All wheels were in motion for DCMO BOCES to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. 

The news of COVID immediately shifted their full attention to serving students and their families. 

Classrooms moved to Zoom meetings, cafeteria food now traveled to homes, and support to schools absorbed the team’s time and efforts. Like one army, united by the desire to overcome all obstacles, the DCMO BOCES team worked tirelessly to aid the front-line teachers, administrators, and component school teams in the field.  

In the midst of developing health and safety plans, teaching through Zoom, and delivering learning material to students, news of a new grant arrived. A proposal that was written to the Appalachian Regional Commission to support the Career Destinations Program was approved and granted to DCMO BOCES to solidify opportunities to connect students to local jobs. 

According to District Superintendent, Perry T. Dewey, the announcement’s timing was critical, “The Career Destinations team had begun preparing for a year of limited program implementation due to the financial constraints from COVID. The news of a $99,000 funding allocation lifted our spirits knowing that despite all the challenges, the organization could still move forward with this wholesome resource.”