|
The owners of Bell Academy - Dace Goulding, Jade Robinson, and Karr Farnsworth - repeatedly claimed the facility was not affiliated with WWASPS. However, these facts appear to state otherwise:
And there are the following posts made to the internet message board just for parents of WWASPS "students": "I thought that one of the original reasons that Casa by the Sea was in Mexico was that the laws in California were such that a program of the type of Casa would not be possible...too many regulations requiring the stay be voluntary. I was rather surprised to hear, then, that a facility in California--Bell Academy--was even opening.
I'm not that surprised, therefore, that it is closing. I am more surprised that the owners thought they could make it fly. I understand well how it served the needs of upper levels who had family in California, and how much easier it was for the families. What was the reason that Bell Academy opened in the first place?"
D**** And: "The "owners" as you referred to them were from Casa. The reason it opened was because WWASP wanted a facility in CA to help parents cut costs of travel and also because there are an enormous amount of parents in CA seeking help for their kids. I met with another parent from my area and we are going to do some outreach to CA law makers. Hope you will all join in."
K**** |
TERRA BELLA - Bell Academy officials were told on Wednesday from the California Department of Social Services that they had 15 days to bring their facility in compliance with California state laws. This includes applying for the appropriate license needed to operate a group educational facility.
After the grace period expires, the school will be fined $200 a day for every day it does not comply.
According to state officials, Bell Academy is in violation of a section of the California Health and Safety Code and of California Code of Regulations. Schools are exempt from licensure if they meet certain criteria, including being certified by the state as a school. Bell Academy does not meet the requirements and must be licensed, according to Andrew Roth of the Department of Social Services Public Affairs Office.
"There is no record of them applying for a license with us or with the department of education," Roth said. "They must have a license from us to operate within the law."
The ultimate punitive action that could be taken is closing down the school. Roth said he did not know if things would come to that measure.
The director of the academy, Jade Robinson, was apologetic for negligence on the part of school officials.
"I thought I had taken care of everything," Robinson said. "I didn't know I needed all those other things until I read the story in The Porterville Recorder. The people from DSS said I have 15 days to either apply for a license with them or appeal their decision and to let the Tulare County Office of Education know that we are a school and see if we can be approved by them. That might be a problem with the bad publicity we got."
Robinson said after the investigating team of two representatives from the Department of Social Services and one from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department left, he got information from the Internet about state regulations and applied to an operating group home in the state of California.
"I have an affidavit, which I showed them, and I thought that was all I needed to operate," Robinson said. "Here I am doing the due diligence, taking care of matters with the fire department and the health department, and this happens. I didn't know I needed a license. As far as being affiliated with (World Wide Association of Specialty Programs) I probably misspoke when I said we are part of the organization. We do some things with them, but we are not a member yet. No dues have been paid to them."
Robinson said Bell Academy is independently owned by himself and partners Karr Farnsworth of Utah and Dace Goulding of San Diego. Parents pay a monthly tuition of $3,490 for the children to receive an education on the pristine campus.
Despite this week's development, Robinson said the organization does much more good than bad. He has worked for their programs for nine years, and by far, he said, more families have been helped than have had bad experiences.
Los Robles Elementary School teacher Kelly Paul said her son attends Bell Academy and she is happy with the program.
"My son has been with three WWASP facilities including the Jamaican facility," Paul said. "Now he is at Bell Academy. I have to tell you that the program has been life changing for us. My husband Patrick and I are more than happy with the program and my son loves going to school there. We couldn't be happier with the transformation."
