Fornits

Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy => Topic started by: Jill Ryan on July 07, 2011, 08:06:13 PM

Title: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Jill Ryan on July 07, 2011, 08:06:13 PM
WHOOTER MAY NOT POST ALONG WITH AFFILATE ENTITIES AND PARODIES INCLUDING ED KAHN, JON/JOHN HUNTSMAN, FRED THOMPSON, ET AL.  RULES, PROGRAM, AND AFFILATE ENTITIES AND PARODIES MAY NOT POST.

TAKEN FROM:  http://http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/2011/07/breaking-news-ridge-creek-school-my-fox.html

NEW FEED :  http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I-Team-Ridge-Creek-School-20110708-am-sd


Quote
JULY 7, 2011 -      I-Team Reporter Randy Travis will present an expose' on Ridge Creek School at 10PM EST.
To watch on the Internet: General Fox Live Streaming  of 10 PM broadcast at:  http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/subindex/news/live_videoAfter airtime the story shall be posted at:
http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/subindex/news/iteam or
http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/The I-Team looks forward to your comments!
"For the children left behind," our heartfelt thanks to Randy  Travis and the I-Team.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Ursus on July 07, 2011, 09:42:23 PM
Quote
I-Team Reporter Randy Travis will present an expose' on Ridge Creek School at 10PM EST.
Well now... it's about time!
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: jaak1001 on July 07, 2011, 10:43:20 PM
Just saw the I-Team report and thought it was a good overview of the problems that are being covered up by the school. Randy needs to do a follow-up in depth investigation to really expose this place for what it is.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: DEE on July 07, 2011, 11:34:27 PM
I'm not much of a Fox News fan, but I thought this was an excellent report. Hopefully, Fornits readers will go to the Fox website where this story and the video is posted and comment, urging Randy Travis, the reporter, to do a follow-up report on how Bucchi has been able to keep all this covered up for so many years, going into his contacts with state regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and those highly placed in the judiciary. This is a conspiracy of the first order, and this will have him and those whose strings he pulls on the defensive. But we all know from experience he has hidden cards up his sleeve, and money in his pocket. He's probably out right now trying to buy all the "friends" he can purchase. We need Fox to drop another bomb on the little bastard while he's on the run.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Inculcated on July 08, 2011, 12:21:52 AM
Little help please, I’ve tried both of the after airtime I-team links, but I can’t find this report.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Jill Ryan on July 08, 2011, 08:41:38 AM
Quote from: "Inculcated"
Little help please, I’ve tried both of the after airtime I-team links, but I can’t find this report.

This might help.  The feed was messed up last night and weak. http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I-Team-Ridge-Creek-School-20110708-am-sd
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Dysfunction Junction on July 08, 2011, 09:19:53 AM
This was a pretty good piece.  I think it didn't convey the the degree to which children are endangered not only by the population there, but also by the program itself which is pure quackery.

Len looked like he was a hundred years old, fat, bloated and unwell.  Man, he has gone downhill fast.
Title: I-Team: Ridge Creek School
Post by: Ursus on July 08, 2011, 10:09:38 AM
Here's what there is... I couldn't find it last night either. Publication time stamp appears to be earlier this morning:

-------------- • -------------- • --------------

I-Team: Ridge Creek School (http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I-Team-Ridge-Creek-School-20110708-am-sd#)

Published : Friday, 08 Jul 2011, 5:41 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, 08 Jul 2011, 5:53 AM EDT


(http://http://media2.myfoxatlanta.com//photo/2011/07/08/0708iteamridge5a_20110708055315_320_240.JPG)

ATLANTA - Parents and former employees say a school for troubled teens is doing more harm than good. The allegations come in official complaints to the state and lawsuits filed against the owner of Ridge Creek School in Dahlonega.

I-Team reporter Randy Travis says the problems came to a head in January when authorities say students there started a riot. Click the video to view the full report.

VIDEO: I-Team: Ridge Creek School (http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=10588)


TM and (c) 2010 Fox Television Stations, Inc., and its related entities.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Jill Ryan on July 08, 2011, 10:36:14 AM
Quote from: "Dysfunction Junction"
This was a pretty good piece.  I think it didn't convey the the degree to which children are endangered not only by the population there, but also by the program itself which is pure quackery.

Len looked like he was a hundred years old, fat, bloated and unwell.  Man, he has gone downhill fast.

Agreed, but this story took months of work and years to bring forth as you well know.  It will all come out now. The third week in June, Georgia's GAO went into Ridge Creek.  They are federally mandated and have access to all state-wide records.  

At least the "mini-riot" or non riot was exposed for what it was and the 911 call logs reflected 61 between 2009-2011 which included 21 runaways, distribution of 4 civil suit papers, 2 riots, battery, ems, unruly child, etc made up the rest.  The Sheriff was not forthcoming about this, although I give him credit for admitting the suicide attempts by hanging were not reported; this also shows the ORCC lied and was not forthcoming regarding the 105 citations and the ORCC stating that only 7 were an egregious enough of a violation to warrant adverse action.  The reports do not lie.  The attempted suicides by hangings received nominal grading on the Matrix scale applied.  They revoked Downing Clark for far less and grades the same violations far higher on the scale. For reference, there are two articles, see Downing Clark at http://http://www.jilliestake.blogspot.com

The liens Randy Travis produced were not all of them.  Two more lawsuits have been filed, although small in Magistrate Court, with more to follow.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: DannyB II on July 09, 2011, 05:30:32 PM
Jill, job well done and to all that worked tirelessly to shut these hell holes down. I find it commendable that you folks (Jill and others) keep going after the powers to be and holding them accountable.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Guest3 on July 09, 2011, 06:41:11 PM
If you are a current/former student, parent, or employee of RCS or HLA and would like Fox to hear your story, please email Randy Travis:

[email protected]
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Inculcated on July 10, 2011, 02:48:22 PM
Quote from: "Jill Ryan"
Quote from: "Dysfunction Junction"
This was a pretty good piece.  I think it didn't convey the the degree to which children are endangered not only by the population there, but also by the program itself which is pure quackery.

Len looked like he was a hundred years old, fat, bloated and unwell.  Man, he has gone downhill fast.

Agreed, but this story took months of work and years to bring forth as you well know.  It will all come out now. The third week in June, Georgia's GAO went into Ridge Creek.  They are federally mandated and have access to all state-wide records...  

Quote from: "Guest3"
If you are a current/former student, parent, or employee of RCS or HLA and would like Fox to hear your story, please email Randy Travis: [email protected]
Well done, all. This is a story that needs to be told and told until it is history. And what seems like a whole other story & perhaps someone might have insights into the whys of this, but WTF re: the ORCC and the ineffectual (to the point of seeming negligently derelict in their duties) non-action thus far? Is it too much to hope the GAO purview extends into investigating that?
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: FreeOfCC on July 11, 2011, 10:13:22 PM
Quote from: "Jill Ryan"
WHOOTER MAY NOT POST ALONG WITH AFFILATE ENTITIES AND PARODIES INCLUDING ED KAHN, JON/JOHN HUNTSMAN, FRED THOMPSON, ET AL.  RULES, PROGRAM, AND AFFILATE ENTITIES AND PARODIES MAY NOT POST.

TAKEN FROM:  http://http://jilliestake.blogspot.com/2011/07/breaking-news-ridge-creek-school-my-fox.html

NEW FEED :  http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/iteam/I-Team-Ridge-Creek-School-20110708-am-sd


Quote
JULY 7, 2011 -      I-Team Reporter Randy Travis will present an expose' on Ridge Creek School at 10PM EST.
To watch on the Internet: General Fox Live Streaming  of 10 PM broadcast at:  http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/subindex/news/live_videoAfter airtime the story shall be posted at:
http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/subindex/news/iteam or
http://http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/The I-Team looks forward to your comments!
"For the children left behind," our heartfelt thanks to Randy  Travis and the I-Team.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: FreeOfCC on July 11, 2011, 10:34:52 PM
Quote from: "Inculcated"
Quote from: "Jill Ryan"
Quote from: "Dysfunction Junction"
This was a pretty good piece.  I think it didn't convey the the degree to which children are endangered not only by the population there, but also by the program itself which is pure quackery.

Len looked like he was a hundred years old, fat, bloated and unwell.  Man, he has gone downhill fast.

Agreed, but this story took months of work and years to bring forth as you well know.  It will all come out now. The third week in June, Georgia's GAO went into Ridge Creek.  They are federally mandated and have access to all state-wide records...  

Quote from: "Guest3"
If you are a current/former student, parent, or employee of RCS or HLA and would like Fox to hear your story, please email Randy Travis: http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/p ... 711_.shtml (http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/RidgeCreekBN_110711_.shtml)
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Jill Ryan on July 12, 2011, 01:52:22 AM
Not to worry.  Patience is thinning, but all in good time.  The GAO is investigating.  There is no possible way that the Advanc-Ed (SACS) Accreditation Team paid a thorough visit on February 8th and 9th of 2011.  If indeed they did tour the entire facility, checked records, check the educational programs (including Special Education for the IEP and 504 students that the school markets to and admits), checked teacher certifications and rosters,  and the fiscal viability of this facility, the accreditation would not have happened - probationary accreditation would not be so much of an embarassment. Did they ever find Quirk and Quirk's infamous "lab"  blunder?

First, the Advanc-Ed team would have noticed that there were broken windows everywhere and boarded up as the windows were not replaced at that time.  According to Advanc-Ed, the "team" was not aware of the January event/riot.  Obviously, if the "team" toured the school, it could not have been missed. So which is it?  Horseblinders?

Reports are coming from agencies and parents that the facility looks unkempt, run-down, dorms are filthy, mold again, boarded up broken windows, and  that the fire damage from 2007  has never been remedied.

Second, if the accreditation "team" bothered to check, they would have found that there was no DIrector of Academics, which is a requirement for accreditation.  Did they meet up with a sockpuppet?  Advanc-Ed still has Mr. Donald Mull's summary on their web-site and he quit last year.  There was no Assistant Director of Academics, and there certainly was no certified Special Education teacher.  Again the "Visual Arts" certified teacher that quit, only had a "consultative" Special Education certification. They had all resigned. According to the GAPSC, one of the teachers has a lapsed certification since 2009 and another touts a  "Life Certificate" that the GAPSC has no record of, and stopped issuing after 1974.  So which is it?   More importantly, how was this missed?  Too much wining and dining again?  Advanc-Ed (SACS) has stated that since our last hurrah with SACS in 2005 over this same garbage, the facilities can no longer request their own reviewers.  Duh, ya think? What a welcome monumental leap.

Third - Out-of-state IEP and 504' students come under the ICPC -  Was adherence to this checked before allowing accreditation? It is certainly unusual to transport Special Needs children across state lines to a Special Needs Edcuational Program that does not exist...

Fourth - Although Advanc-Ed (Sacs) is a private company, and fought being held to GORA(Georgia Open Records Act), the last few years they state they are opening up to more transparency. Perfect timing to err big time.  If Advanc-Ed does this, they will have much explaining to do to make SACS accreditation a worthy score.  Either way, after Ridge Creek Schools  "rebuttal," er, marketing gesture to the FOX NEWS I-TEAM REPORT blaming parents for Ridge Creek's admission of inappropriate plebes ,it shall be interesting to see if Advanc-Ed steps up to the plate, or they attempt to blame Mr. Rogers.
Title: Ridge Creek Responds To Fox 5 Report
Post by: Ursus on July 13, 2011, 11:31:38 PM
"we are here for the children"[/list]

Geeeezz... Ya really think so, at this point?  :beat:

-------------- • -------------- • --------------

Breaking News
Posted: Jul 11, 2011 09:34

Ridge Creek School
Dahlonega, GA 30533


Ridge Creek Responds To Fox 5 Report (http://http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/RidgeCreekBN_110711_.shtml)

Contact:
Scott Smith
706 867-4730
http://www.ridgecreekschool.com (http://www.ridgecreekschool.com)

July 8, 2011

The mission of Ridge Creek School is to provide a successful learning experience for students who have struggled academically or socially in other settings. We provide an opportunity for teens to turn their lives around after other interventions have failed. We do this through the cooperative effort of our academic department, counseling department, recreation department, and the parents of the students placed in our care.

Ridge Creek School admits students on a case-by-case basis and evaluates every potential admission in an effort to screen out inappropriate placements. We rely on the openness of parents to inform us of their child's psychosocial history, including history of violence and legal charges, current, past, or pending. Sometimes parents do not completely reveal to us their children's problems in their desperation to save their child. Despite this, and the challenges it brings to the integration of the child into the student body, once admitted we are focused on helping that teen be as successful as possible in completing both their therapeutic and academic goals.

Overall, prior outcome studies have clearly demonstrated our effectiveness in helping teens move away from their self-destructive life course toward futures bright with promise. We have found that the best outcomes came with students who competed the therapeutic curriculum and graduated from our program. Students who were withdrawn early, prior to completing the program, did not do as well.

Ridge Creek School is an accredited college preparatory high school. Our review on February 8 and 9, 2011, by AdvancED (formerly known as SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) resulted in a 5 year reaccreditation. The Quality Assurance Review Team commended the school for the following strengths: "In light of the fact that Ridge Creek School is in large part a "last chance" opportunity for the students, the commitment of all staff to the success of students is remarkable." "All stakeholders repeatedly provided dialogue referencing incredible passion for student success required daily by each staff member. The interviewees shared numerous success stories about students who have made successful transitions extending beyond RCS. Although the students stated that they would certainly rather be someplace else, when they were asked this question, "Three to five years from now, will you look back on this as a positive experience?" a resounding and unified voice of "yes" echoed throughout the room." 'The staff has electronic access to student data to effectively address the academic needs of students and guide instruction."

"Teachers and counselors work collaboratively to address the therapeutic and academic needs of each student by means of the Individual Service Plan (ISP). The school uses the BestNotes program to identify a student's academic and therapeutic needs based on past history. Teachers use the ISP as a resource to implement interventions and differentiate instruction to ensure the academic success of students. Students are given multiple opportunities to pass required courses by means of academic support sessions and course extensions."

"RCS effectively uses data obtained from pre-tests to ensure that students are properly placed and given opportunities to achieve educational goals." "The beautiful, pristine, and remote wilderness setting of RCS provides a unique environment for the therapeutic, academic, and recreational services available for students, while providing opportunities for students to participate in athletic, cultural, and service sports/projects." "The school uses multiple modes of communication to keep all stakeholders involved in the continuous improvement process."

The suggestions for improvement made by AdvancED included scheduling interdepartmental meetings, the creation of a curriculum map to assist with guiding instruction, engage in a comprehensive process to monitor the effectiveness of the educational program provided using a system of ongoing data analysis of both formative and summative student assessment results, and develop a Continuous Quality Improvement Committee to address issues of staff/student retention, outcome measurements for therapeutic and academic components, and alignment of the school's future direction/goals. We have implemented some of the suggestions made and are in the process of developing better quality assurance processes.

We are very proud of our students at Ridge Creek. Many come to us with academic failure after academic failure, but they learn to be successful here. All of the students who received their high school diploma from Ridge Creek in May were accepted into college. A young man who is slated to graduate at the conclusion of our summer semester not only was accepted to the school of his choice, but he was also awarded a $40,000.00 scholarship.

Our students come to us as spiteful, oppositional, defiant teens. They learn through various service projects that they can make a difference in the lives of others. They volunteer regularly at the Humane Society, local food pantries, local homeless shelters, and take responsibility for keeping a stretch of highway clear of litter. Through giving back through service projects to the community at large or to the campus community, our students learn to look beyond themselves.

Family involvement is critical in the success of our program. We offer parent workshops to help our parents develop more effective ways of interacting with their child. Our students and families report successful interactions within the family unit during our break weeks, something that many families didn't believe would be possible.

As our students move through the program, they take on a sense of ownership for their actions and stop blaming others for their problems. This sense of ownership results in the students holding one another accountable. Our students began and took ownership for an on campus NA meeting and this ownership is evidenced by the successful reduction of drug and alcohol use during our break weeks and the reduction in attempts to smuggle in contraband. There are many other small and large successes that lead our students toward a bright and promising future.

One of our recent graduates had this to say about Ridge Creek: "While this is a new chapter in my life, it's just the beginning and because of Ridge Creek it's not the end." Another stated, "what I will leave here saying is I never thought I would be standing here feeling this proud of myself, thank you mom and dad, I love you. And even though I hated this school to the end, it really worked."

The recent report on Atlanta's Fox 5 television station was biased and reflected the opinions of two disgruntled individuals. We chose to not be interviewed because of our commitment to professional standards of confidentiality and privacy of our students and parents. We continue to be committed to the mission of the school, our students, and parents. We stand by the successes we see every day despite those who would undermine the future of the school and our students. Most importantly, we are here for the children.


Copyright ©2010, Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Title: Re: MY FOX ATLANTA - TONIGHT 10 PM BROADCAST
Post by: Guest3 on July 17, 2011, 09:48:47 PM
Hey Scott - care to comment on whether or not your paycheck came through on Friday?