http://http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2421205Legislator seeks oversight of schools with Utah ties
Overseas facilities: The California congressman cites allegations of abuse in asking for more scrutiny
By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune
WASHINGTON - A California congressman urged Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday to apply additional scrutiny of several overseas schools for troubled teens run by a southern Utah company.
?I am very concerned about the adequacy of existing policies of the U.S. State Department for assessing serious allegations of improper conduct towards American children in overseas facilities,? wrote Rep. George Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education Committee.
Miller said there have been hundreds of alleged incidents of abuse, overcrowding, malnutrition and inadequate medical care at the schools operated by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS).
Miller's letter comes after Mexican authorities ordered the closure of one of the schools, Casa By the Sea, in Ensenada, Mexico, on Sept. 11 after finding unacceptable conditions during a site visit.
In the past, governments in Samoa, Costa Rica, and the Czech Republic took similar actions after complaints of inhumane treatment and inadequate care.
The WWASPS network has eight more schools remaining in the United States and abroad, where parents can pay roughly $3,000 a month to have their rebellious teenagers taught in a rigorously structured environment.
WWASPS is based in St. George and headed by Robert Lichfield whose business associates and family members have contributed more than $1 million to political candidates since 2001.
In addition to asking for an explanation of the State Department's policy regarding inspection of the facilities and inspection records, Miller asked to what extent the department coordinates with foreign governments and for copies of correspondence with WWASPS officials.
State Department spokesman Steve Pike said recently there is little the government can do since the schools are private businesses operating outside the country.
Miller has written two earlier letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft requesting a Justice Department investigation into WWASPS and its founders. The Justice Department said it lacked the authority to investigate facilities abroad, but referred Miller's concerns to the U.S. Attorney in Utah, which passed the matter to the local FBI office.
Efforts by state officials to regulate the WWASPS programs in Utah were scuttled during the last legislative session, as senior House members helped smother the bill in the House Rules Committee.
Opponents of the bill received large contributions from Lichfield following the session, including House Speaker Marty Stephens, who was given $30,000 for his gubernatorial race.
