Hidden Lake Academy

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Hidden Lake Academy (HLA) is a behavior modification facility in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Contents

[edit] History

According to the school's website, "Hidden Lake Academy was founded in 1994 by Dr. Len Buccellato in response to the overwhelming need for a specialty school to fill the gap between services of residential treatment centers and traditional boarding schools."

[edit] Population

The current population of the school as of March 6, 2007 is 99 students but seems to be dropping rapidly.[1]

[edit] Students

Students come in as people who have trouble with homework, self-mutilation, depression, anger management, or various addictions. Most of the students are diagnosed with ODD. Students are from international backgrounds, but very few are not from the United States. The student population often ranges from about 100 to 200 students. HLA is SACS-accredited. The school boasts a 96% college acceptance rate, but a mere 38% student retention rate. The staff mostly recommend that the students attend small colleges.

[edit] Levels and Peer Groups

Peer groups, the school's method of Group Therapy groups, start with about 14 students and 2 counselors. Students arrive at all times during the school year. Until 14 students have arrived to form a Peer Group, the students' time at the school does not count and a department known as Intake is responsible for them. Peer Groups are often merged when they have substantially shrunk from their original size. Like other institutions dedicated to modifying behaviors, Hidden Lake Academy puts students through different levels. HLA does not base its levels on progress (with certain exceptions), but time spent; each PG progresses through different levels. The levels are known as Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Galaxy. In the past, the program has ranged from 18-28 months; their website states that their programs now run 18-21 months. Those that do not progress according to HLA's standards are dropped into a newer PG or sent to Ridge Creek temporarily. Postgraduates whom parents wish to stay extra time used to be known as a sixth element (Universe), but are now dropped into other peer groups.

[edit] Ridge Creek

Ridge Creek is a 26-day wilderness-based program owned by Hidden Lake Academy. Two types of students attend Ridge Creek:

a) HLA Students--HLA students are often sent to Ridge Creek as an alternative method of encouraging them to progress therapeutically. When they come back to HLA, they are expected to make up their schoolwork.
b) Nationals--Some students are sent to Ridge Creek for its own wilderness program's sake. If the program does not help them progress to their parents' expectations, they may be sent to HLA or on to other wilderness and/or therapy programs.

[edit] Support

Supporters of Hidden Lake Academy claim there are large positive changes in the behavior of students from their arrival until their departure. Strugglingteens.com, a website which provides information to parents of at-risk youth, has published various supportive material by impressed educational consultants. One parent, Beth Wright, wrote a letter to the Dahlonega Nugget praising HLA's assistance to her child.[2]

[edit] GA General Assembly Resolution 966

On March 19, 2004 the Georgia General Assembly adopted a resolution by Senator Carol Jackson commending Hidden Lake Academy for its "contributions to education in the State of Georgia."[3]

[edit] Criticism

[edit] ISAC Watch List

The International Survivors Action Committee (ISAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating abusive treatment centers, "has received complaints alleging physical and emotional abuse, hazing, unprofessional conduct, unqualified staff, poor supervision of students, and an atmosphere that promotes bullying of younger and/or smaller students" and lists Hidden Lake Academy on its official watch list.[4]

[edit] 2006 Petition for Lawsuit

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

On September 11, 2006 several plaintiffs filed a petition for a federal class action lawsuit against HLA and Len Buccellato on behalf of students who attended the school since January 1, 2000. The case is "J. Ryan, R. Ryan, Doff Meyer, RB, and on behalf of others similarly situated vs. Hidden Lake Academy, Inc; HLA, Inc.; Hidden Lake Foundation, Inc.; and Dr. Leonard Buccellato."

The plaintiffs are clients of Berger & Montague and are represented by Gorby, Reeves, and Peters. According to Berger & Montague's website, the plaintiffs charge that HLA "employed a number of uncertified teachers and unqualified counseling staff; did not employ at times any licensed learning disability specialist or a registered or properly licensed nurse; allowed unlicensed staff such as secretaries to dispense to students prescription medication; enrolled a number court-ordered, violent and severely disturbed children; and overbilled families for a number of items and incidental charges, among other things." These are notably common criticisms among HLA students that haven't completed the program. These are uncommon criticisms from HLA students and their families that graduated the program[citation needed]. The petition has understandably angered some present and former students and parents who "see this as an attempt to close the school rather than pursue truth and justice[citation needed]." Some of them have submitted letters attesting to HLA saving their lives and families from addictions and a sense of hopelessness[citation needed].

HLA defense attorney Martin Quirk responded by saying that it was the result of parents who, after withdrawing their children, were unhappy with not being able to get a refund for the school's tuition.[5] Len Buccellato responded with a letter to parents and consultants stating that "the feelings of the staff at the meetings we have had have ranged from pain as deep as mine to absolute rage that anyone could say those things in light of the countless numbers of students and families we have worked with whose lives have been put back on a positive and productive track...we have been advised by counsel not to comment on the specific allegations at this point and to allow our attorneys respond to the allegations in due course."

Matt Aiken, a disgruntled former staff member at HLA, wrote a front page article about the lawsuit in the local newspaper, the Dahlonega Nugget. Various letters to the editor were later published. Diane Stephenson, a local laywoman highly involved in the Unitarian Universalist Church, wrote of HLA's various contributions to the local community.[6] Reverend Barry Bailey, who often visits the school to teach students about Native American spirituality, wrote a letter about how "[the article]...conveniently forgot that Hidden Lake is a last chance boarding academy that offers objectively-defined teenagers an alternative to prison. Such a school is inherent with risks and the possibility of violence and retaliation."[7]

Headmaster Charles Cates also responded to the article, mentioning that HLA is "considered the premier institute in this area and has a high success rate...[and the lawsuit] apparently relies on erroneous information provided by disgruntled ex-employees."[8] Clarke Poole also sent a letter to the editor.[9] Poole was once the Senior Admissions Coordinator at HLA. He became concerned about the admission of students whom he felt to be dangerous and voiced his concerns to his colleagues. He felt that his "concerns were dismissed and I was routinely admonished for raising them. In February 2006, when I was denied a meeting with school management to address issues of grave concern related to the safety of students, it was ethically incumbent upon me to resign."[10] In his letter to the Nugget, besides outlining his record of involvement with the school, he also attempted to dispel rumors that he was the Admissions Director (as opposed to the Coordinator) and that he was involved with the lawsuit. More recently, HLA replied to the lawsuit, requesting that it be dismissed by the court and filed a counterclaim claiming that the plaintiffs should be obligated to reimburse the school for losses incurred by its involvement in the lawsuit.[11] The hearing to determine if the case qualifies as a class action lawsuit happened on January 31, 2007. The court has ruled that HLA's counterclaim violated Georgia public policy and it has been thrown out of court. The verdict of whether or not the case qualifies as a class action lawsuit is being deliberated.

[edit] HLA's Response to Criticism

[edit] To Parents

Hidden Lake Academy has also attempted to rebuttle criticism from parents. Recently, the Department of Family and Children Services investigated the school but as unable to find any violations. Dr. Cates sent out the following letter:

Dear Parents,
Before the HLA rumor mill kicks in full force, I wanted you to hear directly from me. Occasionally, we have a disgruntled parent who has withdrawn their child contact The Department of Family and Children Services. The Department is required to investigate. Today, DEFACS interviewed several students at HLA. This will undoubtedly be a subject of your student phone calls. The Department of Family and Children Services are not required to tell us about the complaint or who has made the complaint. I do not have further information to share but I did not want you to be overly alarmed by your student phone call. I just wanted you to know that this had occurred so that you heard it from HLA first.

I hope you all know that providing a safe therapeutic and academic environment is our number one priority.

If you have any questions or concerns please call the school.

Charles W Cates, PhD
Headmaster
Hidden Lake Academy

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Hidden Lake Class Action Hangs in Balance" by Matt Aiken
  2. ^ Letter to the Editor: "HLA Did What I Could Not Do" by Beth Wright
  3. ^ GA General Assembly Resolution 966
  4. ^ ISAC Watch List and ISAC's documentation of HLA.
  5. ^ The Dahlonega Nugget's front page article about the lawsuit.
  6. ^ Letter to the Editor: "The Other Side of the Story: The Good HLA Does" by Diane Stephenson
  7. ^ Letter to the Editor: "Hidden Lake Needs Community Support" by Rev. Barry Bailey
  8. ^ Letter to the Editor: "Do Not Judge School Based on Story, Suit" by Charles Cates
  9. ^ Letter to the Editor: "I am Not a Disgruntled HLA Ex-Employee" by Clarke Poole
  10. ^ ibid.
  11. ^ Response to Lawsuit
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