Boonville Daily News

Since Boonville's purchase of the historic Kemper Military School property in April of 2003, a suitable proprietor for the significant real estate parcel has been sought by city officials.

Within the past two weeks, Sarah Gallagher, economic developer, working in conjunction with the city's Industrial Development Authority, announced a "serious offer" by Golden Pond, LLC. Golden Pond has financial-backing from Robert Lichfield, founder of the Utah-based World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, a network of seven schools that provide behavior modification programs for difficult teens.

If the deal is approved by the city, Randall Hinton, 30, has said he will run an accredited, military-style program for children ages 14-18."

According to Hinton, the school will initially open it's doors for boys only, and prospective students will go through a screening process to "make sure we can work with the child," Hinton said. Although he indicated he would open the school with just a single student, Hinton anticipates that enrollment could grow to 300-500 students within two years."

"We will teach principals and appropriate behaviors using Positive Peer Culture (PPC)," explained Hinton. "We also will emphasize the morals, character, discipline, honor and leadership values that were emphasized by Kemper's program.

"PPC is a behavior modification program that is implemented on a daily basis with 'cottage meetings'," said Hinton. "Any problem that a teen has will fit into one of the 12 categories that PPC addresses."

Academics will be addressed using a combination of on-line curriculum - either the Plato or Alpha Omega systems - and certified teachers. Hinton described these programs as very extensive in the core subject areas and said, "the students will be in class six hours a day, six days a week. Instruction will be 80 percent on the computer and 20 percent teacher-led lectures."

In addition to high school diplomas, Hinton plans to offer courses in aviation, food handling, CPR and other areas of vocation training. "How great will it be for our kids to go home with a high school diploma and a pilot's license," he said. "That'd be awesome."

Although a veteran of the controversial WWASPS network, Hinton said Golden Pond will operate this program as an independent venture. Hinton was previously employed as a director of at least two schools, working at the Spring Creek, Carolina Springs and Cross Creek programs, as well as being an owner of the White River boarding school in Puerto Rico. All told, Hinton has been in the teen-help industry for about 10 years.

"WWASPS needs to fix their wagon," Hinton said. "We won't be affiliated with their programs in any way."

WWASPS affiliated schools have been the subject of international abuse allegations, with overseas schools closed by their governments in Costa Rica, Mexico and the Czech Republic. Currently, schools in South Carolina and New York are under investigation. A case against a Utah-based school - Majestic Ranch - was prosecuted by child sexual abuse by the Utah attorney general.

Hinton characterizes his strength as school administration. He stressed that he intends to keep the Kemper heritage, and is seeking alumni support. "We even plan to open up part of the school as a Kemper museum," he said.

To introduce the school to the community, Hinton, accompanied by his brother Russell, and Warren Williams, Russell's brother-in-law, is speaking at civic group meetings and networking through the chamber of commerce.