Monday, February 14, 2011
First Therapeutic School to Receive Accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Ridge Creek School is proud that we were the first therapeutic school in the country to apply for and receive accreditation by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). We feel that this definitely paved the way for greater op opportunities for all struggling students to receive placement consideration and acceptance at colleges and traditional boarding schools.
SACS is now known as AdvancED and our 5 year reaccreditation team has just left campus. We are very pleased that not only are they recommending us for continued accreditation but that they commended us for the remarkable commitment of all staff to the success of Ridge Creek School students. They were especially impressed by our professional atmosphere where students feel concern, care and respect from adults. All students who were interviewed said that they would rather be somewhere else especially during the first 6-8 weeks but when asked if in 3-5 years they would look back on this as a positive experience, all students interviewed resoundingly said "YES".
Advanc-Ed (SACS) Revisited:
Of course, as with all state agencies that we have had the privilege of dealing with in Georgia, even a private accrediting agency such as Advanc-Ed touts a "new transparency;." a transparency that is tantamount to pulling teeth to get an Accreditation Review from Advanc-Ed at a very delicate time. Why? Does Advanc-Ed not stand by their findings?
Advanc-Ed (SAC) in another nutshell with reference to Ridge Creek School:
In the Spring of 2011, a call was placed to Mr. Jay Wansley, Associate Director of Advanc-Ed; Mr. Mike Brians, the Director of Advanc-Ed, was in Cuba. Mr. Wansley was informed that Ridge Creek School facility had no Director of Education, no assistant Director of Education, no Special Education teacher, and no program for those Special Needs students with ISP's for IEP's or 504's, which obviously includes those children that crossed state lines protected by the ICPC( Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children supposedly overseen by the ORCC), yet nothing was done. ORCC apparently failed in its oversight of the ICPC children.
The "Visual Arts" certified teacher had a "consultative degree" in Special Ed, which did not qualify her to teach without a core teacher. She left over six months ago and who could blame her. Mr. Wansley assured me they would "look into it," when Mr. Brians returned from Cuba ,"we might just pay a visit." Weeks pass, another parent complaint, and Mr. Wansley states "we contacted the school..." What exactly does that mean? Certainly not " we went out there." In essence, Mr. Wansley and Mr. Brians did nothing.
Not to get off on a tangent, but the ORCC has done nothing either. The complaint regarding a very MIA Special Needs teacher was placed May 9th, 2011. Repeated requests for a survey finding have resulted in nothing. The ORCC oversees ICPC, it is within their scope to assure the ICPC Special needs children from out-of-state were provided for under the ICPC, which includes IEP's and 504's. Naturally, the investigators would not have found any records of ICPC or ISP unless, as reorted, they were hastily manufactured, and only if there was a complaint, maybe.
It is not our job to explain the parameters to those who have watchful oversight of our children whether in-state or out-of-state in this facility. A two hour undertaking from Lumpkin County DFCS has turned into another 11 week inexcusable, contained, irresponsible debacle. This would be understandable if this facility was not tagged under an "alert mode," however, this was not the case. Ridge Creek School makes Downing Clark look sane.
Ridge Creek School had an open enrollment and marketed a 12 month educational program. Well, surprise, parents didn't even know there was no Special Needs teacher, they didn't know there was no History Teacher, nor did they know the Science Teacher was was let go in May, and surely they were not informed there was no Director of Operation, nor a Director of Education. However, if Mr. Wansley and Mr. Brians of Advanc-Ed did their job, the outcome may have been different for countles children. Taking Ridge Creek School's accreditation could possibly have aided in shutting the facility down sooner,saving more children from nooses, cuttings, beatings from violent students, ESI's, 1013's, and the list is never ending.
A thorough visit by Advan-Ed.? At this point, parents scoff at placing any trust in Advanc-Ed (SACS) accreditation. Quite understandable.
Mr. Wansley never returned a telephone call requesting the outcome of Advanc-Ed's non-"visit." Instead, weeks later, the following email :
From: jwansley@advanc-ed.org
To:
To:
Subject: AdvancED Follow-Up
Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 13:37:46 +0000
Good morning, --- ----. Thank you for your information, which we have made a part of the school's files.We have contacted the school and have cited the onsite monitoring reports as a cause of concern to us. According to the information we have received, the school has acknowledged that it has experienced high turnover due to budgetary cutbacks that include salaries. However, the school has informed us that as of now, certified teachers are employed. We will monitor the compliance issues with the school to ensure that the school complies with all applicable regulations and procedures.
The school has an AdvancED Quality Assurance Review Team in February 2011 and the recommendation form that group was that the school was meeting the Accreditation Standards. Please keep us aware of any actions you feel may not adhere to the Accreditation Standards or applicable laws.
Thanks,
Jay Wansley
Associate Director
According to Ridge Creek School, the Quality Assurance Review Team thought the school practically sat on the right hand of God.
An excerpt of the reply to Mr. Wansley 05-27-2011 - An email to which Mr. Wansley never repsoned. Note: The original email cannot be provided as it contains names of staff, certifications, and no certifications:
"If the team did a thorough review of Ridge Creek, Inc., a CCI facility, and its sister programs in February 2011, the records in February clearly confirm the fact that there was no Director of Academics ( -- ---- left months back), no Assistant Director of Academics, and certainly no Special Education Teacher for Special Education Services of children with IEP's and 504's. Ms.------- ---------- who holds "Visual Arts" accreditation and a "Consultative Special Ed" was responsible for teaching Special Education. Her syllabus at Ridge Creek School clearly states she taught "Visual Arts." Ms. ---------- departed on 01-26-2011. Parents of children that were current at Ridge Creek School state their children received no Special Education services per their IEP's and 504's. The ORCC has cited this in their own documents. Numerous parents will attest to this fact. Also, Ms. ---------- can confirm."
AN EXCERPT FROM ORCC SURVEY REPORT:
"Record review on 3/14/2011 at 12:25 pm of Resident #6's Individual Service Plan, dated
10/19/2010, revealed that he/she meets the eligibility criteria for special educational services in
the area of emotional and behavioral disorder. According to this plan, Resident #6 is eligible for
educational services until next review on 5/25/2011. The review also revealed revealed that
his/her Individualized Education Program was not addressed. Resident #6 was admitted over five
months ago.
During interview with Staff A on 3/14/2011 at 4:00 pm, he/she acknowledged the findings.
This rule was previously cited on 11/5/2010, 9/9/2010, and 7/21/2010."
The Dahlonega Nugget
Pay attention to the former Science teacher. "We were understaffed."
Ridge Creek Academy said to be closing doors
By Matt Aiken
Published:
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:50 AM EDT
The doors are apparently closing at Ridge Creek Academy, according to officials with the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office.
“We were told that they were shutting down this week and students would be out by the end of the week,” said Investigator Darren Martin.
The therapeutic boarding school, formerly known as Hidden Lake Academy, has been located at the end of Camp Wahsega Road for 17 years. At its height it was one of the top employers in Lumpkin County and had an enrollment of over 150 students from throughout the country. For many years tuition was around $5,000 per month.
However, enrollment began to drop drastically in 2006 when news broke of a class action lawsuit against the school by a group of dissatisfied parents. In the suit, the plaintiffs alleged everything from misappropriation of funds to the willful acceptance of violent students.
The matter was reportedly settled out of court.
Earlier this year, school employees reportedly complained that they were not consistently receiving their paychecks on time.
“I had one whole month that I wasn't paid,” said Wallace Seabolt, who worked as a science teacher for five months.
Seabolt said enrollment dropped to 22 students at one time during his tenure and he often struggled to teach his class with limited supplies.
“We were understaffed,” he said. “We didn't have the school materials that we needed to do the job.”
Seabolt said he was laid-off with a large group of employees in mid-May.
Martin said that the sheriff's office was contacted this week by an employee of Ridge Creek requesting increased patrolling during the closure.
Owner Len Buccellato did not return a call seeking comment.
“We were told that they were shutting down this week and students would be out by the end of the week,” said Investigator Darren Martin.
The therapeutic boarding school, formerly known as Hidden Lake Academy, has been located at the end of Camp Wahsega Road for 17 years. At its height it was one of the top employers in Lumpkin County and had an enrollment of over 150 students from throughout the country. For many years tuition was around $5,000 per month.
However, enrollment began to drop drastically in 2006 when news broke of a class action lawsuit against the school by a group of dissatisfied parents. In the suit, the plaintiffs alleged everything from misappropriation of funds to the willful acceptance of violent students.
The matter was reportedly settled out of court.
Earlier this year, school employees reportedly complained that they were not consistently receiving their paychecks on time.
“I had one whole month that I wasn't paid,” said Wallace Seabolt, who worked as a science teacher for five months.
Seabolt said enrollment dropped to 22 students at one time during his tenure and he often struggled to teach his class with limited supplies.
“We were understaffed,” he said. “We didn't have the school materials that we needed to do the job.”
Martin said that the sheriff's office was contacted this week by an employee of Ridge Creek requesting increased patrolling during the closure.
Owner Len Buccellato did not return a call seeking comment.
Copyright © 2011 - The Dahlonega Nugget
Formal complaints were received. Separate requests were made for the Accreditation Review, both to Mr. Wansley and Advanc-Ed Legal Counsel. As of this writing, in one response Advanc-Ed thinks Ridge Creek School would or should provide the Accreditation Review to those that actually advocate to protect the rights of those children. Response from Advanc-Ed Legal Counsel is still out. Apparently, Avanc-Ed does not know Mr. Buccellato.
Perhaps ORCC Commissioner Mr. Clyde Reese has been in Cuba, too. Mr. Reese has been MIA to citizen outcry. If the ORCC, under the DHS, and Advanc-Ed think the closing of Ridge Creek School remedies their irresponsible, negligent behavior, they are delusional. Ridge Creek School was not alone in containment nor culpability.
There is one human being that gave a hoot, one Director, but that shall be the closing chapter, we wouldn't want to desecrate their humanity here.
And that's my take.
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