Broome-Tioga BOCES

Broome-Tioga BOCES This is the official page of Broome-Tioga BOCES.

BOCES is a unique and innovative educational institution established to help public schools control costs and provide quality programs by sharing services. BOCES operates as an extension of the local school districts and the New York State Education Department. One of 37 such entities around the state, Broome-Tioga BOCES serves 15 component school districts in Broome and Tioga counties, annually touching the lives of nearly 35,000 students in grades K-12 and many others in adult programs.

A new school year means the return of NY Thursday! 🍎 Each week, the Rock on Café serves delicious, locally sourced lunc...
09/16/2026

A new school year means the return of NY Thursday! 🍎 Each week, the Rock on Café serves delicious, locally sourced lunches to students all throughout the region! These meals are fresh, nutritious, and help support our local farmers and community! 🌱

Check out some of the photos from NY Thursdays from last year, as we look forward to another year of great, New York-sourced meals! 🍽️

They won!!! TWICE!!!Five Broome-Tioga BOCES Culinary Arts students competed against 18 different restaurants tonight at ...
09/16/2026

They won!!! TWICE!!!

Five Broome-Tioga BOCES Culinary Arts students competed against 18 different restaurants tonight at the Fresh Food Faceoff and won People’s Choice Award as well as the Best Pork Award.

This is the second year in a row our students have won People’s Choice.

“We are incredibly proud of these students who were willing to come in during the summer to practice this dish and perfect it,” said Rachel Patinka who, along with her BOCES co-teaching chef Jestina Dawson, supervised the team. “Hard work pays off.”

Our participating students are: Caleb Hunt (Binghamton senior); Tristyn Gee (Susquehanna Valley senior); Mason Babcock (Whitney Point senior); Shaneilis Lopez (Binghamton senior); and, Kassandra Dawson (Deposit junior).

Patinka added that two local restaurants ended the night offering our students jobs and that we got to see two former students competing with other local restaurants as well.

The team’s creation for this year’s Fresh Food Faceoff will be: Crispy pork and rice bowl with fried wontons.

On Wednesday, the Culinary Bistro located in the Broome-Tioga BOCES Education Center will be open for the first time thi...
09/15/2026

On Wednesday, the Culinary Bistro located in the Broome-Tioga BOCES Education Center will be open for the first time this new school year, with a new face at the helm.

Donna Harchar is the new chef for this staff-only eatery, open 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays during the regular school year.

Faithful patrons can look forward to Donna’s creativity starting Wednesday with pasta/meat sauce with a bread stick as an entree, and those who love soups will be appropriately optimistic - the first offering will be loaded baked potato.

Asked if she has a specialty, Donna said not really, although … “I do enjoy making soups. I hear that’s a popular item here. But overall? I like making everything.”

The Bistro will continue with salads (large and small) each day, as well as daily sandwiches (turkey, ham, tuna salad, egg salad and chicken salad).

Donna cooked at Achieve for 16 years and she ran the cafe at Lourdes (the one in the atrium, alongside the gift shop) for five years.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” said Donna, who has a degree in hotel/restaurant management. “It’s going to be a lot of new items. I’ve created a menu from dishes I’ve done in the past. I hope folks enjoy my cooking.”

As always, the ultra-affordable Culinary Bistro is a first-come, first-served operation, or until things run out. Donna added that she will adjust as things go, regarding how much food to prepare each day.

Great progress continues at the CTE Education Center. Major demolition and structural work are moving forward, and the p...
09/15/2026

Great progress continues at the CTE Education Center. Major demolition and structural work are moving forward, and the project is really starting to take shape.

The West (Auto-Tech) demolition is complete, while work continues in the East (Auto body) area, including new roofing, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work. Masonry walls are now about 80 percent complete.

The courtyard near Hospitality and Cosmetology is also progressing, with framing, roofing, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and interior finishes underway.

In August, contractors completed the steel work. Ironworkers have a tradition known as a “Topping Out” or “Topping Off” ceremony. This tradition marks the moment when the final, highest piece of structural steel is hoisted and secured into place, signifying that the building has reached its maximum height!

We’re excited to see this project continue to take shape. 🚧👷🏗️

Five Broome-Tioga BOCES Culinary Arts students have spent the better part of today in the Education Center culinary kitc...
09/15/2026

Five Broome-Tioga BOCES Culinary Arts students have spent the better part of today in the Education Center culinary kitchen preparing for this evening’s annual Fresh Food Faceoff event scheduled 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension site, Front Street, Binghamton.

At the event, our students will compete against area businesses to take home top prizes in several categories. The event is judged by attendees and is open to the public. Tickets are available at the event.

Our participating students are: Caleb Hunt (Binghamton senior); Tristyn Gee (Susquehanna Valley senior); Mason Babcock (Whitney Point senior); Shaneilis Lopez (Binghamton senior); and, Kassandra Dawson (Deposit junior).

Our team, supervised by BOCES teaching chefs Jestina Dawson and Rachel Patinka.

The team’s creation for this year’s Fresh Food Faceoff will be: Crispy pork and rice bowl with fried wontons.

“It’s basically a deconstructed egg roll,” said Shaneilis. “We’re making a bowl, with ground pork, teriyaki sauce with a little spice, not too much … with deep-fried wanton strips, topped with scallions.”

Our Culinary Arts students have come home with hardware the past three competitions. In 2024, they won People’s Choice (overall event winner), as well as Best Chicken. In 2003, they won People’s Choice, and in 2022, they won for Best Pork. (There was no event in 2025 due to site construction.)

Good luck everyone!

Matthew Shoemaker lives at the nexus of the universe, but he goes to school here now. The Chenango Forks freshman footba...
09/15/2026

Matthew Shoemaker lives at the nexus of the universe, but he goes to school here now.

The Chenango Forks freshman football lineman is among the newest students in our Evertech Academy high school at Broome-Tioga BOCES. We caught up with Matthew last week. It was the first day of school and he couldn’t wipe that infectious smile off his face. He said he’s just happy to be here.

“I love ‘The Forks’ but I wanted a change,” he said. Choosing Evertech Academy was easy for him. “I really like the smaller groups and classes here at Evertech, and it feels like you’re more connected.”

It’s not surprising he likes the close connections he’s already making at Evertech. He’s from a small town, after all. Well, actually, he’s from a whole bunch of small towns, all at once. Ask him where he’s from and it takes some explaining.

“Chenango Forks is my home district, but it’s kinda weird … if I walk across the street I’ll be standing in Greene,” said the 6-foot, 245-pound two-way tackle for the traditional powerhouse Forks JV football team.

“Then if I walk up maybe a quarter mile from my house I’d be in Harpursville,” he continued. “If I walk up the hill a bit, it’s Windsor. And if I walk down the road and up a different hill, I’d be in Colesville.”

He’s visited North Carolina and he’s been to Niagara Falls, crossing over into Canada. But Madeline Byrne’s “career cluster class” might seem like the center of the world for a student who lives at the center of the universe. Fitting.

This morning we made our way to West Learning Center in Apalachin where they’ve enjoyed two productive days of learning ...
09/11/2026

This morning we made our way to West Learning Center in Apalachin where they’ve enjoyed two productive days of learning - both in the classroom, and about new friends. They’re off and running at West, looking at a school year filled with promise.

Students in each of our New Visions areas of study met this morning at Endicott’s Highland Park for camaraderie and team...
09/11/2026

Students in each of our New Visions areas of study met this morning at Endicott’s Highland Park for camaraderie and teambuilding exercises. A really great way to start the school year. We can’t wait to watch these talented students expand their horizons throughout the school year. Good luck, everyone!

Was really nice to visit all our friends at East Learning Center in downtown Binghamton this afternoon. Here’s to a wond...
09/11/2026

Was really nice to visit all our friends at East Learning Center in downtown Binghamton this afternoon. Here’s to a wonderful new school year!

Address

435 Glenwood Road
Binghamton, NY
13905

Telephone

+16077633300

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Broome-Tioga BOCES posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category