Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services

This document articulates the foundational principles and strategic direction of OHM BOCES. Its mission is to provide leading-edge educational services, career opportunities, and support essential for all students' success through dedicated professionals collaborating with component districts and the community. The vision aims for OHM BOCES to be recognized as a trusted partner, expanding diverse experiential and educational pathways. Core values emphasize earning trust through integrity, unwavering commitment, ethical conduct, collaborative teamwork, and fostering inclusivity through respect for diverse perspectives.

This document presents the findings and recommendations of the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures, established in 2019 to reimagine high school graduation requirements for rigor, equity, and relevance. The commission's work involved stakeholder input, a state scan, and a literature review. Key areas of focus include advocating for alternatives to traditional standardized testing, emphasizing 'life-readiness' skills, promoting culturally responsive education, and simplifying diploma structures. The findings highlight the importance of multiple pathways for demonstrating mastery, effective performance-based assessments, and the mixed impacts of high-stakes exams versus the benefits of optional rigorous coursework and flexible graduation pathways. The ultimate aim is to develop a modernized framework that balances academic standards with equitable opportunities for student mastery and college/career readiness.

This document explores 'NY Inspires,' detailing the rationale and requirements for a significant policy reversal in New York State's education system. The focus is on phasing out high-stakes standardized exit exams like Regents, driven by concerns for equity and measuring deeper learning. The plan outlines key requirements for transformation: adopting the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, redefining credits and expanding learning experiences, establishing a single New York State diploma, and sunsetting diploma assessment requirements in favor of alternative competency demonstrations such as capstone projects, portfolios, work-based learning, and problem-based projects. This initiative aims to enhance academic outcomes, foster critical cognitive and personal growth skills, and provide districts with flexibility to design student experiences that meet high standards.

The council discussed updates to the annual report and the plan of service. Key topics included resource sharing policies, support for special client groups such as ESL and LGBTQ students, professional development training, and consulting services for member schools. The discussion also covered advocacy efforts, the development of tool kits for book challenge policies, communication strategies like a mentorship program for new librarians, and collaborative efforts with other library systems. Additional initiatives were proposed regarding media literacy, curriculum development, and bridging connections with local colleges.

The board discussed and reviewed several policies, including tax-exempt bond post-issuance compliance, inspection procedures, and eye safety requirements. Key deliberations included adjusting policy language to include department supervisors in addition to building principals for rehabilitation and remodeling requests, deferring the wellness policy to the wellness committee for further review and updates to align with current standards, and clarifying the rationale behind internet safety policies concerning minor interactions and e-rate compliance.