technology program at Western Suffolk BOCES has just been re-accredited for 10 years from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Adults can begin the year-long program at Wilson Tech’s Northport campus in September or March each year. The approval came after a lengthy review process that evaluated all aspects of the ST program—didactic, laboratory and clinical curriculum, policies and procedures, student resources, faculty credentials and accomplishments, program outcomes, placement, student and employer satisfaction and BOCES’ ability to respond to the needs of the community. The Commission commended the BOCES staff for their “commitment to continuous quality improvement in education.” The ST program prepares adults for employment in operating rooms, surgical offices, delivery rooms, emergency departments, physician and dentist offices, central supply services, cardiac catheterization clinics, tissue banks and ambulatory surgical care sites. After training in the BOCES operating room, students must complete a clinical placement in a local health care facility where they work under an experienced health care professional. To apply to the ST program, adults must have a high school diploma or equivalent and achieve a satisfactory score on a pre-entrance exam. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. For details on application procedures and the program requirements, go to www.wsboces.org/fulltime or call 631-261-3721.
Connetquot High School students in the BOCES Hard Shell Clam Mariculture Program recently put 150,000 clams in Stony Brook Harbor. Students had built rafts for the seed clams last winter, monitored their growth throughout the school year and summer, and finally placed the adolescent clams into the harbor where they should safely develop into adult clams. The Outdoor Environmental Education Program through Western Suffolk BOCES funded the program through the Nature Conservancy, the Town of Smithtown and the National Grid Foundation. Connetquot's science teacher Lori Forgione had written the winning proposal to have students in an after school program help restore Long Island's dwindling shellfish population. Other clams that the students had raised were placed in the Great South Bay. For more information about mariculture programs in Long Island schools, call 360-3652.
 Lori Battell of West Islip, an adult student in Western Suffolk BOCES’ School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, was one of eight in the U.S. to be awarded a scholarship from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Lori will use her $500 award for her tuition in the program. She hopes to complete the BOCES program in June 2010and then work in a hospital. Among the five specialty areas available in Tech's 24-month program, Tech students can pursue echocardiography (the sonography of structures of the heart), general, breast, obstetrics and vascular sonography. Each specialty area requires graduates to pass a different registry exam. Lori selected the BOCES program at Wilson Tech’s Northport campus because of its affordable tuition and the emphasis on supervised clinical experience in hospitals and doctor's offices from Manhattan to Southampton. Students gain valuable hands-on experience in several three-month clinical rotations. Interested adults should begin preparations now for the next class which begins July 2010. The program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. For more details about the program, admission requirements and tuition, go to www.wsboces.org/fulltime, or call 631-261-3721 ext. 219.
 After an extensive review, Western Suffolk BOCES was recently awarded national accreditation from the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education for its full-time adult education programs. Dr. Michael J. Mensch (l.), Chief Operating Officer of BOCES, presents the certificate to Kathi Baker (c.), administrator of health programs; and Deborah Montaruli (r.), principal of adult services. With this accreditation, BOCES can continue offering financial aid to adults studying cosmetology, aesthetics, practical nursing, diagnostic medical sonography, surgical technology, aircraft maintenance technology and automotive technology. For more information about these seven programs, go to www.wsboces.org/fulltime, or call 667-6000 ext. 320. Registration is now underway for spring semester. To earn this prestigious recognition, BOCES had to demonstrate that it met not only the standards of quality of the Commission but also the needs of students, the community, and employers. The Council, whose mission is to assure quality and integrity in career and technical education at postsecondary institutions across the nation, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
95% of the 2006 graduates of Wilson Technological Center's Practical Nursing program passed their licensing exam. This pass rate far exceeds the rate of other PN grads across the nation. Tech’s pass rate compares to 83% for NYS; and 86% for the U.S. Students can complete the BOCES adult education program for Practical Nursing in a 13-month accelerated day program, an 18-month part-time evening program or a 24-month part-time day program. Once students successfully complete the academic work and clinical component of the program, they must sit for their state boards in order to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Tech's program, approved by the NYS Education Department, has a low ratio of students to faculty that allows for individualized instruction. Day and evening classes begin again in September 2008. For more information about admission requirements, the curriculum or the tuition, click here.
Wilson Tech’s Auto Body program has earned a national endorsement from AutoYES after a successful site visit in June. A program evaluator from Okalahoma City inspected Tech facilities and interviewed Tech instructors. The endorsement is effective immediately. Tech's program prepares high school students pursuing Auto Body Repair to earn the Regent's diploma, including the prestigious seal of Technical Endorsement, and this nationally recognized certificate. For details about the program, visit http://www.wilsontech.org/HSPrograms/auto_body_repair/
The next Regular meeting of the Board of Western Suffolk BOCES will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Building E at the Lewis A. Wilson Technological Center Central Campus, 17 Westminster Avenue, Dix Hills, NY The Regular meeting convenes at 6:30 pm in Building E immediately followed by an Executive Session. The public portion resumes, beginning with Item Number I on the Agenda, at 7:30 pm in Building E. Upcoming Board meetings will be held on:
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