Support Services
Student Services Department
Lisa Tuinstra, Jr/Sr HS Social Worker & Counselor
lisa.tuinstra@csschools.net
Phone: (269) 746-2309
Fax: (269) 746-4142
Homeless Liaison:
McKinney-Vento Act, enacted in 1987 eliminates barriers in public schools so that homeless children and youth can enroll in school and receive successful educational opportunities.
Health & Immunization:
Climax-Scotts Community Schools works directly with the Kalamazoo County Health Department to make our community a healthier place to reside. Our District follows required State of Michigan guidelines to communicate with both the Health Department and maintain accurate and up-to-date student health and immunization records.
Suspension & Expulsion (Discipline):
The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide all students with an environment conducive to the development of their maximum learning potential. District policies and school handbooks have rules and regulations which are necessary to govern the conduct of students under the supervision of school personnel. All rules and regulations are published in appropriate building student handbooks.
Section 504:
Climax-Scotts Community Schools makes reasonable accommodations to allow students an opportunity to successfully participate in school-related activities. Food Allergies: Students with life-threatening food allergies are protected under Federal Law (Section 504). The school district works collaboratively with families to develop food allergy plans to meet the unique and individual needs of students with a food allergy. Lisa Tuinstra, 504 Coordinator, lisa.tuinstra@csschools.net
Phone: (269) 746-2309
School Safety:
Climax-Scotts Community Schools has developed a district-wide Emergency Management Plan to help prepare all employees to effectively respond to an array of emergency situations that could occur within our district.
Social Security/Disability:
Student Services provides supporting documentation to the Department of Human Services regarding Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for students with disability. The goal of Social Security or Supplemental Security Income is to ensure that students with disabilities are able to maintain independence. To find out more about how to apply for benefits or the Social Security Administration's definition of disability please visit the Disability Determination Web Site at: http://dds.its.state.nc.us/
Kindergarten Roundup:
The enrollment process begins by contacting the elementary building secretary (269) 497-2102. We encourage parents/guardians to attend the annual Kindergarten Roundup, usually held in April, at our elementary building.
Special Education Department
Contact: The principal of each building
In Michigan, programs and services are available for identified students with disabilities from birth to age 26. Special Education provides specifically designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet unique educational needs of students who are found eligible under one of the areas of disability recognized under The Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education. Programs and services include classroom instruction, consultation, ancillary support, and adaptive supplies and materials designed to meet the identified educational goals of students.
Climax-Scotts Community Schools offers a full continuum of services to identified students. A vast majority of students receive educational support in their home school with assistance from a teacher or other ancillary service provider. There are special education services available at all school buildings in our district. Students who require more support than is available at their neighborhood school may attend a program classroom at designated schools within the district or at one of our county center programs. All placement and programming decisions are made at the Individual Education Planning Student Assistance Team (S.A.T.) meeting.
The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to provide all students with an environment conducive to the development of their maximum learning potential. District policies and school handbooks have rules and regulations which are necessary to govern the conduct of students under the supervision of school personnel. All rules and regulations are published in appropriate building student handbooks.
Title IX
Title IX Coordinator
Lisa Tuinstra, Jr/Sr HS Social Worker
lisa.tuinstra@csschools.net
Phone: (269) 746-2309
Fax: (269) 746-4142
Thrun Law Firm Review
Title IX Investigator
Brent Cole, Jr/Sr High School Principal
brent.cole@csschools.net
Phone: (269) 746-2301
Training - Thrun Law Firm Training
Title IX Decision Maker
Title II Coordinator
Doug Newington, Superintendent
doug.newington@csschools.net
Phone (269) 746-2401
Thrun Law Firm Training
Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton P.C., Set Seg Training
Title IX Appeals
Board of Education
Sue Reichert, President
sue.reichert@csschools.net
Parent Advisory Committee
Parents have a defined role in the planning of county-wide special education services for their children. Each local board of education within the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency nominates a member to serve on the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC).
The Committee acts in an advisory capacity to Kalamazoo RESA and is charged with cooperatively developing the county-wide plan for special education programs and services. We represent each impairment area, and we welcome input from other parents.
The committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month (except June, July, August and December) from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 at the Kalamazoo RESA Service Center. The direct web link for the PAC is:
The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all states to have a “comprehensive Child Find system” to assure all children who are in need of early intervention to special education services are located, identified, and referred. Part C of IDEA, early intervention, focuses on children aged birth to three. If you have a registered Homeschool and suspect your child might have a disability, please contact:
Early On
(children birth to three years)
Kathy Hollis at 269-250-9649
Pre-primary Evaluation Team
(children three to five years)
Felicia Burnett at 269-250-9670
Climax-Scotts Community Schools
(children five & up)
Jennifer Chiechi at 269-746-2333
