Broome-Tioga BOCES expands to meet growing interest in the trades

DICKINSON, N.Y. — In a full-circle moment, Broome-Tioga BOCES has welcomed back graduates of its trades programs to work on the $46 million expansion project at its main campus on Glenwood Road in the town of Dickinson. Approved in November 2023 by the 15 component school districts, the project will transform the campus as interest in BOCES programs continues to grow. Over the past decade, BOCES’ student population has grown 37 percent, says Superintendent Rebecca Stone, and the campus is bursting at the seams with waitlist for many programs. “We have a space that has not been updated in the last 20 years,” she notes. “We needed to create a bigger space.” The first phase of the project is now underway, with construction progressing on the BOCES Technical Trades Center. The building, located on the back portion of the campus, will house the heavy equipment trades equipment and provide mixed-use space that the heavy equipment, carpentry, electrical, and other programs will share. Work will also eventually include installation of a solar array nearby to support the New Energy CTE program. Several of the programs will use the space to construct tiny homes — the goal is five homes over a two-year period — the county will place in blighted areas to provide new home options. “That building is getting closer to being done,” Stone notes. BOCES is targeting an October 2025 completion date for this phase of the project. The next phase will include an 86,000-square-foot addition to the rear of the main building to house current CTE programs, new CTE programs that are planned, and free up space elsewhere in the building for the growing special education programming. “We’ll now have dedicated entrances by program,” BOCES Executive Operations Officer Chrissy Choi says.

The new space will also help BOCES be innovative with its CTE programs, adding new options like clean energy/batteries and chip fabrication/semiconductors. “That is a new and upcoming trade,” Stone says. It’s all about keeping up with the times and delivering the workforce that area employers need. “Students will be able to go right to work or right on to school.” “We’re also providing a workforce that’s needed here in Broome County,” Stone adds. “We really need to build our programs to do a boost for our own economy here in Broome County.” BOCES is also looking to expand its health-care programs to meet the growing demand for those workers. “This is going to be the place to be in health care,” Stone says. “As that grows, we grow with it.” BOCES hopes to break ground in March 2026 on the addition with a June 2027 completion date. Other work will include new wayfinding signs, HVAC and electrical work, bathroom renovations, and renovating a new space for the Animal Sciences program. “Students have been more interested than they have in the past to learn a trade,” Stone says. The project will position  BOCES to meet that growing demand now and into the future. “It will allow us to bring more students who have an interest in the trades into our program,” she adds.