Mount Bachelor Academy
| Mount Bachelor Academy | |
| Address | |
|---|---|
| 33051 NE Ochoco Highway Prineville, Oregon, Crook County, 97754  United States
| |
| Coordinates | 44°27′56″N 120°26′05″W / 44.465628°N 120.434618°WCoordinates: 44°27′56″N 120°26′05″W / 44.465628°N 120.434618°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private therapeutic boarding school |
| Opened | 1987 |
| Closed | 2009 |
| Grades | 8-12[1] |
| Age range | 14-18[2] |
| Accreditation(s) | NAAS[3], PNAIS[4] |
| Affiliations | NATSAP[5] |
| File:MBA Arial.jpg Aerial View of Campus | |
Mount Bachelor Academy (known as MBA) was a private co-educational, therapeutic boarding school providing help to families of adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral disorders including, minor Depressive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Substance abuse, and ADHD as well as help for teenagers and families struggling with adoption issues.[6][7]
Located in the Ochoco National Forest near Prineville, Oregon, United States the campus can accommodate 110 teenagers.[5] The typical student was between 14 and 18 years of age. The average length of stay was 14 to 16 months.[2]
Academics
Mount Bachelor Academy offered a year-round academic curriculum and a low student-to-teacher ratio. MBA was special education approved and recognized by the Oregon Department of Education [1] The school had been accredited through the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools since 1994[3] and also accredited through the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.[4]
History
The school was founded in 1987 by College Health Enterprises under the direction of educator Linda Houghton.[8]. The school was originally to be located in Powell Butte, Oregon but eventually landed at the location of the former Mark's Creek Lodge.[9] The site was at one point intended to be converted into a resort, then a youth camp. Finally it was approved as a private school to accommodate 60 students. It was expanded a number of times until it reached its current capacity.[10] Around 1998, College Health Enterprises spun off MBA and a handful of other facilities into the company that became Aspen Education Group.[9]
In March 1998, four ex-employees and two parents alleged that high-risk students attending Mount Bachelor Academy were deprived of sleep, subjected to obscenity-laced tirades and forced to work in near-freezing temperatures overnight.[11] The Oregon Department of Human Services cleared the program at MBA following their investigation.[12]
In December 1998, 17 year old Brandon H. died outside the facility. The death was investigated by the Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and the Crook County Coroner’s office and ruled a suicide.[13]
In December 2007, a search was conducted for a group of teenagers and staff members, which had been delayed by snow during a wilderness trip. The "very well-equipped" group of 10 campers and 3 staff with wilderness survival training and experience, including wilderness "first-responder" training reported in by cell phone and returned without incident[14]
In June 2008, an Oregon state licensing inspector visited Mount Bachelor Academy during license renewal. The inspectors report stated the school had "a lot of outdoor activities, a seasoned staff and a program that requires parents to be involved".[15]
On March 31, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) sends "confusing" letter to parents of students at MBA suggesting they prepare to move their children out of the school. MBA receives hundreds of letters of support from parents and alumni. State later notifies parents that "there is no imminent threat of closing MBA".[16]
In April 2009, the school became the target of an investigation into allegations of child abuse. A Time online article appears to imply that the U.S. Supreme Court case, Forest Grove v. TA, is related to the investigation being conducted by the DHS.[12]
In June 2009, after hearing arguments in the case Forest Grove School District v. T.A., the U.S. Supreme Court hands down a decision affirming that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act covers a claim for reimbursement made against a public school system for a student diagnosed with disabilities and subsequently enrolled at MBA.[17][18]
On November 3, 2009, the Oregon Department of Human Services suspended MBA's operating license and ordered the school's temporary closure due to findings of child abuse and neglect.[19][20]. In parallel, DHS provides the Crook County Sheriff's Office with the report of their investigation. The Crook County Sheriff's Office Operations Commander reported that DHS had not made him aware of their [7 month long] investigation - something he felt was out of the ordinary. The commander was quoted as saying "It's an unusual investigation not to include the Sheriff's Office if they're looking at criminal charges."[21]
On November 9, 2009, Aspen Education Group announced that the school would close permanently by December 9, 2009.[22]
Program
The roots of the therapeutic curriculum originated at CEDU [9] and incorporate elements of the therapeutic community or milieu therapy model. The history of CEDU is largely the history of the development of parent-choice, private-pay residential programs. A significant number of the schools in the Emotional Growth/Therapeutic schools industry were developed or strongly influenced by people who were originally inspired by their CEDU experience.[23] The principles on which the MBA program was founded include Soul Searching and Emotional Growth.[24]
Self Study
- Described as discipline for running away or breaking other codes (agreements), a self-study is being left alone to do some soul-searching assignments.[24]
LifeSteps
- In 1994 LifeSteps were described as follows: Intended to foster emotional growth and civic responsibility, LifeSteps encourage students to examine personal values and adopt positive self identities. LifeSteps are describes as intense workshops some lasting a day to three days. The La Mancha LifeStep is an 18 day field trip.[24]
Original 19xx through Spring 2009 Transition Workshops* Note First Step -The Truth eliminated The Bridge The Bridge Transition one Forever Young Forever Young Transition two The Castle eliminated The Promise The Promise Transition three Venture I Venture Venture II eliminated La Mancha La Mancha no longer a LifeStep Veritas Veritas
References
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag;
parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
 | This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive and inappropriate external links. (December 2009) |
- MBA School Newspaper
- A Brief Look Inside MBA: Day 1A and Part 2, A two part, student produced video.
- Sage Ryan Graduation Speech
- MBA dorm tour 2009
- MBA - A Student's Perspective
- The last graduating class
- Phase Two: Family Creates Safe Place to Overcome Addiction
- EX-EMPLOYEES, PARENTS SAY TEENS MISTREATED AT PRIVATE ACADEMY, The Columbian, Marts 19 1998.
- Emergency Suspension, Department of Human services, November 2, 2009
- Complaint and order to correct conditions not in conformity with the licensing standards, Department of Human services, November 2, 2009
- Background Information: Mt. Bachelor Academy - Children, Adults and Families Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, November 2, 2009
- Pages with broken file links
- Wikipedia external links cleanup from December 2009
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- Wikipedia spam cleanup from December 2009
- Therapeutic community
- Psychotherapy
- Behavior modification
- Crook County, Oregon
- Boarding schools in Oregon
- Middle schools in Oregon
- High schools in Oregon
- Special schools in the United States
- Educational institutions disestablished in 2009
- Defunct schools in Oregon
- 2Fix
