What's New in the Business Office

We have implemented the "Payroll" module of our new computer system.  Previously, we implemented State Aide Reporting, General Ledger, Purchasing, and Personnel.  These modules are interrelated and will provide a higher degree of reliability and efficiency.  For example, if you change an employee's last name in the "Personnel" module that person's name will automatically be changed in the "Payroll" module.  After the New Year, we will begin implementing paperless Purchase Orders.  Our Instructional Support Services Department will be the first to go on-line and it is anticipated that all Departments will be on-line by January 1, 2005.

Our Payroll Clerk is participating in a pilot project with the New York State Teachers' Retirement System for electronic filing and communications.  We hope the advanced efforts will provide a good return to us both in terms of influencing the system's technical design and reduced efforts to implement when mandated.  Our Payroll Clerk, Laura Marciniak, is point-person on this effort.

BOCES will also participate in two upcoming cooperative initiatives.  First, we will reissue RFPs (Request for Proposals) for a Cooperative Property and Casualty bid.  The first RFP of this kind was conducted almost six years ago and was very effective in both increasing coverage and controlling costs.  The second initiative is to explore a BOCES wide actuarial study to comply with new accounting standards.  This new standard is known as "GASB #27" and sets the expectation that schools recognize long term obligations for most retirement benefits such as contributions to retirees' healthcare.