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Health, Safety & Security Services
The mission of the Rockland BOCES Health, Safety and Security Services team is to assist local school districts in developing comprehensive health and safety programs The service includes the development and coordination of occupational health and safety procedures, information and training to assist districts in understanding and complying with local, state and federal regulations. Technical assistance, model written program/plans and consultation is included on an as-needed basis.
2022-23 Rockland BOCES District-Wide School Safety Plan (PDF)
2022-23 Rockland BOCES Main Campus Emergency Response Plan (PDF)
Public Health Continuation of Operations Plan (PDF)
Level I Management Program
Under this program, a health, safety and security professionals consults for participating districts.
Rockland BOCES provides “train the trainer” services; health, safety, and security management services; policy and planning activities; and, the development of facility inspection guidelines.
Level II Management Program (in-district)
Health, safety and security specialists work with participating districts in evaluating existing health, safety, security, environmental and risk management programs, policies and procedures. In addition to services from Level I, the BOCES specialist provides training and inspection services across the following areas:
- Security
- Safety
- Environmental Inspections and Compliance
- Technical Resource and Support
- School Health Preparedness
The New York State Education Department vendor for fingerprinting services is IdentoGO. Please visit the NYSED fingerprinting page for information.
Water Quality Testing
In 2016, New York became the first state in the nation to require all public schools and BOCES to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students. The samples must be analyzed at a state-approved laboratory. Regulations call for testing to take place again in 2020, and every five years thereafter, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.
The state established an action level of 15 micrograms of lead per liter, typically referred to as “parts per billion (ppb).” If a sample from a water outlet exceeds this level, schools must take steps to prevent the use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes until it is remediated and follow-up testing confirms it is no longer above the action level.
School districts and BOCES are required to report the results of all water testing to the state Department of Health, the state Education Department and the Rockland County Department of Health, and to post the results – along with remediation plans, if required – on the official agency website.
Rockland BOCES is conducting water testing according to the state law. Results of testing are being posted on this page as they become available.
Water Testing Letter 6/23/21 (PDF)
Water Testing Letter 6/8/21 (PDF)
BOCES Educational Resource Center (PDF)
Jesse J. Kaplan School (PDF)
Main Campus (PDF)
Neary-Hilltop School (PDF)
Tappan Zee Elementary (PDF)
AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) Notification
In 1986, the United States Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The law requires that all schools, Kindergarten through Grade 12, conduct inspections to identify asbestos containing building material. The school district or Local Education Agency (LEA) is required to develop a management plan based on the inspection findings.
One of the requirements specified under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 763.84(c), is to ensure that district workers, building occupants and/or legal guardians are informed about inspections, response actions, post response action activities, surveillances and periodic
re-inspections are conducted. Rockland BOCES meets the requirements of the AHERA regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact the Rockland BOCES Health and Safety Department at (845) 627-4760.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the files posted above in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) and may be downloaded free from the Adobe website. Unable to access a file? Please contact the Rockland BOCES Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Ron Hansen via email (rhansen@rboces.org) or by calling (845) 627-4721 for assistance.