Pupil Personnel Services Department

The Pupil Personnel Services Department is located at the John T. Nichols Middle School

 

Assistance may be obtained by calling 508-946-2013. Ms. Mary Buchanan is the Director of Pupil Personnel Services.
Mrs. Nora Thorley is the secretary to Director.

 

The Pupil Personnel Services Department is responsible for:

·        All areas of Special Education within the Middleborough Public Schools, including adjustment counseling, psychological services, and related services.  The district also has three administrative Special Education Facilitators who coordinate and monitor special education programming at their respective grade level.  Students who are placed in Out-of-District Placements are assigned to the facilitator at the student’s grade level.  Mrs. Gail Murphy is the PPS office secretary.

o       Mrs. Melissa Deutschmann is the PreK and K Facilitator working with families, students, and staff at the Memorial Early Childhood Center.  She can be reached at 508-946-2032 x130 or by email at mdeutsch@middleboro.k12.ma.us

o       Mrs. Jennifer Castanhinha is the Grade 1-5 Facilitator working with families, students, and staff at the Mary K. Goode School and Henry B. Burkland School.  She can be reached at 508-946-2040 x103 or by email at jcastanhinha@middleboro.k12.ma.us

o       Ms. Pamela Myette is the Grade 6-12 Facilitator working with families, students, and staff at the John T. Nichols Middle School and Middleborough High School.  She can be reached at 508-946-2020 x153 or by email at pmyette@middleboro.k12.ma.us

·        Coordination and oversight of Section 504 Accommodation Plans for Middleborough Public School District.  Section 504 Accommodation Plans are developed and implemented at a building based level.  

o       For questions at Memorial Early Childhood Center, please contact Mrs. Levesque at 508-946-2032.

o       For questions at Mary K. Goode School, please contact Mr. Cateon at 508-946-2045.

o       For questions at Henry B. Burkland School, please contact Mrs. Snyder at 508-946-2040.

o       For questions at John T. Nichols Middle School, please contact Mrs. Kemmett at 508-946-2020.

o       For questions at Middleborough High School, please contact Mrs. Machnik at 508-946-2010

·        Homeless Education Liaison Students

•         Identify and track homeless children and youth

•         Facilitate immediate enrollment and dispute resolution if needed

•         Provide transportation back to the school last attended if requested

•         Outreach to homeless parents, children and youth

•         Notify homeless parents and the public of the rights of homeless students

•         Seek to involve homeless parents in their students’ education

•         Collaborate with local and state service providers to support homeless students’ education.

 

·        Oversee coordination of Transportation of Special Education Students

·        Oversee coordination of Nursing Services within the school district

 

2011-2012 Pupil Personnel Services Staff Listing

 

 

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Included in this section is specific information about the special education program in Middleborough, particularly in relation to the district’s compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Any questions about this information should be directed to the Special Education Facilitator.

Referrals

Prior to referral of a child for an evaluation to determine special education eligibility, the principal of the school must ensure that all efforts have been made to meet the needs of diverse learners within the general education program. The principal promotes instructional practices that are responsive to student needs and ensures that adequate instructional support is available for students and teachers. Instructional support includes remedial instruction for students, consultative services for teachers, availability of reading instruction at the elementary level, appropriate services for linguistic minority students, and other services consistent with effective educational practices and the requirements of M.G.L. c. 71B, § 2. As needed, the principal consults with the Director of Special Education and/or Special Education Facilitator regarding accommodations and interventions for students. Such efforts and their results are documented and placed in the student record. Additionally, if an individual student is referred for an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education, the principal ensures that documentation on the use of instructional support services for the student is provided as part of the evaluation information reviewed by the Team when determining eligibility.

A student may be referred for an evaluation by a parent or any person in a caregiving or professional position concerned about the student's development. Student referrals for initial special education evaluations should be requested by directly contacting the Principal's Office of the student's school. Whenever possible, a detailed letter that describes all of the parent's concerns relating to area(s) of suspected disability should be forwarded with the request for evaluation. When a student is referred for an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education, the school district sends written notice to the student's parent(s) within five school days of receipt of the referral request. This notice seeks the written consent of a parent for the evaluation to occur. Parents are also provided with the opportunity to express any concerns or provide additional information on the student's skills or abilities. Parents may consult with the Special Education Facilitator to discuss the reasons for the referral, the content of the proposed evaluation, and the evaluators who will be conducting the assessment(s).

Within 45 school working days after receipt of a parent's written consent to an evaluation, the school district shall:

1)      Conduct the evaluation;

2)      Convene a Team meeting to review the evaluation data, determine whether the student requires special education and, if required, develop an IEP in accordance with state and federal laws; and

3)      Provide the parents with two copies of the proposed IEP and proposed placement, except that the proposal of placement may be delayed according to the provisions of 603 CMR 28.06(2)(e); or,

4)      If the Team determines that the student is not eligible for special education, the school district shall send a written explanation of the finding that the student is not eligible.

The evaluation assessments shall be completed within 30 school working days after receipt of parental consent for evaluation. Summaries of such assessments shall be completed so as to ensure their availability to parents at least two days prior to the Team meeting. If consent is received within 30 to 45 school working days before the end of the school year, the school district ensures that a Team meeting is scheduled so as to allow for the provision of a proposed IEP or written notice of the finding that the student is not eligible no later than 14 days after the end of the school year.

Upon referral, the school district also evaluates children who are two and a half years of age and who may be receiving services through Early Intervention. With parental consent, the initial evaluation is conducted in order to ensure that if such child is found eligible, special education services begin promptly at age three. Referrals for children age 2-4 should be directed to Mr. Paul Tzovolos at the Memorial Early Childhood Center.

Referrals for special education evaluations for students who attend private schools at private expense or who are participating in home-school should be directed to the Special Education Facilitator responsible for the student’s corresponding grade level: Mr. Tzovolos – Preschool-K and Grades 6-8; Mrs. Jennifer Castanhinha – Grades 1-5; Ms. Mary Buchanan – Grades 9-12.

Child find activities occur throughout the year, with Kindergarten screening and registration conducted in the early spring. The Kindergarten entry age is 5 on or before September 1st.

Continuum of Services

The Middleborough Public Schools provides special education services to approximately 18% of the district's student population. Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are developed to ensure that each eligible student receives a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. In the area of inclusion programming, the district has developed a cluster inclusion model from preschool through Grade 5 and a co-teaching subject model thereafter. Middleborough is a member district of the R.E.A.D.S. Collaborative, through which the district purchases and contracts for specialized services and programs.

Middleborough is a participant in the Municipal Medicaid Program. The purpose of this program is to obtain federal reimbursement of the costs of a portion of student services from Medicaid. Parental consent for participation has resulted in significant financial support to the Town to provide education and other necessary services. Questions regarding this program may be directed to Mrs. Alice Norway at 508-946-2013.

The Massachusetts' Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Coordinated Program Reviews of Middleborough's Special Education Program have resulted in very positive exit interviews. Several areas of the department have been found to be "commendable", including the districts:

·        wide range of special education services, related services, and professional development opportunities;

·        inclusive atmosphere in all schools and its commitment to educating students in the least restrictive environment; and

·        coordination of services for young students transitioning into the early childhood program and older students transitioning from the high school program to adult life.

Middleborough's special education department has been consistently complimented by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the quality of its IEPs as well as the extensive and comprehensive assessments completed as part of the evaluation process.

 

Staff Only Link
Updated 10/5/10