The King Philip Regional School District and Community Counseling of Bristol County have formed a partnership to boost mental health and human services assistance for students.

CCBC is a comprehensive community mental health center that provides a range of services for children, adolescents and their families in the greater Attleboro/Taunton area. Services are provided for those experiencing emotional, behavioral, developmental or substance abuse difficulties.

School board members approved the venture that increases referral resources available to staff, parents and students. Counselors are brought into the school after referral by staff with parental approval.

The program, which other school districts have joined, carries no cost to the school system, as parents' insurance covers expenses.

New post Despite budget cuts, a new position of transition coordinator for special education has been created for the upcoming school year.

Elena Varney, who had extensive experience in the area, will help find community employment opportunities and other outside assistance for special education students, among other duties, to prepare the students for the outside world.

The position helps the school district save costly out-of-district expenses by keeping students within the local school system.

"It is a vital position necessary for providing required services to the district's special education student population," Superintendent Richard Robbat said.

Varney, of Cumberland, R.I., has been a training associate with the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts at Boston, since 2000.

Art recognition

Several King Philip Regional High School students from the art department were designated winners in the 2008 Scholastic Art Awards competition: Daisy Alioto, painting; Elizabeth Keyes, colored pencil; Emma Tuminelli, photography; and Nicholas Pini, pastels.

Also, a KP High art teacher received an award of merit for one of her sculptures displayed at the Attleboro Art Museum. Shannon Cress had three pieces on display for the show.

And Justin Munroe, a King Philip alumnus, had a piece on display that also won an award.

Scholarships King Philip graduates Mairebridget Centauro and Samuel Zeigler won scholarships from the King Philip Parents Network.

The annual scholarships, named after longtime member Gail O'Hara, is awarded to a student who is involved in volunteer and extra-curricular activities and writes an essay on a positive impact they have had or hopes to have on someone's life.

The parents network hopes to either increase the scholarship amount or number of awards. Donations are desired. Call Connie Willman at 508-553-9620.

This column is compiled by staff writer Stephen Peterson. He can be reached at 508-236-0377 or speterson@thesunchronicle.com.