A Place For You: Erie 1 BOCES Breaks Ground on New Instructional Services Campus Specially Designed for Students of All Abilities

-Erie 1 BOCES leaders and elected officials smile for a photo during the September 19th groundbreaking ceremony.

Depew, NY - “The true impact of this campus will not be measured in numbers but in lives changed,” said Erie 1 BOCES District Superintendent/CEO Dr. Michael Capuana.

On Friday, September 19, Erie 1 BOCES hosted a special groundbreaking ceremony at 2911 Walden Avenue in Depew for its new Instructional Services campus.

The beautiful morning event brought together Erie 1 BOCES staff, component district leaders, special education families, elected officials, and our many valued business partners to celebrate the beginning of construction for a school specially designed for students of all abilities.

“We are committing to you, our families, our community, that we are going to build the most incredible place where your children have a place to feel safe, a place to belong, and most importantly, a place to thrive,” said Anedda Trautman, Erie 1 BOCES Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services.

The 219,000-square-foot campus will serve more than 500 students and is designed to meet the region’s growing need for special education services. Referrals to Erie 1 BOCES special education programs have increased by 14% in the past decade, and this new school will provide expanded opportunities for learning, growth, and community partnership.

“This new Instructional Services school represents a thoughtful, forward-looking response to a real and growing need,” said Dr. Capuana.

“Every inch of this campus is being built intentionally with research-backed designs that will host six interior courtyards for safe play, three outdoor playfields, including a one-mile walking path,” shared Trautman.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz surprised Erie 1 BOCES with a formal Erie County proclamation, to proclaim September 18th, 2025, Erie 1 BOCES Day!

“On behalf of Erie County, I want to congratulate and thank the Erie 1 BOCES team for the work you do and on behalf of Erie County, I am really proud to have signed, with my Deputy County Executive, a proclamation to officially declare today as Erie 1 BOCES day in Erie County,” said Poloncarz.

The $65 million project, supported by all 19 component districts in partnership with Benderson Development, will eventually house Special Education, Alternative Education, Career and Technical Education programs, along with higher education and community partnerships. It is expected to open new opportunities for students and educators across Western New York.

“What you all have accomplished under BOCES in the last 75 years will continue to transform on this campus, with this project,” said New York State WNY Regional Director Bonnie Lockwood. 

“Today we are not only breaking ground on a new campus, but we are also laying the foundation for generations of students across Western New York that will call this their school, their place for many years to come,” continued Dr. Capuana.

The new campus is expected to open in September of 2027.

For more information on this project, please visit www.e1b.org/expansion.

Watch the Event Recap Video !