Assemblyman Celebrates BOCES CTE Equipment Enhancements

MILFORD—On October 31, Assemblyman Brian Miller (at left, above) and his Chief of Staff, Susan Jaquish, visited ONC BOCES’ Otsego Area Occupational Center in Milford to view firsthand the improvements made possible through the State and Municipalities Facilities Capital Program grant. Assemblyman Miller played a pivotal role in encouraging ONC BOCES to apply for the grant, which resulted in a $75,000.00 award to enhance Career and Technical Education equipment, officials said.
The grant funding enabled ONC BOCES to make significant upgrades across several CTE programs:

• Culinary Program: Acquired a new walk-in refrigerator/freezer, allowing culinary students to work with and store ingredients on a larger scale, enhancing their training in real-world culinary environments.

• Automotive Program: Purchased state-of-the-art mobile auto lifts that allow auto students to safely lift heavy equipment for repairs, providing them with hands-on experience with industry-standard tools.

• Welding Program: Added new welding booths to support the practical skills in a high-demand trade.

Throughout the visit, Assemblyman Miller, ONC BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Catherine Huber, and ONC BOCES Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Avery engaged in meaningful discussions focused on regionalization initiatives and possible legislation actions to support rural schools with the resources needed to provide students with equitable access to expanded learning opportunities.