About Us
Questar III, like all BOCES, was formed to meet the needs of its member school districts. Established in 1977, the organization serves 22 school districts in Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties (and more than 670 districts and BOCES across the state).
Questar III Mission
Changing lives, realizing dreams and doing together what can’t be done alone.
Questar III Vision
Creating a student-centered culture (putting students first) of excellence, leadership, service and innovation.
Questar III Core Values
- Commitment to Excellence – honing our craftsmanship to deliver high-quality work.
- Commitment to Leadership & Service – moving the organization, departments and school districts forward by exceeding client expectations.
- Commitment to:
- Innovation – creating programs and services to address client needs.
- Innovation – continuously improving our programs and operations.
Shared programs and services
Our services are created when two or more districts have similar needs that can be met by a shared program. Sharing is an economical way for districts to offer programs they otherwise might not be able to afford.
Questar III is an extension of local school districts and not meant to supplant any district program. Each BOCES reflects the needs of its component districts and is, therefore, different from another BOCES.
A large percentage of our programs are instructional; other programs and services support districts in these operations. Programs and services may vary greatly—not only from BOCES to BOCES but from year to year.
Program offerings include career and technical education, special education and adult education and workforce preparation. Instructional support offers school improvement and related programs for teachers and administrators.
Questar III also provides opportunities for districts to save money through services such as cooperative purchasing, business office support, health and safety, IT and communications.
Value to taxpayers
BOCES help to relieve some of the financial burdens placed on local taxpayers. With BOCES as a catalyst, districts are creative in developing shared programs that serve children and promote equality among all districts regardless of enrollment, income or size of tax base.
Member districts receive funds from the state, called BOCES aid, for the shared services purchased the previous year. The aid is distributed directly to individual districts. The amount paid back is based on a formula that takes into account each district’s financial resources. The aid formula for Questar III component districts range from 36 to 78 percent.
Connections
By utilizing BOCES, districts become immediately connected to a vast network of education and industry professionals. This ensures support with regional knowledge in addition to a concern for localized goals. The collaborations BOCES initiate help to close gaps in student achievement.
Governance
Like local districts, BOCES is governed by a board of education. Questar III’s board is comprised of representatives from Rensselaer, Columbia and Greene counties. Questar III board members are elected by component districts’ boards of education in April.
Health and Dental
Questar III offers competitive benefits, including your choice of 3 health plans: Blue Shield NENY PPO; CDPHP EPO and MVP EPO. Coverage options are Family, 2-person and Individual coverage.
Dental plan through Blue Shield NENY. Individual and Family coverage available.
Voluntary Benefits
We offer access to additional voluntary benefits (employee paid) such as a flexible spending account where employees can set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses.We also offer access to Aflac plans such as:
- Group Supplemental Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Individual Accident Insurance
- Individual Cancer/Specified-Disease Insurance
- Individual Life Insurance
- Individual Vision Insurance
Retirement
Enrollment in NYS Teachers Retirement or NYS and Local Employees Retirement system depending on position.Optional enrollment in Tax Sheltered Annuities (TSA – 403b) and/or NYS Deferred Compensation (457) plan
Professional & Continuous Learning
Questar believes in providing you with learning opportunities to ensure you stay up to date and current with your profession. We offer opportunities for internal and external professional development depending on your position.
Leave Benefits
Our 10-month staff work the school calendar and receive paid leave benefits upon hire such as sick, personal and family illness leave time.Our 12-month staff are eligible for paid vacation at time of hire in addition to sick, personal and family illness leave time.
Employee Assistance
We value providing a strong, supportive work environment for our staff. We offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for those times when staff or their families may need additional support. We also offer many wellness activities through our Wellness Committee.
