on this PDF, page 2, it says 65 students and staff were interviewed in march (however more might be listed later in the pdf. I'd have to read. I know I saw 100 somewhere).
It was "
65 witnesses, including MBA students and staff, along with licensed therapists familiar with individual students" in March and, between then and October, "
numerous parents and former students" as well as "
interviews ... conducted with staff and students." I presume that very last quote refers to
current staff and students, of which there were approximately 77 and 88, respectively. The Complaint did not state that
all of them were interviewed.
Here is that whole section from the (full)
transcription:
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Background:Mt. Bachelor Academy (MBA) is a licensed Therapeutic Boarding School, located in a rural area, 26 miles east of Prineville, Oregon, licensed originally in 1988. The school admits both male and female students who are from age 14 to 17.5 at the time of admission, although same children are admitted pursuant to an exception as young as age 13. The total capacity is 125 students and the average length of stay is 14-16 months. In 1998, Mt. Bachelor was re-organized and became a program of Aspen Education group. Aspen was recently acquired by CRC Health Group, Inc. As of March 209, MBA had approximately 77 staff and 88 boarding students.
On or about March 20, 2009, DHS received reports of child abuse against MBA. The DHS Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) handled the investigation of the reports of child abuse at MBA. There were two investigators primarily assigned to go to Prineville and interview people on campus. In addition, the office used three other investigators to conduct witness interviews of people in- and out-of-state. The investigators conducted interviews involving 65 witnesses, including MBA students and staff, along with licensed therapists familiar with individual students. Investigators reviewed documents and photographed materials used as part of the MBA therapy program.
At the same time, the DHS Licensing and Residential Treatment Services (Licensing) program investigated standards for health and safety and looked at MBA's compliance with Oregon Administrative Rules related to their license as a therapeutic boarding school. Licensing accompanied OIT investigators on a site visit to the program on or about March 26 and 27th. Based on the initial information gathered from the investigation, on or about March 31, 2009, Licensing notified MBA that they were prohibited from conducting their own investigation into the allegations of abuse reported records; prohibited from destroying or otherwise concealing school or student records; prohibited from disciplining or threatening to discipline students interviewed during the investigation; and prohibited from conducting Lifesteps activities until further notice. Parents of students were notified of the investigation.
Over the next several months, Licensing spoke with numerous parents and former students, made additional site visits to the program to conduct further reviews of student records, medical records, personnel records, and program procedures and policies. Interviews were also conducted with staff and students. Licensing further reviewed another "emotional growth" curriculum called Transitions that MBA sought to use in place of the Lifesteps program. DHS reviewed the program and expressed concerns to MBA that the Transitions program too closely mirrored the prohibited Lifesteps program. MBA proceeded to offer the Transitions program knowing that such a choice could result in further investigation of MBA.
In October 2009, the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT) completed its investigation and determined that eight allegation of abuse involving five individual students were substantiated against the agency,, Mt. Bachelor Academy. The report indicates that the abuse allegations are "exemplars" in that these five clients' experience is not unique and is "substantially consistent" with the experience of all children enrolled in the program. The report further substantiated an allegation of abuse against the Executive Director. The Executive Director either knew of the abusive practices of the agency, or she should have known what was happening under her authority.
