Special Services - Rochester School District

Rochester School District offers several resources for students of all ages. Below is a synopsis of these resources. If you would like more information or have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 273-6522 or email us. We are here to help you and your child in any way we can!

School Nurse
Highly Capable
Counseling and Guidance
Homeless Services

SCHOOL NURSE

Rochester School district currently contracts with ESD 113 for nursing services. These nurses maintain all health records for students in Kindergarten through grade 12. In addition to this, they go to all the schools to provide health services such as vision and hearing screenings for students in all grades, scoliosis checks for middle school students, medication records and administration in all buildings, and emergency protocols for children with special health needs.

Julie Stone RN
Rochester School District Nurse

HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM

Highly Capable (HiCap) is a program for students with high skills in particular areas such as overall academics or specific areas of special talent or creativity. Rochester School District currently offers a special class for talented and gifted students in each grade 1-8. Specific information about this program is available in each school.

Karen Boyer
Hi-Cap Teacher

COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE

The District's counselors are professional educators who have specialized training and experience in human relations involving students and adults. Counselors at all levels work very closely with students, parents, and teachers in assisting students to make wise personal, academic, and career choices.

Counselors
Rochester Primary School
Carrie Teagle (360) 273-5161 x 3050

Grand Mound Elementary School
Rachael Ledbetter (360) 273-5512 x 3507

Rochester Middle School
Katherine Palmer (360) 273-5958 x 4103

Rochester High School
Thorlea Kirtz (360) 273-5534 x 2607
Jim Walker (360) 273-5534 x 2608

HOMELESS SERVICES

The McKinney-Vento Act is federal legislation that has been in effect since 1987 to support children and youth experiencing homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Act defines ‘homeless children and youth’ as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The intent of the McKinney-Vento Act is to ensure homeless children and youth enroll and succeed in school.

Students living in any of the following situations may be entitled to additional support:

In a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground
On the street
In an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations (lack of heat, water, etc.)
Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing

Students living in homeless situations have a right to:

Get help with enrolling in school from the district liaison or other school contact to continue academic success
Continue in the school they attended (referred to as the school of origin) before they became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is the parent’s choice and is feasible
Get transportation to and from the school of origin
Receive free school meals
Receive additional services such as ELL, Special Education, Title 1, preschool, Hi-Cap (gifted), career/technical education

Contact information
For more information about Rochester School District’s Homeless Services, or to request specific support for a homeless student, visit your local school or contact the district homeless liaison.

Jody Dowell
Rochester School District Homeless Liaison
(360) 273-5536

Additional information about homeless services is available through:
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Melinda Dyer
Program Manager, Homeless Children and Youth
(360) 725-6050

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