Instructional Support Services
Portable Planetarium Service
Portable Planetarium Service
COSER 415
Bring the universe to your school with the OHM Portable Planetarium—now featuring a brand-new dome, upgraded projection system, and enhanced software that immerses students and adults alike in the wonders of astronomy. Aligned to New York State Science Learning Standards, presentations span more than 18 topics designed for elementary through secondary learners. The planetarium accommodates 25–30 participants per session, offering up to six 45–50 minute presentations per day. Districts may also rent the previous dome for local use with a trained Planetarium Turn-Key Trainer. Learn more at www.oneida-boces.org/planet
Web-Based Instruction
Web-Based Instruction
COSER 438.015
Our web-based instruction services support blended and online learning environments by providing flexible, high-quality options for student success. Through the OHM Learning Network, districts have access to the Buzz Learning Management System, credit recovery and accrual opportunities, and a wide range of vendor-provided courses for grades K–12.
This year, we’ve partnered with Agilix Labs, the parent company of Buzz LMS, to integrate artificial intelligence features that enhance teaching, learning, and data insights within the platform. We continue to collaborate with curriculum vendors to bring engaging middle and high school electives to districts—partners who also help schools align instruction with New York Inspires and the Portrait of a Graduate framework, preparing students with the essential skills needed for future success.
Our regionally developed curriculum includes K–6 Social Studies, aligned to the New York State Social Studies Framework, which continues to be expanded and refined. All courses and content are delivered through Education Law 2-d compliant systems to ensure secure, seamless access.
The Web Instruction team remains committed to helping districts provide equitable, flexible and future-ready learning experiences for every student.
K-5 Science Program
K-5 Science Program
COSER 518
The OHM BOCES Science Center is where curiosity meets innovation. Through hands-on, inquiry-based K–5 curriculum aligned to the New York State Science Learning Standards, we help students explore, question, and discover the world around them. Our newly revamped K–2 units and updated 2–5 literacy-aligned materials strengthen early science and reading connections, while our new engineering design challenge, “How to Catch a Snowman,” brings creative problem-solving to life.
Beyond curriculum, we’re expanding opportunities for collaboratio nand growth. This year, we welcomed four new partner schools and strengthened community ties through projects with the Onondaga Environmental Institute, Utica Children’s Museum, Utica University’s Girls STEM Day and Stride Coffee Roasters. The OHM Science team presented at STANYS on using technology-enhanced formative assessments to boost student engagement and performance.
From new K–8 curriculum supports to dynamic professional development, the OHM Science Center continues to empower educators and ignite students’ passion for science, engineering, and innovation.
Model Schools
Model Schools
COSER 538
The OHM BOCES Model Schools Program supports districts in effectively integrating instructional technology to enhance teaching, learning, and student achievement. Our team of instructional specialists and professional developers collaborates with schools to build sustainable models for technology-rich instruction through thoughtful planning, implementation and ongoing evaluation.
This year, the program expands its focus to include artificial intelligence in education, offering professional development centered on AI literacy, ethics, bias and classroom applications. We also continue to support schools in identifying and implementing instructional technologies that create seamless, connected classroom environments where digital tools enhance both engagement and accessibility.
With flexible professional learning options (onsite, virtual, or self-paced) the Model Schools Program helps schools harness technology as a powerful tool for innovation and growth.
Substitute Teacher Calling Service
Substitute Teacher Calling Service
COSER 625
The Substitute Teacher Calling Service provides a comprehensive solution for managing absences and substitute placement through the Frontline Absence and Management System. This service allows district staff to report absences 24/7 using an automated phone system, smartphone app, or online platform, with qualified substitutes automatically assigned from district-approved lists.
In addition to maintaining system operations, our team offers training for new district employees to ensure consistent and confident use of the platform. We also continue to support and provide training in Frontline Central, helping districts achieve seamless integration between Frontline Central and Frontline Absence Management for improved data accuracy and workflow efficiency.
Districts receive daily and customized reports to track absences, substitute assignments, and usage trends, allowing for effective planning and resource management.
Educational Communications
Educational Communications
COSER 502
The Educational Communications Center is comprised of three services: Media Technology Services, Cooperative Music and Courier. The center offers curriculum resources, professional leadership and direction to school districts for the integration of instructional technologies into the total educational program. Educational Communications promotes the blending of technology with access to instructional resources to achieve the highest quality instruction to maximize the teaching/learning process.
Media Technology Services
Media Technology Services
COSER 502.01
BOCES Media Technology Services provides school districts with Ed Law 2-d and copyright compliant, standards-aligned analog and digital media resources covering all curricular areas in grade levels pre-K-12. Through this service, teachers and students have access to more than 500,000 of the latest print and digital resources from streaming media to classroom book sets. The Media Technology Service is a strategic partner with participating school districts in providing vetted content, curriculum support and copyright compliance. The robust offering includes digital content, streaming media, e-books, audio books, and SWANK Motion Pictures and Movie Licensing for each campus, in addition to multiple copy classroom book sets, large print titles and STEAM kits. Examples of products included in the service are Clickview, Streamable Learning virtual field trip platform, Learn 360, BrainPop and BrainPop Jr., World Almanac for Kids Online and the Sora e-book platform. Professional development to support access, curricular integration and best instructional practices for all products is included in the service. Examples of trainings have included finding digital content for hybrid learning, copyright compliance, information and media literacy and using digital resources to support standards and differentiated instruction.
Cooperative Music Program
Cooperative Music Program
COSER 502.02
The Cooperative Music Program enables participating school districts to cooperatively purchase sheet music for chorus, band and orchestra ensembles in addition to song books, solos and music accompaniment CDs. This service gives music teachers access to one of the largest sheet music libraries in New York and provides districts with a variety of music selections at a minimal cost. Benefits to school districts include a central location, maintenance and cataloging of collection by the media technology services staff, online catalog access, delivery by courier service, combined buying power from districts in six different BOCES and compliance with music copyright laws. In addition, the Herkimer County Music Educators Association (HCMEA) and the Oneida County Music Educators Association (OCMEA) sheet music collections are housed and distributed by Media Technology Services. A music advisory council, made up of member district music teachers, works with the media staff to streamline services and organize professional development events. These events are at no additional cost to the districts.
Courier Service - Base Service
Courier Service - Base Service
COSER 502.03
The Courier Service provides daily delivery and pickup for BOCES programs and component school districts in the OHM BOCES and Herkimer BOCES. The service also connects to MO BOCES and JL BOCES via a stop at the MORIC. This service facilitates the transportation of curriculum resources (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.), sheet music, interlibrary loan of books, intra- and inter-school mail, distance learning course materials, equipment repaired by Technical Repair Service, Science Center materials and school district printing from BOCES Printing Services.
School Library System
School Library System
COSER 576
Numerous library services are provided in the COSER including Regional Catalog, Expanded Interlibrary Loan, Online Resource Access, Virtual Resource Library and Cooperative Collection Development. The School Library System provides additional resources for all districts as part of the base service.
Regional Catalog
Regional Catalog
COSER 576.01
This service provides maintenance and development of the regional union catalog for the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison, Madison-Oneida and Jefferson-Lewis County BOCES School Library Systems. The web-based catalog is continuously updated so patrons have access to reliable data from the combined resources of 165 schools. Staff and students use the regional catalog in their school’s library for instruction and to borrow resources in area schools through interlibrary loan.
Expanded Interlibrary Loan Service
Expanded Interlibrary Loan Service
COSER 576.02
The expanded interlibrary loan service includes researching and requesting books and articles from sites outside the Oneida/Herkimer School Library System’s component school districts by utilizing library resources nationwide. Customized research is also conducted on any topic to meet the educational and informational needs of staff and students. In addition, large print books, audio books and books written in languages other than English can be borrowed to support student learning. The School Library System staff have access to online databases and institutions across the United States that are part of interlibrary loan consortia, virtually creating libraries without walls.
Online Resources
Online Resources
COSER 576.03
This service provides consortium pricing and procurement for the purchase of NYS Education Law 2-d compliant online electronic information and instructional resources. These resources supplement curricula and research as well as provide online resources to students and teachers for use in hybrid learning environments. The School Library System provides a single sign-on online platform for access, technical support, as well as professional development in on line search strategies and training of the online resources for library staff and teachers. Example subscriptions may include Culturegrams, Discovery Education, RAZ Kids, Facts on File, Scholastic and SIRS Researcher. Databases and electronic resources not currently on the renewal list may be requested for inclusion. Training on the use of digital resources is available for library staff, teachers and students.
Cooperative Collection Development
Cooperative Collection Development
COSER 576.04
This service coordinates the acquisition of additional library materials such as books and e-books selected by a school’s librarian and housed in individual school libraries. Resources are shared with component districts through the Regional Union Catalog (CIDER) and interlibrary loan. The function of the school library collection is to support instruction and meet the informational needs of staff and students. This service allows schools in the region to build exemplary library collections, increasing the variety and availability of books available for interlibrary loan. Virtual Resource Library (VRL) COSER 576.05 This service provides opportunity for districts to belong to a digital resource library built through the collective purchasing power of all members. This web-based digital collection is selected by a committee of librarians and teachers and is accessible by all students and staff from any computer with internet access. Multi-use, simultaneous-use e-books and reference material allows for whole class usage. Many titles are more expensive than any library would be able to afford without belonging to the service. Examples of titles include Facts on File Companion to Shakespeare, Compact Research: Teen Well-Being, Teen Mental Health, Civic Participation and Gale Research Novels for Students. Rosen Interactive e-books and multi-user additions to the regional Sora Collection are also provided via this service.
Virtual Resource Library (VRL)
Virtual Resource Library (VRL)
COSER 576.05
This service provides opportunity for districts to belong to a digital resource library built through the collective purchasing power of all members. This web-based digital collection is selected by a committee of librarians and teachers and is accessible by all students and staff from any computer with internet access. Multi-use, simultaneous-use e-books and reference material allows for whole class usage. Many titles are more expensive than any library would be able to afford without belonging to the service. Examples of titles include Facts on File Companion to Shakespeare, Compact Research: Teen Well-Being, Teen Mental Health, Civic Participation and Gale Research Novels for Students. Rosen Interactive e-books and multi-user additions to the regional Sora Collection are also provided via this service.
Library Automation
Library Automation
COSER 578
The Library Automation Service is comprised of two programs: Data entry for the Regional Union Catalog and Regional Library Automation Service. Bibliographic data entry is provided by the Oneida/Herkimer School Library System. Regional Library Automation Service is provided by the Mohawk Regional Information Center (RIC).
Regional Library Automation Service
Regional Library Automation Service
COSER 578.210
The Regional Library Automation Service is provided through a cross-contract with the Mohawk Regional Information Center. This service provides for local area network installation, maintenance, updates, software installation and training, access to the regional library database for resource sharing and on-going related support services.
