A year ago, union activists at NYSUT's BOCES Leadership Conference were meeting against the backdrop of a free-falling stock market, rising unemployment and Gov. Paterson's call for midyear cuts in the state budget.

Now, as the market rebuilds, the state's 37 Boards of Cooperative Educational Service are expanding adult ed programs to retrain jobless New Yorkers in a variety of career fields — and again facing the threat of midyear budget cuts ordered by the governor.

"It's very simple. We must be prepared to act, once again, to protect our professions, institutions and programs," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, whose office oversees BOCES issues for the union.

Addressing the 37th annual conference of BOCES leaders, Donahue praised the educators for helping New York's troubled economy recover as they work to end the achievement gap for some of the state's most challenged students.

"Day in and day out, BOCES is preventing at-risk students from falling through the cracks in the education system, helping them realize their full potential and steering them on the road to success," she said.

Tackling the gap

But for BOCES educators, there are many detours on that road to success in ending the achievement gap and helping put more New Yorkers back to work — decreased funding, lower enrollment, crowded Career and Technical Education classrooms and difficult students.

"Nobody understands BOCES better than the people who live it every day," said Thelma Shaw, president of the BOCES Educators of Eastern Suffolk, attending her 32nd annual conference. "We're dealing with issues from burnout, to paperwork and student behavior."

Members from each of the three major divisions in BOCES — special education, Career and Technical Education, and related services — met to discuss a variety of topics.

The implications of Medicaid funding cuts, evaluating performance, building ties with industry and establishing the appropriate scope of practice for all counselors received a full airing.

Local leaders also outlined their concerns in a roundtable discussion with NYSUT staff.

Jane Countryman, from Monroe 1 BOCES Paraprofessionals, spoke for many when she described management "not filling positions and trying to give more responsibilities to people."

Larry Marino, from the United Staff Association at Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES, outlined the difficulty for his members "to find time to collaborate on effective teaching" when they are bogged down with other non-teaching tasks.

Issues raised at the conference will be addressed over the coming year by NYSUT and its BOCES Statewide Committee.

Locals push back

Despite the obstacles BOCES faces in this tough climate, local unions are still searching for creative ways to meet members' and students' needs.

Tom Talbot and Jim Hedlund, from the Tri-County BOCES Education Association in western New York, attended a popular "contract exchange" workshop led by NYSUT's Mike Siegel and Brad Over.

In it, local leaders find ideas in the work done by other locals.

Like every other local union in America, key issues at Tri-County BOCES EA include salaries and health insurance.

Like other BOCES, they are dealing with a new generation of at-risk students.

Their attitude in bargaining is straightforward. "We've already given," said Talbot.

"Our sacrifices have not been recognized, and that has to change," said Hedlund.