School Safety and Facilities

Brandon A. Cruz, Supervisor

Brandon CruzCoSer 644 provides training, consultation and technical assistance to create and maintain an educational environment that is a model for workplace safety and best practices. We  work directly with districts to handle matters of compliance with regulatory requirements and SAVE legislation.  

School Safety & Facilities
(914) 345-8500, Ext. 3167
bcruz@swboces.org

Events coming up

  • SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY

    Summer Literacy Symposium: Research in Practice

    Register here

    The kick of PLCS's Summer at the Center programs, the 2nd Annual Summer Literacy Symposium: Research in Practice is designed for educators, instructional leaders, and literacy advocates committed to equity and excellence in literacy instruction. This year's symposium brings together nationally recognized literacy experts and passionate educators like you to explore research-based practices grounded in the Science of Reading. Together, we'll deepen our understanding of literacy instruction-and how to apply it across the curriculum in systematic and explicit ways that meet the needs of all learners. Through engaging learning sessions, hands-on workshops, and collaborative planning time, you'll leave with actionable tools and strategies to drive real change in your classroom or school.

    Sessions led by literacy experts from:
    - LEXIA
    - Green River Literacy
    - IDE
    - Scholastic

    And more to come!
    All attendees will be entered into a raffle for a seat in our 25-26 Science of Reading study group

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY

    Summer Literacy Symposium: Research in Practice

    Register here

    The kick of PLCS's Summer at the Center programs, the 2nd Annual Summer Literacy Symposium: Research in Practice is designed for educators, instructional leaders, and literacy advocates committed to equity and excellence in literacy instruction. This year's symposium brings together nationally recognized literacy experts and passionate educators like you to explore research-based practices grounded in the Science of Reading. Together, we'll deepen our understanding of literacy instruction-and how to apply it across the curriculum in systematic and explicit ways that meet the needs of all learners. Through engaging learning sessions, hands-on workshops, and collaborative planning time, you'll leave with actionable tools and strategies to drive real change in your classroom or school.

    Sessions led by literacy experts from:
    - LEXIA
    - Green River Literacy
    - IDE
    - Scholastic

    And more to come!
    All attendees will be entered into a raffle for a seat in our 25-26 Science of Reading study group

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY

    RECOVS Mental Health Education Leaders Partnership (MHELP)

    Register here.

    Mental health leadership teams from SWBOCES's RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium will meet to discuss and collaborate around grant implementation, including:
    - Social-Emotional Learning (including launching CASEL's Leading Schoolwide SEL course for district leadership teams)
    - MTSS-i (including systems & structures and data & assessment)
    - professional learning plans
    - budget & logistics
    - other grant-related considerations

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY

    Summer @ the Center: The Institute for Opportunities in Education

    Register here

    This interactive summer conference is designed for educators, administrators, and practitioners eager to deepen their understanding and enhance their practices around creating supportive and welcoming learning environments for all students.

    Participants will:

    - Explore practical, actionable strategies for fostering inclusive practices
    - Collaborate with peers
    - Gain tools for cultivating meaningful and supportive changes within classrooms and schools
    - Access valuable resources

    Attendees can anticipate engaging sessions focused on practical strategies for creating environments where all students thrive, providing innovative resources and insights applicable to their educational settings.

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • Restorative Practices for School & District Leaders for RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium

    Register here.

    Please note that this training is limited to leaders from districts who are part of SWBOCES's RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium. If you have questions about whether you are eligible to attend, please contact Maisha Campbell (mcampbell@swboces.org). Lori DeCarlo of Restorative Edge Consulting will lead this interactive training, which is essential for leaders who are bringing restorative practices to their schools/districts - to understand key principles of restorative practices and conditions for systemic implementation designed to support social-emotional learning and mental health.
    The training will focus on:

    • Restorative practices as a trauma-informed approach for creating a culture of belonging, safety, and inclusion.
    • Responsive restorative practices, including Affective Communication/Non-Violent Communication, Tier 2 Whole Group Responsive Circles, and Tier 2 Restorative Circles to respond to specific incidents of harm.
    • Systemic considerations, including implementation science and discipline policies and practices (e.g. Codes of Conduct)

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • Restorative Practices for School & District Leaders for RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium

    Register here.

    Please note that this training is limited to leaders from districts who are part of SWBOCES's RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium. If you have questions about whether you are eligible to attend, please contact Maisha Campbell (mcampbell@swboces.org). Lori DeCarlo of Restorative Edge Consulting will lead this interactive training, which is essential for leaders who are bringing restorative practices to their schools/districts - to understand key principles of restorative practices and conditions for systemic implementation designed to support social-emotional learning and mental health.
    The training will focus on:

    • Restorative practices as a trauma-informed approach for creating a culture of belonging, safety, and inclusion.
    • Responsive restorative practices, including Affective Communication/Non-Violent Communication, Tier 2 Whole Group Responsive Circles, and Tier 2 Restorative Circles to respond to specific incidents of harm.
    • Systemic considerations, including implementation science and discipline policies and practices (e.g. Codes of Conduct)

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • Restorative Practices for School & District Leaders for RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium

    Register here.

    Please note that this training is limited to leaders from districts who are part of SWBOCES's RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium. If you have questions about whether you are eligible to attend, please contact Maisha Campbell (mcampbell@swboces.org). Lori DeCarlo of Restorative Edge Consulting will lead this interactive training, which is essential for leaders who are bringing restorative practices to their schools/districts - to understand key principles of restorative practices and conditions for systemic implementation designed to support social-emotional learning and mental health.
    The training will focus on:

    • Restorative practices as a trauma-informed approach for creating a culture of belonging, safety, and inclusion.
    • Responsive restorative practices, including Affective Communication/Non-Violent Communication, Tier 2 Whole Group Responsive Circles, and Tier 2 Restorative Circles to respond to specific incidents of harm.
    • Systemic considerations, including implementation science and discipline policies and practices (e.g. Codes of Conduct)

     

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SWBOCES Center for Career Services, 65 Grasslands Rd. Valhalla, NY

    Regional Crisis Response Team (RCRT): Kickoff Meeting!

    Register here.

    We're excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year with our first Regional Crisis Response Team (RCRT) meeting!

    Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 8:00-10:00 AM for a morning of connection, collaboration, and inspiration. Enjoy breakfast with colleagues, take a campus tour to see students in action, and hear from team members who have recently deployed in the field. Together, we'll reflect on our experiences and begin planning for a strong year of crisis support across our districts.

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY

    SLS- Discovery Education BTS Bootcamp

    Register here.

    Discovery Education continues to empower educators with resources, strategies and tools for creating quality lessons using multi-modal digital resources. For Back-to-School 2025-26, we are combining all that teachers and students love about the DE ecosystem with new content, including Career Connect and the AI Assessment Generator!

    Join us this Fall at Southern Westchester BOCES to learn about the best ways to utilize all that Discovery Education has to offer as well as exciting updated features, synchronous and asynchronous activities, assignment templates, background builder lessons and much more:

    *Ready-to-Use Activities & Video Quizzes
    *Supports for NYS Science Investigations
    *AI Assessment Generator *Career Connect
    *Core 4 Focus & Supplemental Supports
    *Spotlight on Strategies for All Subjects and Grade Levels RECOMMENDED 

    Lunch will be provided by Discovery Education.

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
  • SLS Communication Coordinators Meeting

    Register here.

    Quarterly meetings for SLS Communication Coordinators as mandated in NY State Education Law 90.18. Communication Coordinators are informed on topics such as New York State Education Department updates, technology, and Information Fluency Skills. Professional development is provided on current issues with the expectation that it is shared with other school librarians in district.

    Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
View Monthly Calendar

Mandated Training

The Mandated Training Link above lists School Safety training mandates and Facilities requirements for all NYS schools and districts.  Please refer to  the link and to our Training and Services listed below.

 

NYSED logo

Regional Facilities News

Southern Westchester BOCES is proud to partner with the Southeastern Chapter of the New York State School Facilities Association (NYSSFA).  Please use the links below to find the NYSSFA meeting calendar and training information.

NYSSFA Calendar

NYSSFA Training Opportunities

School Safety Training

  • Active Shooter Training
  • Building Level Emergency Response Planning
  • CPR/AED
  • Crisis Response Training
  • DASA/Violence Prevention refreshers
  • Develop Crisis Plans
  • Incident Command Management
  • Lockdown Emergency Training
  • New Building Emergency Plan Template
  • Risk Assessments
  • Safety Audits
  • Table Top Exercises

Facilities/Compliance

  • Asbestos testing and training
  • Bloodborne Pathogens
  • Chemical Hygiene Plan Development
  • Chemical and Petroleum Storage
  • Cooling Towers Inspections
  • CPR/AED
  • Fire Inspections
  • Indoor Air Quality Testing
  • Lockout/Tagout
  • Playground and Gymnasium Inspections
  • Right to Know
  • Underground Storage Tank Programs
  • Water Testing