Student Support Services

VISION: Every student will have access to supports, services, and enrichment necessary to ensure that graduates obtain the skills knowledge, and character traits essential to thrive and contribute to society.

MISSION: Supporting students, families, and staff by providing services, resources, and interventions to address the varying and complex needs of each student.

Our Departments

Child Welfare & Attendance

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The Child Welfare and Attendance Department supports the instructional programs throughout the District. Delivery of specialized services in the areas of enrollment, transfers, attendance, SARB, school safety, custody of student records, discipline, and student custody orders are the main focus of our department.

School Safety | Student Safety

Expanded Learning Programs

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The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) Plan as required by Education Code (EC) Section 46120(b)(2) will provide expanded program activities that support the whole child, and students’ Social and Emotional Learning and development before/after school and during winter, spring, and summer non-instructional school days for TK-8 students. This plan was approved the Local Educational Agency's (LEA) Governing Board.

Health Services

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At all MCS school sites, credentialed school nurses provide: health assessments; vision and hearing screenings; medical, mental health, and social service referrals; information for mental health and community resources; social-emotional counseling and support; TB screenings and skin tests for district programs and school volunteers; health education including oral health review; case management for students with complex medical issues; communication with primary care physicians; and many other services.

Healthy Start Programs

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The Modesto City Schools Healthy Start Program provides a variety of school and community outreach services. It is a school-based family resource program that serves all students and families living within the Modesto City Schools attendance areas.

Parent Engagement & Outreach

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The Parent Engagement & Outreach (PEO) Department is committed to various support services that provide opportunities for parent engagement, which impacts student academic achievement, health and social emotional wellness, school climate, and other relative areas. We continue to build strong partnerships with local businesses, colleges, and city and county community-based agencies to help meet the needs of the community.

Special Education

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Modesto City Schools Special Education Department / Special Education Local Plan (SELPA) ensures that appropriate programs and services are available for all students identified with disabilities under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004). The Special Education Department supports every student's right to an individualized educational program that is reasonably calculated to provide meaningful educational benefits based on the student's identified and unique needs.

Resources

Counseling & Guidance

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Modesto City Schools Counselors support teaching and learning by assuring that all students achieve academic success and develop life skills through the acquisition of academic, career, and personal/social competencies, which will prepare them for meaningful participation in a diverse, changing world.

Resources & Additional Information

Equity & Excellence

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Modesto City Schools must provide equitable access by actively eradicating structural and institutional racism and systemic inequities to close achievement, opportunity, and access gaps that exist within our district. We are committed to understanding the individual circumstances and needs of our students, their families, and our staff. We will serve in a way to create equitable outcomes and ensure respectful environments that embrace and empower each individual recognizing that diversity and inclusion of every gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, gender expression, family configuration, (dis)ability, and ethnicity leads to a thriving and just community. MCS is ultimately responsible for the success of our students and will be held accountable to the community.

6 Equity Task Force Recommendations

  1. Analyze Grading Policies & Course Offerings

  2. Conduct Equity Audits

  3. Increase Teacher Diversity

  4. Analyze Teacher Placement

  5. Improve Communication with Parents of Color

  6. Develop Trust Through Improved Customer Service

Foster Youth

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If you have questions about foster youth and related educational supports in Modesto City Schools, please contact one of the following:


Tony Lomeli
Senior Director, Student Support Services
Lomeli.T@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1600


Stephanie Orona
Foster Youth Specialist
Orona.S@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1600 

Homeless Youth

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that helps support students experiencing homelessness. Modesto City Schools is here to assist and ensure that every McKinney-Vento student in our district has access to the education and support they need.

 If you have questions regarding students in a transitional living situation/homeless and related educational supports in Modesto City Schools, please contact one of the following:

Tony Lomeli
Senior Director, Student Support Services
Lomeli.T@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1600

Margarita Castillo
Homeless Youth Coordinator
Castillo.M@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1600

Student Safety

Say Something Anonymous Reporting System

Say Something Anonymous Reporting System:

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System enables students to anonymously report an issue 24/7/365 through an app, hotline, or website when they see a classmate who is at risk of harming themselves or others.

How To Submit An Anonymous Tip:

Social Emotional Support

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Many are feeling a variety of emotions including fear of the unknown, anxiety, and sadness. There are an array of resources to help support emotional and mental health. These resources include newspaper and magazine articles, coping skills, steps toward mindfulness, etc. If you or someone you know is struggling, please offer this as help.

Stanislaus County Behavioral Health:   Stanislaus County residents can call the Warm Line at (209) 558-4600 when they are:

  • Having a hard time making it through the day - but are not in a crisis

  • Needing a caring listener to provide effective feedback to help explore options

  • Wanting some support, assistance and resources toward recovery

This is a mental health consumer-run program providing non-crisis intervention, offering peer support, referrals, and shared experiences of hope and recovery.

On-Site Peer Support and Warm Line services are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (209) 558-4600 and are funded by Stanislaus County Behavioral Health.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Suicide Prevention staff are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

Phone: 1-800-273-8255

Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or Text “START” to 88788

For additional resources, please visit our Social Emotional Support webpage.

Student Support Services Administration

Mark Herbst
Associate Superintendent, Student Support Services
Herbst.M@mcs4kids.com
(209) 492-5113

Araceli Corral
Director I, Student Support Services
Corral.a@mcs4kids.com
(209) 672-9995

Madie Herrera
Director, Parent Engagement & Outreach
Herrera.M@mcs4kids.com
(209) 492-3476

David Houck
Senior Director, Child Welfare and Attendance
Houck.D@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1595

Tammy Jones
Admin. of Special Projects, SSS, Expanded Learning
Jones.t@mcs4kids.com
(209) 876-0972

Tony Lomeli
Senior Director, Student Support Services McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison
Lomeli.T@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1600

Tom Nipper
Director III, Health Services
Nipper.Tom@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1605

Kristen Panou
Senior Director 7-12, SELPA
Panou.k@mcs4kids.com
(209) 492-1789

William Patterson
Equity & Intervention Specialist
Patterson.w@mcs4kids.com
(209) 492-6436

Christina Romero, M.A.
Senior Director K-6, SELPA
Romero.C@mcs4kids.com
(209) 492-1789

Isaias Rumayor, Jr., Ed.D.
Director III, Student Support Services
Rumayor.I@mcs4kids.com
(209) 574-1608

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Kids hanging around a playground, specifically monkey bars
Parent holding hands of students with backpacks on the way to school