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Excerpts from "RIDGE CREEK SCHOOL FOR SALE - ONLY 10.5 MIL - TALK ABOUT TAKING THE MONKEY OFF THE ORCC'S BACK!"
at:
 http://http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/2011/05/ridge-creek-school-for-sale-only-105.html

Not an easy ad to contain ... even under Ridge Creek ‘Academy’ ... We sat on it, took it all in.  A hoax?

There are currently 10 positions open.  There is no Director. The facility has just been cited by the ORCC for "no Director." It has also been cited for lack of qualifications.  But not to worry, nothing will be done by the ORCC. It is not egregious.  RCS is hiring for Director of Counseling, although Anne Edens was just hired in February.  They are hiring for Director of Academics, Assistant Director of Academics, Counselor, Night Security,Reflections coordinator(interventions), Headmaster, and the Special Education teacher that the ORCC and ADvance Ed.(SACS) will also do nothing about.  It appears Advance Ed. SACS who accredits RCS did their review February of 2011 and gave the facility accolades.  If it was a thorough review there is no way they could miss those teachers that were not currently certified or that the schools certified "Visual Arts" and "Consultative Special Ed" teacher left on 01-26-2011. Regulations state "Consultative" does not qualify a teacher to be the core Special Ed. teacher.   If Ad.ED (SACS) goes back in, they'll look like fools or expose that there needs to be an overhaul of the "good ole boy" system from the top down. It appears the only people that seem to care that there is no Special Education teacher are the families of children that have 504's and IEP's.  What the heck... According to parents, last year there were no real Special Education services either. What is being reported is that the Special Needs services that the children did receive had to be fought for, if any at all. But, hey, we're talking about post Hidden Lake Academy, Ridge Creek School et al and the facility can basically do whatever they wish because there are no consequences from the state agencies.  Why?  We have a theory, but we'll table that for another day.  

Ridge Creek "Academy "… nice ... is up for sale.  If this isn’t just another “hoax”...
Why hire?
•   There is the need to keep the facility running and keep the in-take of students coming for the cash flow. Hey, it just  
        might turn around with the ‘help’ of the agencies anything is possible.
•   Is the current non-administrative staff aware of this?
•   Are current families aware of this?
•   Are prospective staff families aware of this?
              I certainly hope so.  Perhaps three months’ deposit (not held in escrow), uniforms, computer,
              etc … is good enough reason.  All non- refundable according to the current contract if one pulls
              their child.  Maybe prepaid tuition with a promise.  We had one of those.

•   If the facility sells?
              Again, you would have been better off donating to St. Judes.

•   Is the ORCC aware?
       That would be far too in-depth for the ORCC. Two years later the ORCC just might find a
       “category” to stick this in.
 
       On 08-2006 RCI was cited for 30 violations cited by the then ORS (now ORCC) 29 of “F” category
       in severity and scope; 1 of “D” category. A myriad of violations were repeat.  The class suit had
       taken flight and an investigation of Hidden Lake Academy and Ridge Creek Wilderness by the
       ORS was in progress - no thanks to the administrative staff.  There was no fine and no adverse
       action taken by the ORS.  Why send out your surveyors and agents who do their job?  Now the
       ORCC, nothing has changed, violations just keep mounting – it is just a different acronym.
 
       And that's my take.

Shake Up at the DHS/ORCC or just coincidence?

http://http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/2011/05/breaking-news-shake-up-at-dhs-office-of.html

Things are not as quiet as they seem.  

“The End is Near”
All is quiet
have no fear,
Nary a soul
will pocket their spear,
Listen with care
heed the drone,
In the wind
feel its shear,
Armageddon…
may truly be near.

What really strikes me most of all is the apparent systemic nature of this flippant trivialization of the ongoing chaos at Ridge Creek School. It would appear to be ingrained in the employee culture at this point, as part of RCS's "therapeutic milieu."

Well stated.  Nary as soul will 'fix' it either.

Learning Disorder

Ridge Creek School provides Special Education Services, with the ability to meet most IEP and 504 plans for students with diagnosed learning disabilities.  REALLYLearning Center classes with appropriate accommodations will be provided as necessary. Ridge Creek School provides small class sizes with a 10:1 student to teacher ratio. This small class size allows teachers the opportunity for more individual attention and monitoring of student understanding and progress. Teachers are skilled at instructing utilizing different teaching methods that reach those who are visual, auditory, as well as tactile learners. Additionally, all students participate in a daily study hall, in which they have teacher assistance with homework, assignments, and study skills. Ridge Creek School also provides an Executive Functioning Skills (EFS) class designed to teach students the much needed organizational and planning skills necessary for success.

And how exactly are Special Education Services provided, through a Visual Arts Teacher, who is certified as a Consultative, and no longer there?  Or perhaps Mr. Tanner, whom, according to GAPSC.com hasn't been certified in General Special Education since 1998. How may IEP's and 504's are there?  And the ORCC cites only one case.BRAVO!

http://http://www.ridgecreekschool.com/therapeutic-boarding-school.htm

How many violations, citations?  Enough to cover hundreds of pages. Over the years(that we are privy to) the ORCC has fined Ridge Creek School, formerly Hidden Lake Academy, only twice amidst repeat violations which included and cited "child endangerment."  The fines were miniscule reflective of a few trips to a landfill or the cost of a few high-tech shredders from Office Depot.  Certainly far less than I have paid for documents from the ORCC.
Perhaps the ORCC has forgotten their 'mission.'  Why does Georgia even bother to have oversight if there are virtually no consequences?  Why send out your investigators, who do their job, when those investigators are not backed up? The agencies appear just as free to run amok as this facility with no accountability, as apparently there are no consequences for their ineptitude thanks to sovereign immunity.  However, the ORCC is accountable to the children. Children and youth, ages 12 to 18+, that are being warehoused in a so-called, ”Therapeutic Boarding School” with mental health issues covering a wide spectrum including those that are suicidal and violent, those with a myriad of learning disabilities, and those that are adjudicated youth offenders.  Separately, with dedicated, credentialed, licensed, seasoned staff there may be hope.   This recipe has and shall continue to be a disaster. The ORCC supervisors maintain regulations need to change. Duh, ya think? Yet years ago in an email I received from former staff, “DHR workers tried hard to hold Hidden Lake Accountable supervisors backed down”(regulation of Hidden Lake Academy)[August 12th,2006].  The children do not need platitudes, nor do we that advocate for their safety and transparency in an all to shady, cloak and dagger industry.  We need mavericks that will fight for the children.  We don't need politicizing and people in supervisory positions that cite how "connected" one is in Atlanta. If we didn't advocate, with every inch of our soul, for an investigation from the cesspool to the Governor, the ORS/ORCC, would still be commiserating over when to have a sit down and discuss the now Ridge Creek School.

Am I angry?  With every breath, and that's "my take."

Abuse, intentional fraud, neglect - is a crime.

An article from an investigation by the Miami Herald and NPR into a Miami Nursing Home, which has alarming parallels including citations, violations, miniscule fines, and ineffective oversight by the state agency. What is not the same is that there were deaths, and no one has been held accountable. "Investigation Finds Dozens Of Questionable Deaths In Florida Assisted Care : NPR" http://http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/