State seeking accord with girls school
Bethel Academy problems called correctable
By Lora Hines
lohines@clarionledger.comState officials are negotiating with a church-based home for at-risk girls to allow the return of 38 teens removed after some alleged they were abused.
Earl Scales, an assistant state attorney general, said problems at Bethel Girls Academy near Petal can be corrected, and an agreement to allow the girls back could be reached as early as next week.
"The school serves a purpose," Scales said.
Herman Fountain Jr., the director of the home, denies the allegations of abuse.
"That's all they are, allegations," he said. "They haven't proved anything."
Fountain, however, said he doubts he can come to an agreement with the state attorney general's office.
He said he doesn't want to stop using exercise as a form of punishment, a concession the state demands.
"We're not able to discipline the girls any other way," Fountain said. "We don't use corporal punishment. (State officials) wanted us not to use exercise. I didn't agree with that."
In May, the state Department of Human Services took custody of all girls at the academy as a result of abuse allegations. Some girls told investigators they were forced to swim in a sewage pond and exercise until they vomited.
DHS spokesman Rick Whitlow would not comment and referred calls to the state Health Department. The Health Department referred calls to the attorney general's office.
It is the second investigation at the academy in less than two years. The girls academy, founded by Fountain's father, opened in 1999.
Parent complaints of abuse and neglect at the companion Bethel Boys Academy in Lucedale last year led to a similar investigation by DHS and the attorney general's office. The boys academy, also founded by Fountain's father and directed by his brother, John Fountain, agreed to adopt new policies.
The Fountains didn't admit to any wrongdoing.
Herman Fountain said the girls removed from the academy want to return.
Michael Reed, a Hattiesburg attorney for parents of some of the girls, said his clients had to find other places to send their children.
"Obviously, the allegations are of a concern," Reed said. "That's why they are taking a wait-and-see approach (with the negotiations)."
The children of Reed's clients didn't complain to investigators, Reed said. He would not identify his clients.
Melissa Lashuay of Chicago is hopeful Fountain can correct the academy's problems. Her daughter, Brittany, 14, was one of the girls removed from the academy.
Lashuay's oldest daughter, Stephanie, previously attended the academy.
"It really turned my daughter around," Lashuay said of Stephanie. "There's been such an improvement in her."
Five girls now attend the academy, Fountain said. More are to come.
He said the academy has lost about $200,000 since the girls were removed. Tuition costs $2,000 a month per student.
Academy employees have been working part-time.
Fountain said he has had to borrow $1,400 to pay the academy electric bill and $1,700 for the mortgage.
"We've been in worse shape than this," he said. "This isn't going to stop me from helping people."
