RSU 57

District Resources

School Resource Officers

• Deputy Matthew Cummer (MHS) - 207-247-3141

• Deputy Robert Pellerin (MMS/Elementary) - 207-247-6121

Massabesic Adult and Community Education
High school completion classes, online certification classes, adult education classes and more! 

• For questions, contact Adam Goad, Director at 207-247-2022

Outreach Services & Displaced/Homeless Families Liaisons
Provides assistance & resources to families and students experiencing housing loss/children in foster care, military and migrant families. This includes families who fall under the McKinney-Vento Act. RSU 57 now features a Community Closet that holds clothing for all ages, a pantry, personal hygiene items, school supplies, basic home needs, feminine products, and more! This is located in the East building on the MHS campus.

• For assistance, contact:

  Megan Wakefield

  207-247-3221 ext. 2309

  meganwakefield@rsu57.org

Homeless Assistance

RSU 57 Schools follow the provisions of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which aims to minimize the educational disruptions experienced by eligible students who meet the definition of “homeless”. Other terms used to describe this living arrangement include “houseless” or “unhoused.”

For any questions related to McKinney-Vento or to determine eligibility for services please contact Megan Wakefield, Outreach/Homeless Liaison and McKinney-Vento Liaison at 207-247-3221 ext. 2309 or by email: meganwakefield@rsu57.org

According to McKinney-Vento, an eligible student is defined as a student eligible to attend preschool, elementary, or secondary school, who lives in any of the following situations

1. In a shelter

2. In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation

3. In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station

4. Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Under McKinney-Vento, eligible students have the right to:

• A free appropriate public education

• Enrollment in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment

• Enrollment in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents

• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled) if preferred

  • If the school district believes that the school the youth/family selects is not in the best interests of the youth, then the district must provide a written explanation of its position and inform the family of the right to appeal the decision

• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if the family requests this

• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to the child’s needs

According to the National Center for Homeless Education, the following signs may indicate homelessness:

• Lack of continuity in education

• Transportation and attendance problems

• Poor health/nutrition

• Poor hygiene

• Lack of privacy/personal space after school

• Social and behavioral concerns

• Reactions/statements by parent, guardian or child

School Nutrition

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ARE FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN MAINE! Great news—every student in Maine is eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day! In order to be free of charge, meals must meet federal and state requirements. Students are able to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day.

https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/programs/nslp

For more questions, please contact Vanessa Richardson, School Nutrition Director at (207) 247-3221 Ext. 2257A healthier future for our country begins with our children. Unfortunately, many children face hunger during the summer when they lose access to school meals. Children need good nutrition to grow, learn, and thrive. There are new tools to address summer hunger, including Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT), and a new flexible way to offer meals to children living in hard-to-reach, rural communities.

Sun Bucks, a program that provides additional SNAP benefits for summer months. Learn by visiting: https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/SUNBucks

Community Resources

A huge "THANK YOU" to YouthFull Maine for their support in helping fill our school pantries for the past few school years. They will continue to support our school pantries and our Outreach Office for the upcoming school year 2024-2025.

YFM also sets up a mobile pantry this summer at Massabesic Middle School for families and community members. YFM was able to set up at MMS every other Tuesday supplying people with fresh fruits and veggies, milk, bread, canned goods, pre-made meals, etc. Check out their website for mobile pantry distributions dates and for more information of their mission.

https://www.youthfullme.org/

McKinney Vento Information

School Counselor Websites

Alfred/Lyman Elementary School Counselors

Waterboro Elementary School Counselors

Support Resources & Phone Numbers

Additional Quicklinks

Free and Low-Cost Legal Services : Guide to Educational Advocacy in Maine

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