Voters say no to BOCES

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

LIBERTY, NY — Residents poured out in the hundreds to vote on Sullivan County BOCES’ proposed $17 million building project on Thursday, March 17. With tallied votes adding up to 787 for the proposal and 2,484 against, residents made their opinions of the proposed project crystal clear.

But to BOCES District Superintendent Martin Handler, the results were surprising.

“Looking at the election results, we didn’t do well anywhere,” said a disbelieving Handler at the BOCES board of education meeting on Friday, March 18.

In each Sullivan County district there were two, three and even ten times more votes against the proposed building than in favor of it. The proposition did not win favor in any district.

“I can explain Sullivan West but not anywhere else,” said Handler, who believes that Sullivan West residents are angry about their own merger problems and their numbers are an expression of that.

The BOCES board faces the task of figuring out what to do next. Without a new building in the works, an alternative must be found for student placement.

“I can see two problems,” said Handler. “Number one, finding space for the special education students who are already wait listed….” Currently, the school has an enrollment of 570 vocational students and 265 special education students, with between 35 and 40 additional students on a waiting list.

“…and number two, it’s just not possible to generate space for tech ed classes. We can’t start any new programs.” New vocational technical programs such as heating ventilation and landscape design were in the works when the proposal did not pass. Without the needed space and facilities to house these classes, they will need to be shelved.

Although the board has yet to decide upon a course of action, renting 14 rooms on a long-term basis from White Sulphur Springs in the Liberty district is one option that is being considered. The problem with White Sulphur Springs is that “there are major repairs that will be needed if it is to be used long term,” said Handler.

“We planned on renting from White Sulphur Springs in the fall as a temporary solution,” said Handler. “Now that the proposal has been voted down we might have to look at a more permanent solution renting elsewhere,” he said.

“It will be more costly in the long run,” he said.

“If there is any significant growth from another development we won’t have anywhere to go,” said Handler.

He said he does not see another building proposal in the near future.

“People just aren’t anxious about supporting new facilities,” said Handler, “I think we had a good project. The overwhelming numbers suggest this isn’t what the people want to see,” he said.