Senate Resolution No. 551

BY: Senator MAYER

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Southern
Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational
Services

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations which are committed to enhancing the
quality of education in the State of New York, and which enable our
schools to offer excellent educational programs in the most efficient
manner; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Southern Westchester Board of
Cooperative Educational Services; and

WHEREAS, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) are an
integral component of New York State's public education system,
providing special education services to more than 16,000 students
annually, as well as career and technical education opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1984, by the New York State
Commissioner of Education and the Board of Regents, the Southern
Westchester BOCES programs and services have been unparalleled in
meeting the unique needs of New York's students, school districts,
business, and industry; and

WHEREAS, Southern Westchester BOCES Centers provide more than 70
services to help school districts, teaching and administrative
professionals, students, and the public with needs in the areas of
special education, career and technical education, transportation,
interscholastic athletics, adult and community services, technology, and
professional learning; and

WHEREAS, Southern Westchester BOCES provides shared educational and
management services to schools and school districts in its geographic
region; from those beginnings, SWBOCES has grown to offer hundreds of
cooperative, cost-efficient services to school districts in the region,
encompassing 187 different schools, 104,000 students, and more than
650,000 adults who live and work in the area; and

WHEREAS, Leaders in innovation, BOCES funds efforts toward equity
and inclusion, supporting professional learning for educators, and
developing new programs and services to meet the changing needs of the
state's students and businesses; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, this vital organization provides professional
development to countless educators each year, serving as a link between
local schools and the State Education Department; and

WHEREAS, Southern Westchester BOCES specifically assists school
districts by introducing and responding to program requests and
initiatives both from local districts and from the state Education
Department, providing services, facilities and personnel to meet mutual

needs identified on a regional cooperative basis, determining ongoing
educational trends and challenges, and preparing districts for what lies
ahead, receiving and administering grants for a broad array of services
for students, staff members, and community residents; and

WHEREAS, A partner to both industry and higher education, New York
BOCES chapters collaborate with more than 2,000 colleges and
universities, giving students the opportunity to further their education
at the post-secondary level; each year, over 20,000 New Yorkers earn
their high school equivalency and study English as a second language
with BOCES services and programs; and

WHEREAS, Southern Westchester BOCES believes in the value of trust,
respect, and collaboration, with goals and commitment to being proven
leaders in their field, seeking excellence always, in providing high
quality and support; and

WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, Southern
Westchester BOCES may look back with pride upon its humble beginnings,
find just satisfaction in its purposeful growth, and hold true of
purpose in its commitment to serving the educational needs of the
citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Southern Westchester Board of
Cooperative Educational Services, noting the propriety of its goals, the
constancy of its commitment and the significance of its accomplishments
in preparing the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted the Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational
Services (BOCES).