Dutchess BOCES

Students in the Career & Technical Institute’s Security & Law class honored the over 400 first responders who died during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the tragedy’s 24th anniversary.

Throughout convocation and the following Superintendent’s Conference Day, staff members gathered across campus with their colleagues to learn about changes, gain skills and collaborate to help make the 2025-26 great for our students.

Dutchess BOCES welcomed new and returning employees to the 2025-2026 school year during the annual convocation on Sept. 2 at Salt Point Center. The event was an opportunity to learn about exciting plans for the agency going forward, as well as hear about successful summer programs and numerous upgrades to campus.

Classes resumed at Dutchess BOCES on Sept. 4 for the 2025-2026 school year with students ready to learn and teachers and staff ready to support them on their journey.

High school juniors interested in a career saving lives as an emergency medical technician have a new opportunity through a partnership between Dutchess BOCES and Empress Emergency Medical Services. The Career and Technical Institute’s Emergency Medical Technician program debuts this month.

Dutchess BOCES administrators and human resources staff welcomed 82 new employees in varied departments during the New Hire Orientation Aug. 21, marking the largest number of new hires in the agency’s history.

Starting with the 2025-26 school year, a new New York State law prohibits students from having internet-enabled devices during school hours at Dutchess BOCES schools. Exceptions are made only for devices authorized by an individualized education plan or those provided by the school for specific lessons.

Students will be sliding into the 2025-26 school year with a brand new playground. Set to be completed in time for students’ arrival, the more than 5,500 square feet area has one mission: ensuring every child can participate in the fun. The new playground has been thoughtfully designed with student desires and inclusivity in mind.

Students at Salt Point Center’s (SPC) Extended School Year proudly showed off what they learned over the course of the six-week program during the annual ESY Summer Showcase on Aug. 14.

Geomari Fermin, an educator with over 10 years of experience, is the new assistant principal at Dutchess BOCES’ Resilience Academy.
The Board of Education approved Fermin’s hiring at its April 9 meeting and she started work in July getting acquainted with the school and assisting Salt Point Center Principal Melissa Murphy with the Extended School Year program.

When students at Dutchess BOCES’ Career & Technical Institute (CTI) return in the fall they will see improvements as soon as they enter the hallways.
New lockers are being installed in CTI’s hallways to replace the original ones, which were removed by Hertz Furniture during the week of June 30. Hertz will also do the installation.

Steve Price, who previously served as a school resource officer (SRO) for Dutchess BOCES during the 2023-2024 school year, is returning, albeit in a different role.

Jackie Fama has provided regional safety services for Putnam Northern Westchester (PNW) BOCES as a regional safety technician for the past seven years, but wanted to bring her expertise closer to home in Dutchess County.
At Dutchess BOCES July 9 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved Fama, a Fishkill resident, to serve as its first director of safety & security effective Sept. 1.