An impressive list of cooperative programs is managed by this division. Using the economies of scale principle, the result is substantial financial benefits for the school districts, their students and ultimately, taxpayers. For example, the Cooperative Bidding Program generates competitive bids for various commodities, supplies, equipment and services needed by the BOCES and/or participating districts. Cost savings achieved through quantity discounts are passed on to the end user, and duplication of effort among districts is eliminated. BOCES handles over a dozen such bids each year, developing detailed specifications, placing advertisements, distributing bids and awarding contracts.

Very practical cooperative programs have been developed in response to physical and fiscal needs. The Shared Printing Service provides a full range of quality print shop services. Typesetting, layout, printing, folding, duplicating and binding are provided at extremely competitive costs, enabling district participants to benefit from materials like newsletters, calendars, menus, standard forms, report cards, tickets, booklets and stationery at far less expense than using numerous outside vendors.

Addressing technological support needs for component districts and the BOCES, a Microcomputer Repair Program makes available skilled technicians to service a wide range of computer and peripheral equipment, with services performed on-site or at the BOCES central repair shop. The Cooperative Shared Maintenance Program offers highly skilled mechanics such as boiler maintenance and pneumatic specialists, electricians and plumbers to districts who on their own cannot afford such specialty personnel. The Cooperative Transportation Consortium offers shared transportation services and competitive contract pricing for bus runs to out-of-district locations and for special routes.

This division is responsible for the financial operations and administers the organization's multi- million dollar budget which in 1998 stands at $72 million. The division is also responsible for many other internal BOCES support services such as all personnel, business office functions, BOCES facilities, school lunch and fleet operations. Programs that originate with the Administrative Division are devised, therefore, with a critical eye on fiscal viability and maximization of state aid. These programs save substantial amounts of money for component districts. The Worker's Compensation Cooperative, for instance, coordinates a variety of activities and handles the school worker's compensation self-insured program, saving some two and a half million real dollars to date. Similarly, the BOCES administers a large health insurance consortium (DEHIC) comprising twenty-seven different educational organizations. It has obtained quality health insurance coverage for some 14,000 individuals, including teachers, administrators, support staff, retirees and dependents. A newly created investment pool (NYLAF) for districts and municipal entities is expected to bring high financial returns to participating agencies.

Programs succeed because of cooperation. A Cooperative Recruitment Program is another example of this principle at work. It provides advertising and coordination services and maintains a database of applicants for positions throughout the area. Safety and risk management, staff training, service delivery systems, and cooperative school food management are areas that have been addressed with an eye to saving money and eliminating the duplication of efforts among the school districts.

The districts and Dutchess BOCES are committed to finding new and better ways to share resources and personnel and to capitalize on purchasing power to save money for its taxpayers. Millions of dollars have been saved to date. Millions more will be saved in the future as new collaborative efforts are considered and implemented.