What is BOCES and how does it work?

The Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) are public organizations created by the New York State Legislature in 1948 as a way for local school districts to collaborate on educational offerings while reducing their individual expenses. New York State’s 37 BOCES are incubators of innovation, continually developing new programs and services for students to meet the workforce development needs of the region. Genesee Valley BOCES operates two main student campuses and multiple satellite locations to serve the 19,500 students from 22 component school districts. Genesee Valley BOCES has a stellar reputation built upon the work of the educators and support staff who serve students and adults throughout the region. This commitment, passion, and dedication have created a conduit through which our services have been delivered and continue to grow.

Why does Genesee Valley BOCES need a capital project?

Since the merger in 1997, Genesee Valley BOCES has had only one capital project, and that was 20 years ago. In 2024, Genesee Valley BOCES completed the New York State-mandated building condition survey (BCS), which highlighted a number of areas requiring attention. We are committed to providing students from our component districts with safe and healthy learning environments that meet their diverse academic needs and will position them for future success. Our student offerings and demand have continued to grow over the years, requiring expansion of our facilities in order to allow our shared services to continue meeting today’s educational standards. In addition to academic space expansion at our Batavia and Mount Morris campuses, this project would address critical health and safety needs, infrastructure improvements, asset preservation, and energy efficiencies at our buildings that will yield annual cost savings in the future.

Why have a capital project now?

Career and Technical Education enrollment is up 32% over the last 10+ years, attracting approximately 45% of all eligible Juniors and Seniors in the Genesee Valley BOCES Region. Our facilities and program offerings require renovations and expansion to meet this increasing demand. In addition, many of our mechanical systems, such as HVAC, boilers, etc., are either at the end of their useful lives or, in a bestcase scenario, are at the end of their warranties. Construction costs will never be less than they are today. BOCES has no taxing authority, has minimal opportunities to create reserve funds, and must return any operating surplus to its component school districts. Our last project, which was initiated in 2005-2006, will be paid in full within the next 12 months. Now is the ideal time and opportunity to address our program needs, avoid further deterioration to our facilities, and minimize the cost to accomplish them.

Who benefits from the project?

Approximately 1,700 school-age students attend Genesee Valley BOCES every day, making BOCES the second largest school district in the Genesee Valley BOCES Region. In addition to school-age students, the Genesee Valley Adult Education department served more than 500 adults in the last year. Services that the BOCES provides include: • Career and technical education • Alternative and special education • Student support services • Adult education for retraining and employment support In addition, more than 1,800 professional educators have relied on the Genesee Valley BOCES School Improvement Department for professional learning and training.

Which component districts does Genesee Valley BOCES serve and represent?

Genesee Valley BOCES represents and serves the following component school districts: • Alexander Central School District • Attica Central School District • Avon Central School District • Batavia City School District • Byron-Bergen Central School District • Caledonia-Mumford Central School District • Dansville Central School District • Elba Central School District • Geneseo Central School District • Keshequa Central School District • Le Roy Central School District • Letchworth Central School District • Livonia Central School District • Mount Morris Central School District • Oakfield-Alabama Central School District • Pavilion Central School District • Pembroke Central School District • Perry Central School District • Warsaw Central School District • Wayland-Cohocton Central School District • Wyoming Central School District • York Central School District

When would the work take place?

To minimize the impact of active construction on our students and staff, the work will be spread over two phases. It’s expected that the State Education Department’s approval for the first phase of work would be received by 2027 with the bulk of work starting that summer. Construction work for the second phase of work would take place in 2028, with the project reaching completion by the end of 2029. What is the total cost of the project and how will it be paid for? The total amount that would be authorized for the project is $42,885,649. New York State Building Aid funding is expected to pay for approximately 71.51% of this amount, which will cover the majority of the project’s total cost. The BOCES’ 22 component districts will each be responsible for contributing a portion of the remaining 28.49% of the project’s cost. Each district’s contribution amount is determined based on its enrollment relative to the total BOCES region.

What is the total cost of the project and how will it be paid for?

The total amount that would be authorized for the project is $42,885,649. New York State Building Aid funding is expected to pay for approximately 71.51% of this amount, which will cover the majority of the project’s total cost. The BOCES’ 22 component districts will each be responsible for contributing a portion of the remaining 28.49% of the project’s cost. Each district’s contribution amount is determined based on its enrollment relative to the total BOCES region.

How is the project financed and how will it impact me?

The project is financed through an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) between the Genesee Valley BOCES and its 22 component districts. Component districts' payments are prorated based on their respective weighted average daily attendance rates. The IMA allows districts to determine payment methods in alignment with their long-range financial plans. The project has no impact on 2026-2027 school budgets. Districts will make their first payments in the 2027-2028 school year.

Who is eligible to vote?

Any US citizen that is 18 years old who resides within one of the Genesee Valley BOCES 22 component districts for at least 30 days prior to the vote is eligible. What will it take to pass the vote? A simple majority of the total votes from the 22 component districts is needed for the vote to pass. When and where will the vote take place? The vote will be held on June 9, 2026 from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You may vote at any of the following locations:

Genesee County • Genesee Valley BOCES: Le Roy Campus, 80 Munson St., Le Roy, NY 14482 • Genesee Valley BOCES: Batavia Campus, 8250 State Street Rd., Batavia, NY 14020 • Genesee Valley BOCES: Early College High School at Byron-Bergen MS/HS, 6917 W. Bergen Rd., Bergen, NY 14416

Livingston County • Genesee Valley BOCES: Mount Morris Campus, 27 Lackawanna Ave., Mount Morris, NY 14510 • Genesee Valley BOCES: Dansville Campus, 31 Clara Barton St., Dansville, NY 14437 • Livonia Central School District: Transportation Facility, 44 Memorial Dr., Livonia, NY 14487 • Caledonia-Mumford Central School District: District Office, 3181 Freeman Dr., Caledonia, NY 14423

Wyoming County • Attica Central School District: High School Performing Arts Center (Auditorium) Lobby, 3338 E. Main Street Rd., Attica, NY 14011 • Perry Central School District: Perry Senior High School Library, 33 Watkins Ave., Perry, NY 14530

Where can I find out more about the capital project proposal?

Detailed information about the project is available on the Genesee Valley BOCES website.

If you have additional questions about the project, please contact the BOCES by emailing us at gvbCAPproject@gvboces.org.

Metal & Power Sports Addition

Diesel Addition

Office & Classroom Addition

Batavia Campus

Batavia Campus

Mount Morris Campus

Mount Morris Campus

The Genesee Valley BOCES 2026 Educational Improvements Project is a proposed $42.9 million capital improvement initiative designed to modernize facilities, expand instructional space, and improve safety across multiple campuses. The project is intended to address both immediate infrastructure needs and long-term educational growth throughout the region.

This would be the first major capital improvement project completed by Genesee Valley BOCES in nearly 20 years. Many building systems and instructional spaces have reached the end of their useful life and require upgrades to continue supporting students, staff, and community programs effectively.

Project Goals

The Educational Improvements Project focuses on three primary areas: site and safety improvements, academic program enhancements, and critical maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.

A major priority of the project is improving campus safety for students, staff, and visitors. Planned upgrades include redesigned traffic circulation patterns, separation of buses and pedestrian areas, safer drop-off and pickup zones, and improved campus entrances.

The project also aims to expand and modernize instructional spaces to better support career and technical education programs. As enrollment has grown by more than 30%, additional classrooms and hands-on learning areas are needed to accommodate student demand and reduce reliance on leased off-campus space.

In addition, the project addresses aging infrastructure throughout both campuses. Planned work includes roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, masonry repairs, updated communication systems, and improvements to long-term building efficiency and reliability.

Batavia Campus Improvements

The Batavia Campus will undergo major exterior and interior improvements designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and instructional opportunities.

One of the most significant changes includes a complete redesign of the parking lot and traffic circulation system. Dedicated bus drop-off lanes, improved pedestrian pathways, and better separation between vehicles and buses will create a safer environment for students, staff, and visitors.

The parking lot will also be milled and resurfaced, with additional parking spaces added to improve traffic flow and campus accessibility. A new bus turnaround area and electric bus charging infrastructure will help support future transportation needs and state requirements.

Interior improvements include the construction of a new Diesel Maintenance Addition featuring three bus bays. This expansion will allow instructional programs currently operating off campus to return to the Batavia Campus, creating more centralized learning opportunities for students.

Additional Batavia Campus upgrades include:

• Roof replacement with a new long-term warranty system

• HVAC and mechanical system upgrades

• Masonry and lintel repairs

• Auto mechanic program improvements

• New entrance canopy enhancements

Mount Morris Campus Improvements

The Mount Morris Campus project focuses on expanding instructional capacity while modernizing aging facilities and infrastructure.

To support continued enrollment growth, the project includes a six-classroom addition on the west side of the building. These new spaces will help serve additional students and reduce existing waitlists for programs.

Several career and technical education programs will also receive expanded and renovated learning areas. The cosmetology program, one of the campus’s most in-demand pathways, will undergo a complete renovation and expansion to better support student instruction and enrollment needs.

A new Metal Trades and Power Sports addition is also planned, creating additional hands-on training opportunities aligned with regional workforce needs.

Exterior improvements at Mount Morris include reconstruction of the rear “U” drive and parking areas to improve drainage, durability, and overall site circulation. The project also includes a new artificial turf dog training area for the Animal Science program.

Additional Mount Morris improvements include:

• Roof replacement

• HVAC and mechanical upgrades

• Masonry and exterior repairs

• New entrance canopy improvements

• Expanded shop and classroom spaces

Student Impact

The Educational Improvements Project is designed to directly benefit current and future students across the Genesee Valley BOCES region.

Enrollment across programs has increased by more than 30% in recent years, creating a growing need for additional classroom space and expanded instructional facilities. The proposed additions and renovations will help meet that demand while improving the overall student learning experience.

The project will also reduce reliance on leased off-campus instructional spaces by bringing programs back onto campus. This creates a more connected and collaborative educational environment while improving access to student services and resources.

Expanded and renovated career and technical education spaces will allow students to gain additional hands-on experience in high-demand fields including cosmetology, diesel technology, metal trades, power sports, auto mechanics, and animal science.

By improving instructional environments and upgrading facilities, the project supports workforce development opportunities that align with local and regional employment needs.

Safety & Infrastructure

Student and staff safety is a central focus of the Educational Improvements Project.

Traffic circulation improvements will create safer separation between pedestrians, buses, and personal vehicles, helping reduce congestion and improve daily campus operations. New entrances and upgraded circulation patterns will also improve visitor access and emergency response capabilities.

The project additionally addresses several major infrastructure concerns throughout both campuses. Much of the existing HVAC and mechanical equipment is more than 20 years old and approaching the end of its useful life.

Planned upgrades include:

• Roof replacements with long-term warranty systems

• Modernized HVAC and ventilation equipment

• Updated PA and clock systems

• Improved drainage and stormwater management

• Masonry and exterior repairs

• More energy-efficient building systems

These improvements are intended to increase reliability, improve building performance, and support the long-term sustainability of Genesee Valley BOCES facilities.