***We have moved! The Special Services Office is now located at THES - room 113.***
Lunenburg has inclusive schools. We take pride in our ability to provide equal access to our programs and services. Inclusive schools are good for students, families and the community.
PACSAL (PARENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS)
District Special Services Staff
English Language Development Program
English Learner Family Stories
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Special Education
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act and ESSA Foster Care
Special Services Staff Information - only accessible by Lunenburg Special Services Dept
Turkey Hill Elementary School
129 Northfield Road
(978) 582-4100 X5213
The Special Services pages are maintained by Julianna Hanscom.
Julianna Hanscom
Director of Special Services
Laurene Broden
Secretary
Emily Lehto
Secretary
February 19, 2025
Press Release for upcoming special education audit by DESE
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Lunenburg Public Schools during the week of April 14, 2025. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.
Lunenburg Public Schools will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity.
The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.
The Department will send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.
Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Corey Steinman, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338- 3742 to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the (district or charter school) with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html.
November 13, 2024
Press Release for upcoming OLA Tier Review by DESE
During the week of December 16, 2024 the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Lunenburg Public Schools. The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines with. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.
Parents and other individuals may call Andrew McDonie, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3541 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the Lunenburg Public Schools with a report with information about areas in which the Lunenburg Public Schools meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the Lunenburg Public Schools requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.
June 21, 2022
PRESS RELEASE:
The Massachusetts Student Record Regulations authorize public school districts to destroy student records within seven years of a student’s graduation, transfer or withdrawal from the school district. In accordance with applicable state and federal regulations, Lunenburg Public Schools does hereby notify you of its intent to destroy student records for students who graduated, transferred, or withdrew from Lunenburg Public Schools prior to July 2015 within 60 days of the date of this notice. The records to be destroyed include, but are not limited to, documentation contained within a student’s temporary student record (e.g. special education records). A copy of students’ transcripts will, however, be maintained by the district for at least 60 years following their graduation, transfer or withdrawal from the district.
Massachusetts regulations require that the district provide prior written notice of its intent to destroy student records and that individuals be given with an opportunity to obtain all records to be destroyed. If you would like to be provided with the records to be destroyed, please submit a written request to the Lunenburg Public Schools, Special Services Office, 129 Northfield Road, Lunenburg, MA 01462 or contact Laurene Broden at (978) 582-4100, extension 5213 or lbroden@lunenburgschools.net within the next 30-60 days.
If you have any questions regarding the destruction of records pertaining to your child/you, you may contact Julianna Hanscom, Director of Special Services for the Lunenburg Public Schools, at (978) 582-4100, extension 5213. For additional information regarding your/your child’s rights in regard to student records, you may contact: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant St., Malden, MA 02148, phone 781-338-3300.
Additionally, anyone who has graduated from Lunenburg Public Schools from 2015-2022 may call the Special Services Office to pick up their special education records now if they wish - they do not need to wait the 7 years!