A private residential school in western Massachusetts for boys with autism and behavioral disorders has been placed on probation by the state.
The Berkshire Eagle reports the state Department of Early Education and Care said in a Feb. 17 notice of sanctions that it had become aware of a pattern of physical and emotional abuse of residents by some staff at The Eagleton School in Great Barrington.
Five staffers were recently arrested and charged in an investigation into the abuse of students.
The notice says school officials allegedly tried to avoid investigation by not reporting the scope and extent of residents' injuries to authorities.
It also says the school has taken corrective steps by firing staffers accused of abuse.
Eagleton's attorney says the school continues to cooperate.
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In response to an interview request Eagleton attorney Kathleen McCormick sent the following statement.
"Eagleton School continues to cooperate with the Department of Early Education and Care and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dr. Charles Conroy, Ed.D. and outside counsel are on site each week, working with Eagleton staff to address the concerns that have been articulated by State Agencies."
"Our continued focus is to how we can provide the very best services to this vulnerable group of children. We are committed to working with the State to improve services at the School," said Bruce Bona, the Executive Director of Eagleton.
Eagleton brought on Conroy, the former head of the Doctor Franklin Perkins School in Lancaster, Mass. as a consultant earlier this month.
UPDATE AT 3:30 EST MARCH 1: The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the following statement regarding the sanctions and probationary status imposed upon Eagleton School on Feb. 17 which took effect immediately.
"In order to ensure the safety and well-being of the students at the Eagleton School, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) have taken enforcement action against the Eagleton School due to the school's failure to comply with regulations and requirements for residential programs and private schools that serve children with special needs.
The Department of Early Education and Care, which licenses Eagleton's residential facilities, imposed sanctions on all seven of Eagleton's licenses to operate, and ESE placed the Eagleton School's private special education program on probationary status. The Department of Early Education and Care's sanctions impact Eagleton's administration, enrollment and operations, and require that Eagleton: cease enrollment of new residents and students; retain an EEC-approved consultant for at least six months to address EEC's findings of non-compliance and sanctions contained in EEC's legal order; hire an EEC-approved Program Director; hire an Independent Reviewer of Investigations, Independent Restraint Reviewer, Independent Medical Physician, and additional clinical and program staff; appoint three additional members to Eagleton's Advisory Board; and revise its policies on supervision of residents, mandated reporting of abuse or neglect of children, and internal investigation procedures.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education placed Eagleton School's special education program on probationary status based on ESE’s judgment that the grave concerns about health and safety and regulatory compliance at the school compromise the program’s ability to provide a safe, healthy, and appropriate educational environment, as required by the state’s special education regulations. Eagleton School’s special education program will remain on probationary status during the pendency of the EEC order.
The Eagleton School will be subject to continued monitoring and unannounced visits by state agencies including EEC and ESE, daily and monthly reporting requirements, and other oversight measures to determine the school's full compliance with regulations, required policies, and the required corrective actions. Families, sending school districts, and placement agencies of the enrolled children are being notified of these sanctions and the school's probationary status. The Departments of Early Education and Care and Elementary and Secondary Education may take additional measures if warranted by the ongoing investigations of Eagleton by state agencies and law enforcement."
