By MATT LINDSEY

Nearly half of all eligible high school juniors and seniors in St. Lawrence County graduate from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES each year as they prepare for college and the work force.

About 48 percent of juniors and seniors are enrolled at one of three technical centers, located in Norwood, Ogdensburg and Fowler, said Ron Burke, assistant superintendent for instruction at BOCES.

The number of students enrolling to take Career Technical Education (CTE) classes at BOCES his risen slightly each year.

“The number of students has remained consistent…last year we had just under 1,000 and this year we are slightly over,” Burke said.

Burke says one reason students are opting for trade schools is that they can still continue their regular course work, including math and English, while learning about a field that is of interest to them.

“The students believe in it,” he said.

Each of the three locations offers programs unique to its location, Burke said.

In Norwood, the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning course is offered to students while Northwest Tech in Ogdensburg hosts the Innovations in Science and Technology course.

Although the smallest of the three technical centers in St. Lawrence County, heavy equipment is taught to students from schools in Gouverneur, Edwards-Knox, Clifton-Fine and Harrisville.

Beginning this fall BOCES will partner with Cornell Cooperative Extension to launch the Agriculture Studies Academy (ASA) for 12th grade students, Burke said.

St. Lawrence County students will spend the bulk of their time learning about all aspects of the agriculture industry.

Planning for Future

Some students are using their BOCES education to help pay for college while others look to join the work force directly out of high school.

“These students are a lot smarter than I was at their age,” he said.

Burke says in talking with many cosmetology students, that they plan to use their skills as a part-time job to earn money while going to college to learn about a job not related to cutting hair.

“My generation did not think like that…students today are better planning their futures,” he said.

During the school crisis of 2008 many schools were left financially devastated due to school funding cuts. With that came cuts in program, faculty and staff.

While homeschools suffered, BOCES thrived. The number of students enrolling has risen slowly from 45 to 48 percent over the last few years, Burke said.

“When electives got cut at homeschools…I think that drove some students to check out our programs,” Burke said.

Burke says students enjoy their time and experiences at BOCES and actually want to be there.

“I’ve had calls from parents giving permission for their child to drive to BOCES on a snow day when their homeschool cancelled for the day,” he said.

Burke said 95 percent of students graduate from BOCES and 72 percent end up meeting all criteria and pass required testing for certificate programs.

“Politicians who visit our centers often ask the kids that if that program were all day, would they still sign up,” Burke said. “And the answer is usually yes.”

Three Tech Centers

In order for students to attend BOCES they must be recommended by their homeschool and there must be enough open slots in classes.

Burke says most of the time they are able to accommodate a students wishes for their first or second choice of programs they wish to enroll in.

“Massena sends the largest number of students,” Burke said.

Students are limited by the physical location of their school as to which BOCES center they can choose.

More than 500 students attend Seaway Tech in Norwood, choosing from 11 two-year CTE programs, the one-ear Allied Health program, or the Alternative Education program. Course include culinary arts, HVAC and metalworking.

Northwest Tech in Ogdensburg hosts students from Gouverneur, Hammond, Hermon-DeKalb, Heuvelton, Lisbon, Madrid-Waddington, Morristown and Ogdensburg Free Academy. Some programs offered at that location include automotive technologies, natural resource management and graphic communications.

Students from Clifton-Fine, Edwards-Knox, Gouverneur and Harrisville are eligible to attend Southwest Tech in Fowler. They offer 12 courses with enrollment around 10 to 20 students per class depending on the year.

“The most popular programs are criminal justice and metalworking,” Burke said.

Agriculture Studies Academy

BOCES and Cornell Cooperative Extension are slated to begin the Agriculture Studies Academy (ASA) for 12th grade students in September, Burke said.

A one-year program open to incoming high school seniors, the ASA will offer a core curriculum that is being developed with input from the local farming community focused on a variety of agricultural sectors.

The program will be hosted at the Extension Learning Farm in Canton, a facility owned and operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.

Burke says seniors will spend their entire day at the academy learning all facets of agriculture while with required English, ELA and economic/government requirements embedded into the curriculum.

The academy was the beneficiary of a $50,000 state grant in February, which will help purchase a tractor for use.