|
Academy at Ivy Ridge closing, will
'restructure' operations
March 13, 2009
By Max R. Mitchell
OGDENSBURG -- The
Academy at Ivy Ridge will close for several months starting Saturday
to "restructure" its operations, school officials announced
Thursday.
All students and
most of the employees will be removed temporarily from the
Ogdensburg boarding school until it is reopened in the fall,
according to academy Director Ann Morley. She did not elaborate on
what the changes at the academy will be.
"This was just
decided this past week, so we're going to sit down and have some
conversations and look at some things," she said. "It's just that
while we re structure, we wanted the kids out of the facility."
The school has
about 60 students and 38 faculty members. All will be sent either
home or to similar boarding schools across the country, Mrs. Morley
said.
About 10
employees will remain at the facility to plan the changes, Mrs.
Morley said. The employees will include administrators and ground
crews who will maintain the facilities, she said.
There are no
plans to sell the property or facilities, she said. Mrs. Morley
declined to comment on the reasons behind restructuring, but said
there had been discussions about changes to the school for a while.
"We have been in
contact with all the parents. They are very sad that we're going to
do this for a little bit, but they look forward to the reopening,"
Mrs. Morley said. "I know for a fact the academy is not closing."
The school, which
is geared toward teens with behavioral problems, has had a troubled
history since opening in 2002 at the former Mater Dei College on
Route 37. In 2005, a state investigation into the school's
accreditation resulted in the school paying $1.65 million in refunds
and fines. The ruling also took away the school's right to issue
diplomas. A riot at the school that same year led to 40 students
being expelled.
Enrollment soon
dropped from about 500 to fewer than 100, and the school's work
force was cut from about 250 to 110.
In 2006 the state
Education Department rejected the school's application to be
registered as a nonpublic secondary school, citing academic program
deficiencies and health and safety concerns.
Also that year,
26 parents and former students filed a lawsuit claiming they were
fooled into believing the school was licensed to award New York high
school diplomas. In May the group was denied class-action status for
the suit.
Co-owner and
Executive Director Jason G. Finlinson was not available for comment
Thursday.
The Academy at
Ivy Ridge is part of the World Wide Association of Specialty
Programs and Schools, a Utah-based company founded by Robert B.
Lichfield.
Copyright 2009
Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
|
