The Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Board of Education has appointed John O'Connor, Forestville Central School District superintendent, as its assistant superintendent for management services.
The assistant superintendent helps all 27 component school districts in areas such as school operations, distance learning, library/media resources, technology integration and support, labor relations, teacher certification, business operations, cooperative bidding, and safety/risk management.
"I look forward to working in collaboration with the BOCES staff and the 27 component school districts. I am also excited to become part of an organization that has a strong history of meeting the varied needs of our students," O'Connor said.
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John O’Connor
Serving as superintendent of the Forestville Central School District for nine years, O'Connor has been responsible for the education of nearly 600 students and a staff of nearly 120. During this time, he worked on staff development and long-range instructional strategies while providing students with more academic opportunities through distance learning and advanced placement courses. A priority for O'Connor was empowering parents and the Forestville community to play a greater role in school operations and management, as well as fostering stronger parent-teacher relationships. While managing a budget of $12 million, O'Connor kept costs down without sacrificing services by working closely with the community during the budget process, aggressively pursuing operational efficiencies, and securing grants. O'Connor also oversaw the completion of an $11.7 million building project and a $600,000 energy performance project.
O'Connor will join the BOCES administrative team comprised of Dr. David O'Rourke, district superintendent, and Suzette Benson, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
"The Board of Education is pleased to welcome John to our BOCES family. John, together with Dr. O'Rourke and Mrs. Benson, will make a superb administrative team going forward," said Ronald Catalano, BOCES board president.
O'Connor's career began as a self-contained special education teacher and high school department chair at the Stanley G. Falk School. He was promoted to special education K-8 principal. O'Connor later went on to serve as the elementary school principal and director of special education at Forestville Central School District before his appointment as superintendent of schools in 2004.
O'Connor received a Bachelor of Science in education business and Finance at the University at Buffalo, a Master of Science in Education at Buffalo State College, a School District Administration Certificate at Canisius College, and is nearing the end of his doctoral studies at D'Youville College.
The assistant superintendent for management services is one of two assistant superintendent positions within the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, which provides more than 200 cooperative services to its 27 component school districts to enhance academic performance and achieve operational efficiencies. O'Connor will oversee the divisions of School Support Services, Technology Services, Labor Relations, Business & Finance, and Human Resources, as well as the Central Business Office, Operations & Maintenance, and more.
O'Connor was unanimously appointed by the BOCES Board of Education on Aug. 22. O'Connor will begin his work at BOCES on Oct. 8.