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Policies, Procedures, & Publications

Acceptable Use Policy [a.k.a. "AUP", "Use of Computers & Networked Information Systems", or "Internet Use"]
Admin Reg. No. 7161
Adopted: October 29, 1997
Revised: July 11, 2001

Adult Career & Technical Education Course Catalog requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

Annual Professional Performance Review [APPR]
The purpose of this Annual Professional Performance Review [APPR] is to improve the quality of instruction and learning in the classroom and other settings that will result in improved student achievement.

The mandated elements of the APPR as outlined in part 100.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education are fulfilled in the Dutchess BOCES APPR.

Annual Report
In a lively and engaging format that includes testimonials from both students and staff, the Dutchess BOCES Annual Report summarizes our services, our accomplishments, our works-in-progress and our plans for the future.

The BOCES Communicator [a newsletter for Dutchess BOCES employees]: This newsletter will present to you a variety of topics about Dutchess BOCES and is intended to inform you about various upcoming events and important dates, key educational topics, staff development opportunities, employee news and other general information that may be pertinent to our employees.

BOCES Goals Resolution
At the beginning of each school year, the Dutchess BOCES Board of Education explores, creates, and adopts its annual goals and objectives for the organization.

Business Office Forms

Code of Conduct
The Dutchess BOCES Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and orderly school environment where students may receive and district personnel may deliver quality educational services without disruption or interference. Responsible behavior by students, teachers, other district personnel, parents and other visitors is essential to achieving this goal.

The BOCES has a long-standing set of expectations for conduct on school property and at school functions. These expectations are based on the principles of civility, mutual respect, citizenship, character, tolerance, honesty and integrity.

The board recognizes the need to clearly define these expectations for acceptable conduct on school property, to identify the possible consequences of unacceptable conduct and to ensure that discipline when necessary is administered promptly and fairly. To this end, the board adopts this code of conduct.

CTI Integrated/ Academic Lesson Projection [in MS® Word® format]

Employee Recognition Awards Program
The Dutchess BOCES has established the Employee Recognition Awards Program to recognize exemplary performance of staff members that represents a level of service significantly over and above their specific job responsibilities.

English Language Arts [ELA] Checklist requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
Compiled by Linda Kilpatrick from our Salt Point Educational Center. Linda "re-organized" the NYS Learning Standards and Performance Indicators by grade level [K - 1, 2 - 4, 5 - 6, & 7 - 8].

Estimated Budget requires Adobe Acrobat Reader and Budget Questions and Answers
The Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services Budget Document represents the BOCES estimated financial plan for the school year. The budget document is reviewed at our Annual Meeting in April. Additionally, for your convenience we broadcast the meeting to three of our high school Distance Learning sites (Dover High School, Red Hook High School, and Roy C. Ketcham High School) located throughout Dutchess County.

The BOCES is an extension of your local school district providing services requested by you. The costs for these requests appear as a line item in your local school district budgets. Most revenues for BOCES services come from school districts based upon pupil tuition or program charges. Federal and state grants awarded to BOCES represent other sources of revenue used to support programs and services for component districts.

Each component district's Board of Education has an opportunity to vote on one portion of the BOCES budget: the administrative budget, excluding capital/rental costs. Additionally, members are elected to the BOCES Board. The vote on the administrative cost portion of the budget and election of the board members takes place in your home districts annually in either late April or early May.

Additional Resources:

Grants Update
The Dutchess BOCES Office of Communications and Grants Research posts current grant opportunities along with eligibility criteria, information about the application process, and deadlines.

Initiative Sheet for Dutchess BOCES Administrators [in MS® Word® template format]

New York State Education Department's Annual Report Card for Dutchess BOCES

Notable News and Events requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
Have "Notable News or Events" you'd like to share with us?

When requesting communication services, please provide any back-up information that is available on the event/activity, including hand-outs, programs, etc. Please try to give us two weeks’ notice about your event, particularly if you would like us to alert the local press.

  • New Programs?
  • Upcoming Events?
  • New Teachers?
  • Student/Teacher Who Received Recognition?
  • Special Projects or Performances?

Policy Manual requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
The Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services is a voluntary cooperative association of public school districts in Dutchess County. The BOCES is governed by a Board of Trustees who have formulated these policies.

Policy is defined as a basic plan of action. It establishes limits within which freedom of judgment can be exercised.

Policy is a governing principle of management. It is a statement which has an effect on the interests of those who come under its jurisdiction. A policy may originate from the constitution, from statute, from local determinations and/or from customary patterns of formal behavior.

Policy should accomplish the following:

  1. State a position taken by the Supervisory District;
  2. Grant the authority to act;
  3. Be sufficiently detailed to give adequate direction;
  4. Be achievable within the real environment of the school and community;
  5. Provide for impartial procedures.

In addition to the adopted policies, the operation of the BOCES is governed by and subject to all applicable Laws, Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Civil Service requirements, Board Resolutions, School Administrative Regulations and Contracts of Agreement.

Professional Development Plan requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
The purpose of the Professional Development Plan shall be to improve the quality of teaching and learning by ensuring that teachers participate in substantial professional development to remain current in their profession, while meeting the learning needs of their students. The plan shall also ensure that holders of level III teaching assistant certificates and that substitutes who work on a long-term basis, are provided the opportunity to participate in the professional development program of the BOCES.

Professional Development Catalog requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

Salt Point Educational Center Mid-Quarter Progress Report Template [in MS® Word® format]

School Calendars:

Services Guide requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
Dutchess BOCES is part of the statewide system of Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. Through the cooperative efforts of our thirteen component school districts, Dutchess BOCES is able to offer a wide variety of educational programs and support services to children and adults in Dutchess County. Costs are reduced by having two or more districts share in these programs and services. Participating districts may also receive state aid for the costs. This aid is additional to local state aid. All services benefit from the professional advice and suggestions of component district personnel.

This Services Guide assists component school districts to plan and select the shared services needed during the school year. These services have a proven track record of high quality and cost effectiveness. Our goal is to strengthen this record each school year.

Dutchess BOCES always stands ready to develop additional services tailored to the needs of two or more districts. Suggestions for new services can be directed to the District Superintendent or the appropriate division head. For the convenience of district personnel who may have a specific question, the telephone numbers of the program administrators are listed with each general category of programs. Any BOCES employee listed in this guide would be more than happy to consult with districts regarding the services listed.

Districts should indicate in early January the shared services they plan on requesting for the next school year. Final commitments for these services are due later in the school year. The “Request for Services Calendar” page of the guide illustrates the cycle.

Summer Work Study Grant
Each year Dutchess BOCES provides our teachers, through the auspices of the Summer Work Study Grant Program, the opportunity to develop new and innovative curriculum/projects for the educational and professional growth of students and staff. The Summer Work Study Grant Committee encourages your participation and eagerly looks forward to an increased number of applicants this year.

Support Staff Performance Appraisal Forms

Teacher Mentor Program requires Adobe Acrobat Reader
The purpose of the program is to provide peer guidance to new uncertified teachers to the BOCES. The program is designed to encourage experienced tenured teachers or retirees to share their knowledge, talents and skills with new teachers in the BOCES to become effective teachers.

For more information:

Anna Marie Martino
Director
Office of Communications & Grants Research
Dutchess BOCES BETA
900 Dutchess Turnpike
Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
v: 845.486.8051
f: 845.486.4958
anna.martino@dcboces.org