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
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.
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.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 -
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
Teaching About Enslavement & Resistance in the Context of Local Westchester History
This session will introduce participants to Our Local History's Enslavement & Resistance unit, as we explore how we can effectively teach about the complexities of enslavement and resistance, while embracing inquiry-based learning, emphasizing our local Westchester context, and adopting an asset-based educational approach.
The content supports the study of local communities, the transatlantic slave trade, and 18th/early 19th century United States history. The session integrates culturally responsive teaching practices and social-emotional learning (SEL), allowing educators to analyze best practices for fostering a safe and empowering classroom environment, while analyzing primary sources and engaging in the New York State Social Studies Practices. The full day session will be followed by optional Zoom sessions in the following months focused on classroom application.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
SLS- What is Sooth.fyi and How Can It Benefit Your Library? Virtual
Sooth.fyi is the only internet search engine specifically designed for students. On Sooth, students search exclusively the web's most credible and diverse sources of news, research, data, and insights without distractions. Our human-curated search index comprises billions of pages of the internet's best sources of knowledge that cannot be found in academic databases. Our suite of tools accelerates knowledge discovery and digital literacy. Sooth is the only search platform that displays NewsGuard Trust Scores and AllSides Media Bias Ratings, providing students insight on source credibility and perspective. Sooth is also the only platform that offers a misinformation toolkit, empowering students and educators to vet, fight, and explore the origins of misinformation in an environment designed to cultivate critical thinking and information literacy skills. Reinvigorate and accelerate your students' quest for knowledge on Sooth.fyi.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
Port Chester Public Schools
Port Chester Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Key Points Refresher Recertification
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
2025-26 RECOVS MTSSI Lab: Understanding, Designing, and Implementing MTSS-I systems and structures
District MTSSi teams from SWBOCES's RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium will meet to discuss and collaborate around grant implementation through the lens of MTSS. Together, we will collaboratively explore the components of MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). Guided by the NYSED MTSS-I Pilot, we will investigate and design systems and structures. Our focus will be on exploring effective implementation strategies and utilizing data to enhance school and district practices. This group aims to share experiences, best practices, and develop tools to empower faculty and staff in meeting the unique needs of every student through the structures and guidelines provided by the RECOVS Mental Health Grant.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Orton Gillingham Educator Course- FALL Cohort
Laurie Cousseau, from Green River Literacy will provide training for teachers utilizing the Orton Gillingham methodology. This course meets the requirements for the OG Classroom Educator designation with the OGA (Orton-Gillingham Academy) Teachers will be provided with an overview of dyslexia and students with reading disabilities, the neurological brain base of reading, explicit multi-sensory based diagnostic and prescriptive teaching, the nuts and bolts of phonics and the linguistic structure of the English language, phonological awareness, syllable structure, spelling generalizations, oral reading fluency, using informal progress monitoring and benchmark data to inform instruction, multi-sensory strategies, and how to identify/support struggling readers and extend existing Tier 1 and Tier 2 programming.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
SLS- Curating with Purpose: Strategic Collection Development and Policy for Today's School Libraries
A well-crafted library collection and policy are the backbone of an inclusive, responsive, and future-ready school library. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore best practices for building and maintaining a dynamic collection that reflects diverse perspectives, supports curricular goals, and fosters a love of reading. We'll examine essential elements of a strong collection development policy-including selection, weeding, challenges, and reconsideration procedures-and how these policies can serve as tools for advocacy and transparency. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and templates to assess and update their current practices, ensuring their collections remain relevant, equitable, and aligned with their school communities' evolving needs.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Orton Gillingham Educator Course- FALL Cohort
Laurie Cousseau, from Green River Literacy will provide training for teachers utilizing the Orton Gillingham methodology. This course meets the requirements for the OG Classroom Educator designation with the OGA (Orton-Gillingham Academy) Teachers will be provided with an overview of dyslexia and students with reading disabilities, the neurological brain base of reading, explicit multi-sensory based diagnostic and prescriptive teaching, the nuts and bolts of phonics and the linguistic structure of the English language, phonological awareness, syllable structure, spelling generalizations, oral reading fluency, using informal progress monitoring and benchmark data to inform instruction, multi-sensory strategies, and how to identify/support struggling readers and extend existing Tier 1 and Tier 2 programming.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
The Leadership Studio: A Strategic & Proactive Professional Learning Experience for School Leaders
Effective school leadership requires more than managing day-to-day operations-it calls for vision, courage, and a proactive approach to navigating the evolving needs of students, staff, and communities. The Leadership Studio is a dynamic professional learning series designed to inspire, empower, and support principals and assistant principals in leading with purpose, clarity, and impact.
Grounded in research and real-world practice, this series blends structured learning with responsive coaching and peer collaboration. Participants will engage in a sequence of high-leverage sessions focused on the most pressing topics in education today: MTSS implementation, culturally responsive leadership, social-emotional learning, instructional excellence, discipline reform, and authentic community engagement.
Each session is designed to not only build knowledge but also strengthen capacity-equipping leaders with practical tools, strategic frameworks, and a supportive network to foster innovation, equity, and sustainable school improvement. Whether you're building foundational systems or driving next-level growth, The Leadership Studio offers a space to think boldly, lead collaboratively, and create meaningful, lasting change.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
