A third article, this one has gotten more airplay. I think it might even have a link on the fornits Wiki, if I am not mistaken?
Is it typical for WWASPS programs to have the
Litchfield Family Partnership be the entity that actually buys the property, with the program in question only renting from them? I seem to remember reading something of this nature some time ago, though I never quite wrapped my brain around it at the time... Jeez, this man must rake in the dough! The whole WWASPS setup is more akin to a
feudal system than it is to your standard capitalist corporation...
This article reveals that not all of the students present in Midwest Academy's earliest days were naive to "the process." I am sure that it was deliberate to seed the first ranks with a sprinkle (or more) of individuals already duly compliant (culled from Dundee Ranch and Tranquility Bay, most likely).
Color emphasis mine.
—•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•— —•?|•?•0•?•|?•—
New school: 'Miracle on the Mississippi'by diane vance /gate city staff writer
Published: Thursday, August 28, 2003 11:25 AM CDTLee County economic leaders, elected officials and contractors came to an invitation-only open house at Midwest Academy Tuesday evening to say thanks to the private boarding school for choosing to call the former Charleston Place home.
"You are our gift, a great investment in our community," said Lowell Junkins, executive director of the Lee County Economic Development Group, addressing the assembled group of about 30 area residents, elected officials and 25 of the academy's staff and students.
Junkins told the story of
Ben Trane (academy's assistant director) traveling through Keokuk and seeing the "For Sale" sign at the old middle school on Main Street.
"Ben met with Mayor Dave Gudgel over a year ago and had already had conversations with Superintendent Jane Babcock," he said. "Jane is a great ambassador of Keokuk. By the time I got in the picture, the Keokuk people were already courting this school, hoping to keep them from going north. When the middle school turned out to not be economically feasible, the Keokuk group looked for another site."
Junkins went on to name a number of other people in the room who had been influential in getting the Litchfield Family Partnership to buy the property - Jim Hankes, former president of the Keokuk Economic Development Corporation; Police Chief R.L. Dobson; and Mike Hickey, current president of Keokuk Economic Development."We're lucky to have you in our community," said Junkins to the directors, staff and students. "The facility is here today only because a mayor said, 'I want this in Lee County if I can't have it in my community.'
"We have two mayors who think in global terms, allowing successes to occur," said Junkins, referring to Fort Madison Mayor Joe Kowzan and Gudgel.
"You were our catalyst to do this exciting regional thing," said Gudgel. "It has been an intellectual discussion, regional economic development. We knew it was right, but we hadn't done it. Then Ben showed up. And his team followed. This is the Miracle on the Mississippi."
"If we pull together, good things happen," said Junkins. "We're growing in the right direction."
Gudgel said he, Katie O'Brien, executive director of Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce, and Dobson split the stacks of references the school provided and they contacted various communities.
"We compared notes - they all said what a fantastic organization it is," he said. "And it brings money to the community. We were expecting - not wanting, but expecting - some negatives. We never heard any.
"Mike Hickey and I traveled to Des Moines, met with the state director of education, the state human services people, and convinced them to give this school the green light," said Gudgel.
He added that the academy is economic development for Lee County and will help the county in the future.
With 15 students, approximately 26 staff members and plans to grow to 200 or more students, the academy draws parents for visits and employs some local people.
Trane said he had been looking for a community with wholesome, family standards.
"Thanks to all of you who helped make this happen," Trane said. "It was a cold winter to remodel, but the warmth came from the local contractors. There is a great work ethic here."
Brian Vaifanua, director of Midwest Academy, said in the first five to six months of remodeling the building, the school has spent $300,000 on top of the purchase price with local contractors.
"We've also had 20 parents already visit, staying at local motels, eating in restaurants and flying in and out of local airports," said Vaifanua.
"The best result is having your trust, forming relationships," he said. "So many of you have opened your hearts and talents to us."
He said the school is about results, finishing the race.
"Continue to accept us," he said. "Not just the economic aspect. I have a responsibility to work with the staff and students. I look forward to working with the community. Midwest Academy is a place for change."
A video presentation compared before and after pictures of the facility from the time it was purchased to the renovations made creating separate boys and girls wings for living and attending classes.
"Feel free to get to know the students," said Vaifanua. "The best way to hear about the school is not from all the directors, but to hear from the students. They are the key to our success."
A handful of girls in plaid skirts, white blouses and dark vests took the women on a tour of the female wing of the school, which includes a library, group meeting room, dorm rooms and bathroom, a classroom, staff office and staff sleeping rooms.
The 10 boys, in dark slacks, white shirts and neckties, escorted the men through their wing, similar, but on the other side of the common dining hall, seminar room and directors' offices.
Students, ages 13-18, are referred to the private boarding school and live a regimented life with six status levels that must be earned in progression.
Many of the students currently at Midwest Academy, picked for their leadership, transferred from similar schools to help start this school.
Eva, 14, and Tiffany, 17, came this summer, one from a school in Costa Rica, one in Jamaica.
Eva, from Colorado, said she had entered the Litchfield school program as a seventh grader and now is working at the high school level as a junior.Tiffany of the Chicago area is also a high school junior.
Both girls said while living in an exotic location was interesting, they were glad to be back in the United States.
In their previous schools, their self-paced study was from books. In Keokuk, the students have a self-paced computer program.Both students were chosen to come to Midwest Academy because of their earned higher status, based on academic and behavioral progress.
The students showed folders in which their academic and citizenship progress is tracked. Students accumulate points for their work.
All new students coming into the school start at level one and have to earn the next level up to a six, which on average takes a year.
Infractions cost points. Category 1 offenses - rudeness or category 2 offenses - disrespect or a student out of the area they should be in - are demerits.
"There are consequences for our behavior," said Tiffany. "The higher category offenses - such as running away, using tobacco, having inappropriate relationships - can cost many points and bring a student back down to level one."
There are no privileges at level one. Students have no personal property available to them, have an earlier bedtime, etc.
Eva and Tiffany enjoy a separate dorm room from those of lower levels of status. They have a few personal belongings, including music, radios and photo frames on the dresser and are entitled to change from six days of uniforms (required for everyone) to wearing personal clothing on Sundays, which can be jeans and a collared shirt.
A dinner followed the tours.