Our Story

The Board Of Cooperative Educational Services of St. Lawrence-Lewis Counties serves 18 school districts in St. Lawrence and Lewis Counties, New York, by providing cost-effective shared services, including career training for high-school students and adults, special education, alternative schools, technology education, and teacher training, as well as dozens of programs to expand educational opportunity and help districts operate more efficiently. Our agency, which was created in the early 1950s, is one of 37 BOCES in NY state. All of The BOCES are made possible by legislation passed in 1948. Read more about this on the State Education Department web site.

Our Vision

The St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES is committed to providing students, families, schools and communities with educational opportunities to prepare for successful futures in the evolving global economy.

Our Mission

The St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES Mission is to provide quality, cost-effective programs and services characterized by leadership, innovation, creativity, and flexibility, to:

• Prepare students to become contributing members of their community.
• Initiate programs in response to emerging needs.
• Encourage the sharing of resources and expertise.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth.
• Include constituents in the decision-making process.
• Provide professional and technical assistance.

 

In New York State, most children attend neighborhood schools that reflect the local community's values. But small school systems are at a disadvantage when it comes to serving students with specialized needs, purchasing equipment or introducing new technology.

To solve this problem, the State Legislature created the BOCES The Boards of Cooperative Educational Services to encourage local school districts to pool and share their resources. The BOCES offer services and programs that individual school districts can't operate as efficiently or cost-effectively. Examples include specialized schools for severely disabled children, a regional computer-services center, and shared professional training programs for teachers. The BOCES also offers a labor relations service, curriculum and staff development opportunities, and a variety of itinerant services.

The SLL BOCES serves 18 local school districts in St. Lawrence and Lewis Counties, which have more than 40 schools and approximately 20,000 students. The SLL BOCES enables the county's residents to enjoy all the benefits of locally-controlled schools while also reaping the benefits of belonging to a large cooperative.

Funding comes from the 18 local districts. Each pays a proportional share of The SLL BOCES' administrative costs, and local school boards vote on the administrative budget each spring. In addition, each district decides which The SLL BOCES services it needs and then pays a share of the cost of those services. Schools receive The BOCES aid from the state to encourage them to cooperate with one another. The BOCES cannot levy taxes. All monies come from payment for services delivered to the school districts or from grants. Member districts share in the administrative costs of The BOCES, and each member school districts board of education must approve the administrative budget.