http://http://www.thedahloneganugget.com/articles/2011/07/20/news/03%20ridgecreek.txtNews
Ridge Creek Academy said to be closing doors
By Matt Aiken
Published:
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 10:50 AM EDT
The doors are apparently closing at Ridge Creek Academy, according to officials with the Lumpkin County Sheriff's Office.
“We were told that they were shutting down this week and students would be out by the end of the week,” said Investigator Darren Martin.
The therapeutic boarding school, formerly known as Hidden Lake Academy, has been located at the end of Camp Wahsega Road for 17 years. At its height it was one of the top employers in Lumpkin County and had an enrollment of over 150 students from throughout the country. For many years tuition was around $5,000 per month.
However, enrollment began to drop drastically in 2006 when news broke of a class action lawsuit against the school by a group of dissatisfied parents. In the suit, the plaintiffs alleged everything from misappropriation of funds to the willful acceptance of violent students.
The matter was reportedly settled out of court.
Earlier this year, school employees reportedly complained that they were not consistently receiving their paychecks on time.
“I had one whole month that I wasn't paid,” said Wallace Seabolt, who worked as a science teacher for five months.
Seabolt said enrollment dropped to 22 students at one time during his tenure and he often struggled to teach his class with limited supplies.
“We were understaffed,” he said. “We didn't have the school materials that we needed to do the job.”
Seabolt said he was laid-off with a large group of employees in mid-May.
Martin said that the sheriff's office was contacted this week by an employee of Ridge Creek requesting increased patrolling during the closure.
Owner Len Buccellato did not return a call seeking comment.
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Well, Mr. Jay Wansley Assistant Director of Advanc-Ed (SACS) and Director Mike Bryans - Wallace Seabolt Science Teacher, along with Foy Tootle History teacher were gone. There was no Special Education teacher,there was one on hold for June, but Buccellato held off until enrollment picked up. So the Special Needs children were without a Special Ed. program. There was no Director of Education as required. Yet, the Accreditation team in February gave RCS "ACCOLADES"...According Mr. Seabolt, there were no supplies. Your team did really well. Mr. Wansley and Mr. Bryans should submit their resignation. They were informed months back and did nothing.
