Highlands Preparatory School

[Jill Ryan]

My two cents....  I do not want another child arrested because they were sent to RCS  and not "appropriate" diagnostically for their so-called Therapeutic Program, to which there were/are? apparently few, if any, qualified, licensed, seasoned staff able to care for these children.  There needs to be accountability for these chidlren that have been incarcerated/dumped at RCS, as minors by unsuspecting parents and a fooled, flawed system;  only to end up in jail in Lumpkin County as  Lucrezia Albegiani, Sydney Vaughn, the two children from last years plummeting of a female staff member, and now the four boys from the latest riot.  Are there other children we have not even heard about?  It would stand to reason being that four boys were picked up at 4 am outside of Wal-mart and according to LCSO, nary a soul at RCS reported them missing.  Whom is it that should be incarcerated?

It would also be reasonable to ask DHS to stand with Albegiani and Vaughn in their defense.  Defense not for their actions and not condoning what these girls did, but had they not been attending RCS under RCS  pretense of  licensed, qualified staff(that are hung out to dry in lone numbers), chances are this incident and countless others would never have happened.  

Unfortunately, as with the druglords, the higher ups rarely appear to be held accountable.  It is no different in this case.   Money and power.

[Reality]

Thanks to Catchuppeople for bringing this to everyone's attention.

Two posts from the 'Ridge Creek "School" - Trouble Retaining Professional Staff?' thread:


Originally posted on 07 Feb 2011:

http://Www.highlandspreparatoryschool.com

This should explain some of the job postings.

Originally posted on 7 Feb 2011:

http://Www.highlandspreparatoryschool.com

This should explain some of the job postings.

Oh. My. Gawd.

And, Buccellato is still recycling the same Hidden Lake photos. And for how many institutions have they been used as marketing material?

Incidentally, the Highlands Prep website is registered under "Proxy, Inc." (via GoDaddy), fwiw...

The reason for the job postings is that almost every single one of those positions were held within the last 6-9 months, and were vacated within that same time frame.  From what I have heard from staff, current RCS students/residents will be moved down to the "wilderness" area, and the therapeutic boarding school thing will continue down there, while the upper campus will be used for the new boarding school.

[Jill Ryan]

Lovely.  If the ORS allows this ...it would be inexcusable, with more horrid consequences.  I sincerely hope this is not a "here we go again."  Although it is more befitting this kind of personality flaw and about what we expected ...  that's why no dance.

[Oscar]

I have been looking at the new marketing webpage (which is now on the Wiki). It seems that they are not that into their "therapy" anymore and it seems more like a normal boarding school. Normal kids demand lesser security and it calls for cheaper pay to the staff.

My question is: What kind of parents would pay so many dollars for a stay at a remote boarding school with no positive record of any kind?

[Jill Ryan]

From Reality

"From what I have heard from staff, current RCS students/residents will be moved down to the "wilderness" area, and the therapeutic boarding school thing will continue down there, while the upper campus will be used for the new boarding school."

If one looks at the question section of the application for HIghlands one shall view Highlands requesting counseling, psychological, legal trouble information, etc. of prospective students.  If the abocve is the case as "Reality" states all bases are covered  by keeping RCS and it can be used as a feeder much like Ridge Creek Wilderness was used when it was HLA/RCS for interventions(interventions were to cease, however, it has been reported that they did not cease when HLA became RCS).  This would afford an alternative to those deemed not "appropriate" for a Traditional Boarding School.  RCS keeps their CCI status and the entity could attempt to piggy-back the SACS accreditation from RCS, although a Traditional Boarding School's accreditation is different.  Obviously, anything is possible when the messenger delivers their slightly shewed pitch to the agencies.

A possible scenario.  One never knows.  Highlands states that the wilderness adventure will be offered, although the wilderness dorms are not needed for a weekend outdoor adventure, so it could work to their advantage.

Currently the company appears to be hiring for RCS and Highlands.  That could shift come September.  It would not be the first time.

Instead of streamlining, all this shifting of names and school functions, the marketing once again will be confusing to its industry compatriots.  Already one educational consultant stated Highlands is Ridge Creek.  Well, not if one wishes a license and certification that is on the up and up.

The corporation once stated "with a wilderness twist."  Three entities operating on a single compound.  There appears to forever be a "twist" on this compound, but not a sound one.

A sincere hope that the above post by "Reality" is not coming down the pike.  If it is, then the State must require that the Highland families are informed that RCS will be operational on the same compound.

[Catchuppeople]

There's no plan to get rid of the Ridge Creek program. Rumored plan is to move it to the old wilderness campus and run the therapeutic program there with shared gym and cafeteria privileges.

[Jill Ryan]

Has the ORS come on board with this concept?

Also, if RCS is going to take DJJ children per contracts, if, the agencies require separate facilities.

[Guest3]

I have been looking at the new marketing webpage (which is now on the Wiki). It seems that they are not that into their "therapy" anymore and it seems more like a normal boarding school. Normal kids demand lesser security and it calls for cheaper pay to the staff.

My question is: What kind of parents would pay so many dollars for a stay at a remote boarding school with no positive record of any kind?

That's a great question! I can't wait to see the same testimonials used at HLA/RCS on this website.

It would be nice if the person who wrote this blog could get the name of the "school" correct as the moron who wrote the blog keeps using the word Highland instead of Highlands.

http://highlandspreparatoryschool.blogs ... chive.html

This is interesting as well:
"As is evident in our class outlines and syllabi, the curriculum at HPS has been constructed to meet these rigorous standards:"

It has a link to HPS, but there is no class outlines and/or syllabi when you click on the link.

But the biggest joke of all is this is part of their "Rigorous Standards":

Integrity and Ethical Decision Making
 
a)  Foster integrity, honesty, fairness and respect
b) Exhibit moral courage in confronting unjust situations

Who will the Little General get to teach this? I hope he plans on attending these classes because he sure knows nothing about either one of those topics!

[Guest3]

Doesn't the following sound an awful lot like an IEP??

Individualized, structured course work, which highlights the strengths and addresses the weaknesses of each student, is the bedrock on which our academic program is founded. Further, a small teacher-to-student ratio enables Highland Prep's academic department to thoroughly assess the abilities of the incoming student and place them in the appropriate class on the proper academic path.

[/i]

http://www.highlandspreparatoryschool.c ... emics.html

[Jill Ryan]

But the biggest joke of all is this is part of their "Rigorous Standards":
Guest 3 Excerpt

Integrity and Ethical Decision Making

a) Foster integrity, honesty, fairness and respect
b) Exhibit moral courage in confronting unjust situations

Who will the Little General get to teach this? I hope he plans on attending these classes because he sure knows nothing about either one of those topics!

Touche'

[Jill Ryan]

http://http://www.familylight.com/link3/3.03/3.032/RS/RidgeCreek.htmRidge Creek  

FamilyLight sm: Successor to "Bridge to Understanding sm"


Under Construction

Ridge Creek has  settled into a new identity and focus.  Historically, it was  a wilderness program.  In 2009, it expanded into a therapeutic "College Prep [School] with a Wilderness Twist."  Since then, the wilderness program has been dropped, and the therapeutic boarding school well establishcd.   Ridge Creek School, took over the buildings of a former school  historically located near it.  However in the fall of 2011, those buildings will become the site of newly founded boarding and day school that will not have therapeutic content.  Ridge Creek will return to the nearby buildings that are mostly unussd at the time this is written.
Currently Ridge Creek is one of the most economical therapeutic boarding schools available. We generally avoid putting costs and charges on our website but you will find that published charges at Ridge Creek tend to run lower than at other schools and programs.  In addition to the lower than expected charges, Ridge Creek has a generous financial aid offering, which lowers costs even further for eligible families.  
FamilyLight sm visited and inspected Ridge Creek back in the days it was simply a wilderness program. We are also familiar with the physical plant of school property that Ridge Creek has acquired.  We have confidence in the programming and the staffing.  We have seen the physical plant but we have not been able to assess the adequacy of the physical plant to meet the needs to students attending school four days per week.  We are not suggesting inadequacy.  We anticipate all is well.  But we have not observed it up close and personal. We encourage taking advantage of the bargain rates, but encourage checking out the physical facility. We emphasize that we anticipate that when doing, so you will find the facility satisfactory.

[Dysfunction Junction]

OK, I have to ask...Two of you commented about Chris Grimwood being "behind" Len or "in" Len.  Are you saying Chris has been sleeping with Len?  That wouldn't be a surprise based on Len's previous proclivities with male staff.

RCS certainly has bombed out.  That shithole is cratered before it ever gets off the ground in any real way.  Undoubtedly due to the dogged determination of a select few here.

Now, the focus must shift to the new facility.  If it turns out to be "academics only" I'd be really surprised because the fake therapy angle is what generates the cashflow - lots of billables.

In any case, let's dig in and make sure the public knows who's behind the new facility so they can make informed decisions about where to send their kids to "school".

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Not in Len's bedroom, that's for sure!  

I suppose Len can overlook fake degrees, lack of qualifications, etc., so long as he gets in the tailpipe from the "overlookee" as it were.  This would be funny if it weren't so sad and disturbing.

[FreeOfCC]

Has the ORS come on board with this concept?

Also, if RCS is going to take DJJ children per contracts, if, the agencies require separate facilities.

And will HPS disclose to parents that JD kids are housed just around the bend. And that they are prone to violence and riots? Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[FreeOfCC]

ANOTHER THOUGHT - THE ORS, BJ BAKER and CO. will be happy as pigs in a sty if RCS turns Traditional Boarding School.  This lets the ORS off the hook for accountability in allowing this debacle to continue throughout the years.  Not that the ORS was ever accountable.

We all remember when the Investigators with the DHS worked tirelessly to put an end to this all ... but the upper echelon, in the words of the GAO, "dropped the ball."  Perhaps, it was too hot, so they threw it.

Yes, ORS would love to be off the hook on this one. If they convince ORS that they are no longer providing therapy and are released from oversight, then it's back to square one. Documenting evidence that they are providing therapy, forcing ORS to investigate and require licensure. Game of 4 square. Or would it be Dodge Ball?

[Jill Ryan]

The DHR Georgia, Investigative Unit.  Current or former students, parents, staff -  any  unreported staff/student, student/staff incidents at Ridge Creek School that resulted in injury to either student or staff and can be verified,  please contact the DHR directly.

Co-mingling of facilities at Ridge Creek School with adjudicated children, inadequate staffing/inexperienced,  unlicensed, uncertified care givers can also be reported to the DHR, ORS(ORCC).

According to the DHR rep the agency  will respect privacy.