OLD ROCHESTER REGIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCY UNION #55

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Notification of Child Find Procedures

The Old Rochester Regional and Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester school districts (in accordance with federal and state regulations) provide special education programs designed to meet the needs of children who are attending public and private schools and whose parents or guardians reside in the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester. This information applies to all children who reside in the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester, including migrants and homeless children.

Special education services provided by the public schools are available to all children aged 3 through 21, who have disabilities which prevent them from making progress in school and which require specialized instruction. Eligible areas of disability include autism, development delays, intellectual, sensory/hearing, multiple disabilities, sensory/vision, sensory/deaf-blind, neurological, emotional, communication, physical, specific learning disabilities and/or health impairments. Parents, guardians or concerned individuals of students who might qualify for special education are encouraged to contact the public school district to determine the eligibility of the child or children. The school districts have annual or more frequent outreach and continuous liaison with the following groups which promotion or transfer of students in need of special education may be expected, or which would include students in need of special education: professionals in community, private nursery schools, day care facilities, group homes, parent organizations, clinical/health care agencies, early intervention programs, private/parochial schools, other agencies/organizations, and the school or schools that are part of the district, including Horace Mann charter schools.

The ORR School District provides a full continuum of special education services. Parents or public school licensed professionals may refer a child for evaluation for special education eligibility, if regular education interventions are not successful. Preschool screenings are available multiple times per year in the elementary schools in the Tri-Town area – look in local papers or call your elementary school for dates and times.

ORR and Union #55 Elementary Schools
(http://www.oldrochester.org/pages/ORR)
Director of Student Services
508-758-2772 Ext. 1942
Early Childhood Coordinator
508-758-2772 Ext. 1948
Old Rochester Regional High School
508-758-3745
Old Rochester Regional Junior High School
508-758-4928
Sippican Elementary School
(Marion – Gr. Pre-K-6) 508-748-0100
Center School
(Mattapoisett – Gr. Pre-K-3) 508-758-2521
Old Hammondtown School
(Mattapoisett – Gr. 4-6) 508-758-6241
Rochester Memorial School
(Rochester – Gr. Pre-K-6) 508-763-2049

Our school districts have developed Special Education Program Plans for the State Department of Education. These documents are public. Copies are available in the Student Services Office, 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For further information about student services, go to http://www.oldrochester.org/pages/ORR and click on “Student Services and Special Education” under the pull down menu “Departments”.

Our Director of Student Services and our Principals are available to answer questions, and we invite your comments about special education in any of our schools. Any parents or members of the community who would like to have input into our planning for special education should call the Director of Student Services at 508-758-2772 x1942, or should plan to attend a meeting of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council. Please contact the Director of Student Services at the above listing if you are interested in serving on or chairing your town’s Parent Advisory Council.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these laws and how they affect your children, please do not hesitate to contact your local Principal or the Student Services Office. Anyone may obtain copies of special education laws and regulations from the Department of Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906 or at their website www.doe.mass.edu.

OLD ROCHESTER REGIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCY UNION #55

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE

The Old Rochester Regional School District and the Massachusetts School Superintendency Union No. 55, Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester, Massachusetts, are committed to equal employment and educational opportunity for all members of the school community. Students and employees are protected from discrimination
on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.

The schools are also committed to maintaining a school and work environment that is free of harassment based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability. Harassment includes physical or verbal conduct that is derogatory; this may include jokes, gestures, unsolicited remarks, or other behavior that creates an intimidating or offensive working or learning environment.

A student or employee who has a concern about discrimination or harassment should inform the principal or the Superintendent, who will take appropriate steps to attempt to resolve the situation, such as discussion with involved persons, identifying and questioning of witnesses, and other appropriate steps. In most cases, a resolution will be achieved. However, if it is determined that a hearing is warranted, a hearing will be held before the Superintendent of Schools or a person that he or she may designate.

The goals of the above grievance procedures are to resolve complaints in a fair and timely manner and to ensure compliance with nondiscriminatory practices. Additionally, reprisals or retaliation against any individual who reports on, or files a discrimination or harassment complaint is strictly prohibited.

If you wish to discuss your rights, would like further information, or want to obtain help in filing a complaint, you may contact Michael S. Nelson. The telephone number is (508) 758-2772. Any person having inquiries concerning the School District’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA, or Chapter 622 is directed to contact Michael S. Nelson, who has been designated by the School District to coordinate the District’s efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA, and Chapter 622, or write to:

Office for Civil Rights
John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse
Room 222
Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109

OLD ROCHESTER REGIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCY UNION #55

PUBLIC NOTICE

TO: Students or residents planning to attend Bristol County Agricultural
High School or Diman Regional
Vocational School, or post secondary
vocational programs from the towns of
Marion, Mattapoisett or Rochester

General Laws Chapter 74, Section 7 guarantees a student the right to a vocational education in the
subject area of his/her choice. If a student resides in a city or town which does not offer an approved
Chapter 74 program in the chosen subject area (either at the comprehensive high school or at a regional vocational school to which the city or town belongs), the student may apply to another vocational school which offers the program. The student must be accepted by the vocational school. The student must make their intention to attend such a school known to the Superintendent of Schools by April 1 of the preceding school year. This notice applies to the 2021-2022 school year.

Parents of secondary school children planning to attend such a school should contact the school authorities. At the Old Rochester Regional High School, contact Michael Devoll, Principal, at 758-
3745. At the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, contact Silas Coellner, Principal, at 758-
4928.

Post-high school residents should make their requests in writing to the Superintendent of Schools, 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 by February 1 of the preceding school year.

Michael S. Nelson
Superintendent of Schools
Old Rochester Regional School District
Massachusetts School Superintendency Union #55