What is Ulster BOCES?
Alice and Fred Decker

Ulster BOCES means different things to different people. To Alice and Fred Decker, grandparents and guardians of George, a child with special needs, Ulster BOCES means having had a safe and supportive learning environment where their grandson was able to gain the foundation he needed to succeed in his home school district.

George was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) when he was just a young boy attending New Paltz Preschool. Along with ADHD, George also had behavioral issues, accompanied by difficulties with reading and writing, which made it very difficult for him to focus.

“He really needed more attention than he could have received in the traditional classroom,” recalls Alice. So, when George was ready to begin attending kindergarten, the staff at New Paltz Preschool recommended the Ulster BOCES Special Education program to the Deckers.

In 1998, when George was five years old, his grandparents enrolled him in Ulster BOCES and he began attending classes at the Highland Elementary School. According to his grandmother, George responded well to the teachers and the class lessons. “The Ulster BOCES program really helped George to focus, and he began to read much better with the one-on-one instruction he received there,” explains Alice, who says George really became interested in his classes. “The teachers really understood George’s needs and what his abilities were.”

For third grade, George transferred to the Ulster BOCES Special Education class at Lenape Elementary School. While at first the transition was difficult for George, Alice says he eventually adjusted to the move and she credits the staff with keeping George focused and on track. With plenty of encouragement from his teachers, George soon found himself quite happy in his new academic surroundings and easily made friends.

“All of the Ulster BOCES teachers have been great. They were always in constant contact with me and kept me abreast of George’s progress. Through the testing they conducted, they were able to let me know how well George was doing in class. When I attended the parent/teacher meeting, I was informed that George was the only student in his class that had passed all of the tests, which made me very proud of him.”

While Alice admits that George sometimes “got off track” with his studies and lost his concentration in class, she says it was the Ulster BOCES Special Education teachers who helped him to realign his focus. As a result of their continued support and efforts, George soon became very interested in his classes, especially art and science, and received numerous awards for achievement and attendance.

“He’s happy to be in school,” notes Alice, who is extremely proud of her grandson. “He likes school so much, that he doesn’t want snow days because he doesn’t want to miss going to school.”

According to Alice, the Ulster BOCES Special Education program also helped George learn socialization skills that helped him both in and out of school. In addition to his schoolwork, George became very interested in his family’s religious studies, and he now raises his hand voluntarily and eagerly participates in the Sunday bible education services and study discussions. He is even looking ahead to when he grows up to possibly becoming a preacher or a mechanic like his grandfather.

This past winter, he even began shoveling snow for his neighbors. “He’s thinking about things now,” notes Alice. “His outlook is very positive.”

As a result of the Ulster BOCES Special Education program, George prospered so well academically that in 2003 he was transitioned back to his home school district where he began the fourth grade. Currently, he is enjoying attending classes in Wallkill Elementary School. George has also continued with Ulster BOCES for the past three years, by attending the Special Education summer program. Alice believes all of the teachers George studied under in the Ulster BOCES Special Education program were very good and very supportive. She also credits Lisa Landau (former Ulster BOCES Special Education school psychologist) for her constant attention to George’s progress. “She’d always check in and call us to see how things were. She still keeps in touch to check on his progress. She was just so helpful. All of the Ulster BOCES teachers were just great,” says Alice.

“It’s a blessing to have Ulster BOCES around to help children like George,” claims Alice. “I am so happy we became involved in the Special Education program. As a result, he wants to learn more. George is doing so well—he reads much better, he loves art and science classes, and he accepts responsibility well,” says Alice. “Ulster BOCES, in my opinion, really helped my grandson. If we didn’t have the Ulster BOCES Special Education program, I don’t think he would have made it.”