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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via Zoom
NYSED Lead Evaluator Training - Foundations in Leading Educators (required for APPR Initial Certification)
This professional learning experience is designed for school and/or district leaders who are new to their role.
Together we will explore NYSED APPR evaluation requirements for school and district leaders. Specific emphasis will be on aligning your APPR process to your school/district strategic goal, mission/vision, and 2025-26 initiatives, cross-team calibration, and feedback.*
*PLCS, in conversation with NYSED and in response to changes to APPR, has redesigned our Lead Evaluator Training Program. We have designed half-day three hour sessions that you can choose from to design your own Lead Evaluator program. These sessions meet NYSED expectations for APPR Lead Evaluator recertification. All leaders new to their district or role will need to attend our Foundations in Leading Educators 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.
Participants: School leaders who evaluate teachers and are new to their role, school, and/or district. District leaders who evaluate principals and are new to their role, school, and/or district.
Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
NYSED Lead Evaluator Training (APPR) - MTSS/MTSS-I Framework
This professional learning experience focuses on integrating key educational standards and frameworks, including the 9 NYSED Required Elements of Evaluator Professional Learning Programs (APPR), PSEL standards, MPPR, and the Danielson Framework, within the context of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Participants will review the core components of MTSS, examine the NYSED MTSSi Pilot, and identify and organize existing academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) practices within the MTSS framework. Additionally, they will develop actionable steps to enhance MTSS/MTSSi practices from the perspectives of both School Leaders and District Leaders within their schools.
*PLCS, in conversation with NYSED and in response to changes to APPR, has redesigned our Lead Evaluator Training Program. We have designed half-day three hour sessions that you can choose from to design your own Lead Evaluator program. These sessions meet NYSED expectations for APPR Lead Evaluator recertification.
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.
Participants: School leaders who evaluate teachers. District leaders who evaluate principals.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Integrating Social Studies into ELA for Elementary Teams
As we understand the importance of knowledge-building to improve students' reading development - and we struggle to find time for Social Studies in our elementary schedules - let's improve the integration of Social Studies within our ELA units.
In this workshop, we will unpack our existing ELA/literacy and Social Studies standards and practices, identify opportunities to bridge the subjects, and begin revising units to integrate ELA/literacy and Social Studies.
Participants are encouraged to come as teams to support collaboration around curriculum updates to implement in the new school year and will receive a 10% credit for attending with at least two other district colleagues.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Restorative Practices for School & District Leaders
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)
A highly engaging Restorative Pedagogy will be utilized for the delivery of in-person instruction.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
SWBOCES - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
RECOVS Members: Restorative Practices for School & District Leaders for RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium
Please note that this registration link is for 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)
A highly engaging Restorative Pedagogy will be utilized for the delivery of in-person instruction.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
RECOVS Mental Health Grant Consortium Members: Restorative Practices Training
Please note that this registration link is for 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 - 450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd floor, Harrison, NY
Restorative Practices Training: 3-Day Foundations
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.
A highly engaging Restorative Pedagogy will be utilized for the delivery of in-person instruction.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
The Mandated 6 Hour DASA Certification Class - via Zoom
The ability to provide a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, and bullying, is a top priority for K-12 educators nationwide. Through this 6-hour training participants will unpack the social patterns of harassment and discrimination based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.
The training will address:
* The identification and mitigation of harassment
* Bullying and discrimination
* Strategies for effectively addressing problems of exclusion, bias, and aggression in educational settings
Successful completion of this course meets the NYS Mandate. Important: A TEACH account is required to verify attendance to NYSED. To create a TEACH account, please go to: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
via Zoom
School Violence Intervention And Prevention Course - Virtual
School violence is a significant public health issue and a harsh reality that educators face in the United States. School violence prevention is a top priority of policymakers nationwide. Education Law in New York State requires that certain individuals seeking licensure are required to complete two hours of training in school violence prevention and intervention. Upon completion, the learner will be able to:
*Identify the goal of the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) legislation.
*Discuss how the components of the SAVE legislation interface in the prevention of violence in schools.
*Describe how educational, legal/regulatory, and environmental domains promote school safety within the SAVE legislation.
*Describe how the Public Health model relates to school violence prevention and intervention.
*Discuss risk and protective factors related to school violence
Successful completion of this course meets the NYS Mandate.
A Zoom link will be emailed to you the day before the workshop.
IMPORTANT: A TEACH account is required to verify attendance to NYSED. To create a TEACH account, please go to: http:www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/.Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support -
Rye Lake Campus, 1606 Old Orchard St., White Plains
For SWBOCES Staff: Lead Evaluator Recertification Training
Consistency in how we observe, analyze, and support instruction is foundational to strong instructional leadership. This immersive, practice-based session is designed to deepen participants' understanding of inter-rater reliability (IRR) using the Danielson Framework for Teaching, with a specific focus on Domain 2 (The Classroom Environment) and Domain 3 (Instruction).
Through guided classroom learning walks, collaborative debriefs, and evidence-based observation writing, participants will develop a shared vision for high-quality teaching and learning. They will practice applying low-inference language, identify and mitigate common rater biases, and engage in professional dialogue that promotes calibration, instructional clarity, and consistency.
This in-district, on-site experience helps leadership teams build a common lens for evaluating and supporting instructional practice-strengthening both the reliability of evaluations and the culture of continuous growth in schools.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
