Facilities and Operations

Shared Maintenance:

Under this service BOCES coordinates, manages and provides highly skilled maintenance technicians such as electricians, a carpenter, roof maintenance workers, refrigeration workers, plumbers, etc., as needed. Shared Maintenance personnel can provide assistance with telephones and telecommunications wiring. The program is currently working on the development of boiler maintenance services. A shared summer maintenance crew can also be provided to assist districts with summer maintenance needs. On a shared basis, such personnel are available to perform preventive, routine and emergency maintenance for participating districts. The service is not intended to take the place of the existing maintenance staff. 

Safety & Risk:

This BOCES service provides for the dissemination of information, monitoring of activities, training of staff and development of policies and procedures to make sure school districts comply with federal, state and local regulations, procedures and laws dealing with safety and risk management. The BOCES-coordinated Safety Advisory Council, consisting of district representatives, addresses such items as health and safety, asbestos, lead, toxic/hazardous materials, waste regulations, bloodborne pathogens and “Right to Know.” Some of the activities are: “Right to Know” laws training, transportation safety training, assistance in establishing record keeping systems, training and health hazard information; assistance with Disaster Preparedness Program, assistance with SAVE legislation compliance, liaison between districts and enforcement agencies; analysis of accident claims and assistance with required inspections.

Cooperative Transportation:

This service assists component school districts with their out-of-district and special transportation routes. Dutchess County BOCES provides coordination for this shared program in compliance with transportation regulations and issues BOCES-wide transportation bids. Transportation contracts are coordinated among the contractors, BOCES and participating school districts. Cost savings are achieved by competitive pricing and consolidation of bus runs among the participating local school districts. Duplicate routes and associated costs are eliminated through cooperation among participating districts servicing regular and special education students. It is estimated that members of the Cooperative saved over $3,000,000 during the eleven years of its operation.