A letter from the SEPTA Board

 SEPTA logo 

Dear New Southern Westchester BOCES Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We are writing to introduce you to the Southern Westchester BOCES SEPTA — our Special Education Parent Teacher Association. Much like PTAs in community school districts, our SEPTA focuses on supporting families of students with special needs by fostering community, sharing resources, and providing meaningful information.

First and foremost, we are excited to welcome you to the Center for Special Services (CSS) community. While CSS offers a range of programs to meet students' diverse learning needs, our SEPTA is committed to supporting all families and students, no matter the program. If we can help by creating a bridge between your family and the school, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Our organization consists of parents, educators, and BOCES administrators who work together to host a variety of events throughout the school year. These include informative workshops and discussions that are designed to support and empower parents, caregivers, and children with special needs. Past sessions have included introductions to local providers offering recreation and respite services, legal planning for children with disabilities, and information about OPWDD eligibility and Front Door certification.

We are always open to your suggestions and ideas for topics and support that would be helpful to you.

Our current officers are:

As the school year unfolds, we will continue to assess whether our workshops are best held remotely or in person. For now, we plan to begin in a remote format and are currently working on a fall agenda — more details to come.

SEPTA can be a meaningful way for families and students to connect, but we need your participation. We invite all SWBOCES families to become members. This is your organization. The connections you make through SEPTA can offer support, guidance, and friendship as you navigate your child’s unique educational journey.

You can join by completing the membership form and submitting your membership fee, or by reaching out to express interest in joining the planning team. Your input is always welcome.

We look forward to connecting with you soon.

Sincerely,
SEPTA Executive Board