The two events will be joined together through video conferencing.

“It’s an honor to preside over the 75th school year of FEH BOCES, and I’m humbled when I think of the long history of impact this organization has had on our communities, training generations of trades workers, providing instructional and business supports to teachers and school districts, and helping to liaise between the state and our local school districts,” District Superintendent Dale Breault Jr. said in a statement. “I really hope our students, alumni, business partners, component district teams, local dignitaries, and anyone else interested will come celebrate with us.”

BOCES invites anyone interested in joining to attend in either location. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at fehb.org/75th The event starts at 6 p.m.

Attendees can expect a brief ceremony in which Breault and other past and present FEH BOCES leaders will honor the long history FEH BOCES has of serving its communities and component districts. Then there will be a commemorative video to watch, historic photos and artifacts to examine, a place to share memories, and light refreshments by Culinary Arts staff and students.

FEH BOCES got its start when Boards of Cooperative Educational Services were created by New York state law in 1948. The first FEH BOCES Board of Education meeting was held on August 18, 1948, in Brushton, and the first employees were approved to be hired on Oct. 18, 1948. At its start, the BOCES served two school districts in Bombay, two in Moira, one in Dickinson, one in Waverly and one in Santa Clara. Most of the initial work the BOCES provided included nurses and dental care, as well as teachers who split their time between multiple districts.

Over the next 75 years, the BOCES would grow to cover 10 school districts that encompass all of Franklin County, as well as some districts in Hamilton and Essex counties as well. FEH BOCES now provides a variety of cooperative services to those school districts, including trades training and alternative education for high school students, GED preparation for adults, support and training for teachers, and business, human resources and other operational supports.

There are now 37 BOCES across the state that provide similar services.

For more information about FEH BOCES, go to fehb.org or follow on social media.