About the Pikes Peak BOCES
The Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services is a unique educational organization founded in 1968. It primarily serves 14 school districts in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado, but offers some of its services statewide.
The Pikes Peak BOCES is an invaluable asset to local school districts in finding ways to best use educational dollars effectively without diminishing Special Education, Federal Programs and other programs vital to the education of our young people.
Three ways to participate in BOCES services:
- BOCES members pay a flat fee, which entitles them to receive all services the BOCES provides.
- Associate members choose among services for which they pay a fee to receive.
- Other Colorado school districts may receive BOCES services for a higher fee than members and associate members pay.
Pikes Peak BOCES services include:
- A consolidated Special Education Program
- The Pikes Peak Pathways Program
- Phoenix Program
- Liberty Program
- New Directions Education Program
- Staff Development and training
Technology planning and implementation
Member School districts that need technology consultation and services can turn to the Pikes Peak BOCES for assistance. The BOCES helps member districts purchase appropriate computers and technology systems to support instruction. Through cooperative purchasing, the BOCES can secure the best possible price for small school districts. In addition, BOCES staff will help set-up, network and troubleshoot district's technology systems and train district staff to be on-site technology support. Staff development on technology issues is offered throughout the school year. For more information see the Pikes Peak BOCES IT page, or contact: Brian Bylund, Pikes Peak BOCES Technology Director, (719) 622-2082 or bbylund@ppboces.org.
Program development for non-English speaking students
Working along with the South Central BOCES, the Pikes Peak BOCES provides an English as a Second Language (ESL) program:
- Helps member districts to meet federal and state guidelines for non-English speaking students
- Tests students and provides individualized programs for non-English speakers
- Consults with districts and teachers on strategies for serving non-English speaking students in the regular classroom
- Provides individual tutoring when appropriate
For more information, contact: Joe Hermocillo @ South Central BOCES, (719)647-0023 or hermocillo-j@scboces.k-12.co.us
BOCES Association
The Pikes Peak BOCES is a member of the Colorado BOCES Association, a network of BOCES across the state. The BOCES Association works cooperatively to acquire funding and to promote state legislation that benefits member school districts across the state. For more information about the BOCES Association, contact Dale McCall, Colorado BOCES Association. You can contact him at (970) 381-0720 or dale.mccall@wildbblue.net.
BOCES Governance
The Governing Board of Pikes Peak BOCES includes one school board member from each BOCES member district. The Board meets six times during the year to set policy, to approve expenditures and programs, and to adopt budgets presented by the Executive Director and recommended by the Superintendents' Advisory Council.
The Superintendents' Advisory Council consists of the superintendent or representative of each member and associate member district. The Council meets monthly with the exception of July and August. The SAC serves as an advisory committee to the Executive Director to review items under consideration by the BOCES Board and recommends programs and projects for the region.
Philosophy and Role of the Pikes Peak BOCES
- The Pikes Peak BOCES serves as an advocate of its member districts' viewpoints and needs.
- The BOCES assists in the protection and maintenance of the autonomy of its member districts by providing assistance for meeting state and federal mandates.
- The BOCES provides systems to expand and extend the resources of the local member districts through various cooperative endeavors.
- The BOCES is an agent for the administration of certain state and federal regulatory functions only by consent and direction of local member districts and shall reflect the philosophy of local member districts in administering the same.
- The BOCES strives always to provide cost effective administration for all services desired by local member districts.
- The BOCES provides leadership in training programs for both professional and paraprofessional staff as desired by local member districts.
- The BOCES, with the consent of its member districts, makes its services available on a contract basis to non-member local school districts in order to promote greater educational opportunities for children throughout Colorado.
The BOCES maintains the philosophy that member districts control and guide its destiny and shall assist and support only those programs identified and desired by local member districts.