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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**** |
PORTERVILLE - Bell Academy officials have appealed a citation they received last month for not having the appropriate license to operate their Terra Bella group educational facility.
California Department of Social Services representatives paid a surprise visit to the campus and determined that administrators were in violation of a section of the California Health and Safety Code and the California Code of Regulations.
They were given 15 days to prepare and submit the appropriate documents to be properly registered and licensed, or appeal the decision and advise the Tulare Office of Education that Bell Academy is a school, according to Director Jade Robinson.
At the time, Robinson said he wasn't aware that he needed a license, and fully intended to comply with the laws of the state. He supplied authorities with an affidavit that documented his intentions to establish the academy as an educational facility.
"Now things are pretty much up to the department of social services," Robinson said. "After everything happened, I thought I might have been in the wrong. But when I took a second look, I don't see that. A private boarding school is exempt from licensure. We've put everything out there for them. We've met with them again and I feel good about how the meeting went. Hopefully it will come out that we are not guilty."
Andrew Roth of the department of social services addressed the department's position.
"They were cited for being an unlicensed facility and they appealed the citation," Roth said. "At this point, we are continuing our investigation."
Bell Academy opened under a cloud of controversy because of alleged affiliation with World Wide Association of Speciality Programs, a Utah-based educational system. Robinson has made it clear that, even though he worked for WWASP for nine years, his academy is independently owned. He does use their programs in his curriculum.
Kelly Paul, a teacher at John J. Doyle Elementary School, said she and husband Patrick, an English teacher at Granite Hills High School, are considering transferring their son to the Bell Academy. Thomas Paul is not yet a student at the academy, as previously reported here.
"We are still thinking about transferring him here from Jamaica," Paul said. "Jade (Robinson) is concerned about whether it would be good for him to be in school so close to home. Some real positive things have happened for our son and our family because of WWASP. I know Bell is not a WWASP facility, but they do use the same program. I think they have plans to become a non-denominational Christian school."
Nationally, WWASP officials in various facilities have been accused of a host of charges, from not applying for appropriate licensing in a timely fashion to mistreating students in their care.
Paul said she and her husband have had students from the academy visit their home, and they've gone hiking and participated in other activities together. Patrick Paul said despite those who have negative things to say, he is pleased with the results he has seen so far in the WWASP program.
"I have a lot of faith in the WWASP program as we have seen it," he said. "If Jade's (Robinson) program matches that, we will have the same faith in his program. What we see now is incredible."
