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Round up: A look
at residential schools in
New England
VERMONT
(October
2004 Issue)
In Vermont, the past year has brought one major school opening
and a closing, according to Pat Pallas-Gray, special education department
spokesperson.
She says, "Bromley Brook is the big news. We think it's a valuable
addition for Vermont." Owned by Aspen Education Group, Bromley Brook
is Vermont's first all-girl boarding school for "under achieving"
teens ages 13 to 18.
Located on a seven-acre campus in Manchester and opened in September,
the school combines academics with individual student counseling.
Aspen Chief Executive Officer Elliot Sainer says the school will
differ from other all-girl boarding schools, noting that many schools
that offer counseling tend not to focus as strongly on academics.
"Our belief is that a school should provide an equal balance of
both," he says, "striving for high academic achievement while providing
an emotional foundation of support that builds self-esteem and character."
Each Bromley Brook student will be provided with an individual
learning plan based on her abilities. These abilities will be determined
through pre-placement tests and assessments. A psychologist, consulting
psychiatrist and clinicians that give individual counseling and
formal therapy provide clinical support.
Pallas-Gray says that a school closing occurred this year as well.
The Phoenix Academy at Mountain View shut its doors. "It's my understanding
that the parent company didn't renew the contracts of the residential
staff," she says. "And you can't operate without a staff."
Phoenix Academy had been a residential long-term treatment facility
for adolescents with substance abuse issues and closed in April
after 14 of 21 staff members quit following what its parent company
Phoenix House says was an "internal dispute."
The Academy had been in operation for 16 years and was the only
residential treatment facility in Vermont for addicted teens.
David Cote, spokesperson for the Vermont Health Department, noted
at the time that a new facility in Bradford would be opened later
this year and would take the place of Phoenix Academy in meeting
residential treatment needs.
Elizabeth Millard
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