School Safety and Facilities
Brandon A. Cruz, Supervisor
School Safety & Facilities
(914) 345-8500, Ext. 3167
bcruz@swboces.org
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention®
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Training provides your educators with the skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations. You will learn to:
- Minimize Physical Interventions
- Recognize & Respond to Defensive Behaviors
- Understand What’s Behind the Behavior
- Address the Needs of the Individual
Regional Crisis Response Team
The SWBOCES Regional Crisis Response Team (RCRT) supports school districts after a crisis by providing Consultation, Counseling, Debriefing, and Support. A crisis can be a natural disaster, the passing of an individual within your school community, or a distant event that has a deep effect on students and staff. More information about the becoming an RCRT member or accessing services is available on the RCRT Resources Page
Coronavirus Resources
Southern Westchester BOCES has assembled and shared reliable resources about the COVID-19 outbreak since early in the pandemic. Our Coronavirus Resources Page is a continuously updated repository of information and guidance from medical professionals and public health officials, curated to inform and protect the health and safety of our community.
Events coming up
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SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
LEXIA: LETRS for Early Childhood Educators
LETRS for Early Childhood Educators professional learning provides deep knowledge of literacy instruction for the youngest learners. The more children know about language and literacy before they begin kindergarten and first grade, the better equipped they are to succeed in literacy learning and beyond.
This course will:
-Define early literacy and language, the processes involved, and the developmental sequences by which these skills develop
-Describe strategies and learning activities that are engaging, effective, and developmentally appropriate
-Discuss how assessment procedures and data can be used to plan and implement instruction for the youngest learners
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
PE/HE Consortium: Enhancing Teaching Styles and Assessment Strategies in PE
With Shawn Ladda
This professional development workshop is designed to support physical education teachers in refining their teaching styles and integrating effective assessment strategies into their classrooms. Participants will explore how different teaching styles can impact student engagement, learning outcomes, and overall class dynamics. Additionally, they will gain practical insights into how to assess both skill development and personal growth in physical educatio
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
The IDEA Exchange (Inspired by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
Special education leadership comes with unique challenges, requiring collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion. The I.D.E.A. Exchange is responsively designed for special education leaders to engage in open, guided discussions on the most pressing topics in the field. Each session will center around a key theme-ranging from MTSS integration to family partnerships-while allowing participants to share experiences, problem-solve, and build a network of support. Whether you're a director, coordinator, or instructional leader, this space will empower you with fresh insights, practical strategies, and a collaborative professional community.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Restorative Practices Educator Training for RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium
Please note that this training is limited to personnel 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 series to provide training to educators in the use of restorative practices 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.
Restorative Discipline: how to embed restorative practices into discipline, including:
---Creating a restorative classroom as an alternative to out of school suspension,
---Exploring how to use a restorative intervention known as the 5 Step Plan,
---Learning how to facilitate a Tier 3 Restorative Conferences for serious disciplinary incidents,
---Learning how to facilitate a Welcome Back & Re-Entry Circle for students returning from an out of school suspension.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
NYSED Lead Evaluator Training (APPR) - Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Restorative Practices, Via Zoom]
Social and emotional well-being and skills are foundational to academic success, cultivating a culture of belonging, and nurturing our students' capacity for civic engagement and career readiness, in alignment with New York State's Portrait of a Graduate. In this module we will explore NYSED's Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Benchmarks and the tenets of Restorative Practices to anchor our thinking about and leadership of efforts to improve school culture, optimize conditions for learning, and develop student competencies that reflect attributes of the Portrait of a Graduate.*
All leaders new to their district or role will need to attend our Foundations in Leading Leaders session to meet the requirements for NYSED's Lead Evaluator Training. Please check your district's APPR plan to determine the number of days/hours approved by NYSED for your district's Lead Evaluator Training.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Enhancing the Co-Teaching Experience
This 6-hour professional learning course is designed to strengthen educators' capacity to implement effective and engaging co-teaching practices that support inclusive classrooms and improved outcomes for all learners. Participants will explore research-based co-teaching models, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and instructional strategies that promote shared ownership, student engagement, and equitable access to high-quality Tier 1 instruction.
Through interactive learning experiences, collaborative planning, and reflection, participants will examine the conditions necessary for successful co-teaching, including communication, trust, scheduling, and alignment with MTSS and special education service delivery. The course emphasizes practical tools for co-planning, differentiating instruction, leveraging data, and using multiple co-teaching approaches intentionally to meet diverse learner needs. By the end of the course, participants will develop actionable strategies to enhance collaboration between general and special educators, increase instructional coherence, and foster inclusive classroom environments that support academic, social-emotional, and behavioral growth. *
*Learning Outcomes: Participants will be able to: Identify and apply the six co-teaching models effectively based on instructional purpose and student needs Clarify co-teaching roles and responsibilities to promote shared accountability Utilize collaborative planning structures to design inclusive, engaging lessons Implement strategies that increase student engagement and access to core instruction Align co-teaching practices with MTSS frameworks and inclusive service delivery Reflect on current practice and develop next steps for strengthening co-teaching partnerships
Participants: Co Teaching TeamsCenter for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
2025-26 DEI Leaders' Action Network: Advancing Equity Through the NYSED Portrait of a Graduate
Join a powerful network of school district teams committed to advancing equity, and access in ways that transform classrooms and communities. This year, we will ground our work in Liz Kleinrock's Start Here, Start Now and connect its practical strategies directly to the New York State Portrait of a Graduate.
Over five full-day sessions, district teams will:
1.Engage in deep professional learning on equity-centered leadership and culturally responsive-sustaining practices.
2. Participate in guided book study discussions and collaborative activities that link Start Here, Start Now to Portrait of a Graduate attributes.
3. Design and refine a district-specific DEI initiative anchored to one of the six Portrait attributes.
4. Receive targeted support and coaching to move from concept to actionable implementation.
5. Showcase their work and leave with a clear action plan for 2026-2027.
By the end of the year, each team will have:
-Selected a Portrait of a Graduate attribute to anchor their DEI work.
-Designed and tested a district-specific initiative that advances equity and belonging in their school community.
-Developed stakeholder engagement and sustainability strategies to ensure lasting impact.
-Built strong cross-district connections to share resources, successes, and lessons learned.Each participating district is strongly encouraged to register as a team of at least two members and up to 5.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
504 Chairperson Training
Participants will learn to effectively facilitate 504 meetings by defining team roles, engaging parents in meaningful collaboration, and managing challenging conversations. Through practical strategies, participants will gain the skills to develop legally sound 504 Plans that align accommodations with student needs and ensure successful classroom implementation. They will explore methods for monitoring and reviewing 504 Plans, collaborating with educators to track progress, and making data-informed adjustments. Finally, participants will examine the intersection of 504 Plans with other school support systems, applying principles of cultural competence and equity to ensure fair and effective student access to accommodations.
This professional learning is focused on the facilitation of 504 meetings and the implementation of 504 plans for those who serve as Chairpersons for 504 Committee Meetings.
Professional learning will include the following areas:
1. Legal Foundations and Compliance Overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
2. Roles and Responsibilities
3. 504 Plan Development
4. Meeting Facilitation and Parent Engagement
5. Monitoring and Review
6. Intersection with Other School Supports
7. Cultural Competence and Equity
8. Resource Review
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
SLS- Digital Library Advisory Board
The SWBOCES Digital Library Program is a collaborative online service that provides access to over 16,000 digital ebooks and audio books, to students and staff. This service is an extension of the print collection in school libraries; however, it is online with 24/7 access. It is convenient for students to check out titles anywhere, anytime in multiple formats. The SLS is restarting our Digital Library Advisory Board to help curate our SWBOCES collection on Overdrive/Sora and discuss other pertinent topics regarding digital collections. We welcome anyone who is interested in supporting our digital collection and helping it to thrive to better support all of our students/staff.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
RECOVS Restorative Practices Implementation/Action Planning Workshop
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. RECOMMENDED to follow the 3 Day Basic Restorative Practices Training This facilitated workshop utilizes the Implementation Science Framework to create a doable Action Plan for Implementing Restorative Practices for Systemic, Whole School Change
Objectives:
• Understand the four stages of implementation science as it applies to systemic implementation of restorative practices.
• Learn what the research has identified as common "mis-implementation" errors and how to avoiding these pitfalls.
• Explore evidence based practices that support sustainable implementation of restorative practices.
• Conduct a self-assessment of current practices to establish a baseline and identify up to 5 priorities for action.
• Learn about high impact activities for early implementation.
• Plan for Professional Learning sessions at the building level. Write explicit action plans utilizing a template.
• Develop key messaging to support the roll-out & enhance buy-in.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support
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.
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
