Erie 1 BOCES Communication Campaign Recognized With National Award

An innovative campaign from the Erie 1 BOCES Communications Services team to assist local school districts in preparing budget information for their communities was recognized with a National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Golden Achievement Award. 

The Budget Mailer Regional Calendar campaign, implemented by Communications Services Coordinator Michelle Rozanski and supported by team members across the division, highlights how strong collaboration, thoughtful public relations planning, and a shared commitment to service can deliver meaningful results for school districts across Western New York. 

“While it’s an honor to have this work recognized, this achievement truly reflects the collective effort of our entire team,” Rozanski said. “I'm incredibly grateful for the collaboration, creativity, and commitment everyone brought to this campaign. Most importantly, this recognition reflects our shared commitment to supporting school districts with meaningful, high-quality communications.” 

Responding to a Challenge 

In response to increasing challenges with school budget mailer deadlines, Erie 1 BOCES Communications Services developed the regional campaign in 2025 to improve planning and results. The initiative combined research, educational webinars, digital resources, planning tools, and targeted communications to streamline the budget mailer process. The effort was made possible in large part by school districts that embraced the effort to prioritize early community notification in a cost-effective manner. 

Erie 1 BOCES Communication Services provides print and graphic design support to 24 districts as they created and shared state-mandated budget information materials to their communities. The volume of paper documents created during this process would stretch 250 miles if all the pages were placed end-to-end. 

Producing Results 

The campaign produced measurable results: 90 percent of participating districts met recommended submission timelines, all districts complied with state mailing requirements, and overall production efficiency returned to pre-pandemic levels. The campaign is now viewed as a replicable model for large-scale school communications initiatives. 

Beyond operational success, the campaign strengthened transparency, increased confidence among district staff, and enhanced community engagement around school budgets. 

“Successful public relations campaigns of this caliber do not happen in isolation,” said Candace Reimer, director of Communications Services. “They are made possible by teams that embrace a shared vision, contribute their talents, and work together to bring ambitious ideas to life.” 

Impact of Teamwork 

Reimer added that the national award represents the impact of teamwork in service to schools, communities, and the district partners who helped bring this effort to life.  

“We are grateful to the school district leaders and staff who trusted the process, embraced the planning tools, and shared our commitment to keeping their communities informed in a timely and affordable way," Reimer said. “The division congratulates Michelle Rozanski and extends its appreciation to everyone who contributed to this award-winning initiative.”