BOCES leaders: Replicate the Tech Valley High School model
03.02.10
Create more Tech Valley High Schools around the state.
That is the message state lawmakers heard during a recent lobby day by Capital Region BOCES leaders.
In a meeting with state lawmakers - local representatives as well as leaders of education committees - District Superintendent Charles Dedrick and Capital Region BOCES Board President Sandra Beloncik, as well as other BOCES leaders, detailed a 10-point plan for the future of education and BOCES in the state.
One of the top priorities identified in the Unleash the Power of BOCES position paper, available here (PDF), calls for state lawmakers to offer "Tech Valley High School as another public school alternative."
Specifically, the position paper stated "Tech Valley High School ... provides a tested, publicly-funded alternative to traditional education. Tech Valley High School is growing in enrollment and student achievement, gaining increasing notice throughout the state, as an incubator of how to teach 21st century skills."
"We ask state leaders to offer (the) Tech Valley High School (model) as another public school option, encouraging funding and legislation to enable the establishment of other such regional schools statewide," the position paper states.
Overall, three teams of Capital Region BOCES personnel and students ― nearly 40 individuals total ― visited the state Capitol on February 23 as part of BOCES Lobby Day, an annual opportunity for BOCES around the state to meet with legislators about BOCES-specific issues.
Among the lawmakers or BOCES officials met with were senators Neil Breslin, Hugh Farley, Vincent Leibell, Roy McDonald, Suzi Oppenheimer and James Seward, as well as Assemblymen George Amedore, Ron Canestrari, Herman Ferrell, Tim Gordon, Tony Jordon, Peter Lopez, Jack McEneny, Catherine Nolan, Bob Reilly and James Tedisco. The BOCES contingent also met with state Deputy Education Secretary Duffy Palmer.
BOCES officials said the feedback from lawmakers, like that of state Education Commissioner David Steiner when he toured Tech Valley High School in December, was positive and supportive.
"I think we were successful in getting out the message that there's a lot we can do to help save taxpayer money while preserving quality for our schools," said Assistant District Superintendent for Instruction Kathryn Gerbino of the entire lobby day effort. Gerbino's office organized the teams of Capital Region BOCES personnel who attended.
"We welcome the support and know that we are creating a special type of educational setting that has a proven track record of success," said TVHS Principal Dan Liebert. "We look forward to the opportunity to share what we have learned along the way and help others accomplish the same mission."
