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West Ridge Academy

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by EarlySquid (talk | contribs) at 20:56, 6 May 2011 (→Leadership and governance: fixed the wording so as not to imply all board members are mormon. The three listed are (see their wikipedia pages identifying them as Mormons.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 20:56, 6 May 2011 by EarlySquid (talk | contribs) (→Leadership and governance: fixed the wording so as not to imply all board members are mormon. The three listed are (see their wikipedia pages identifying them as Mormons.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Private school
West Ridge Academy
Location
West Jordan, Utah, USA
Information
School typeprivate
Denominationnondenominational
DirectorKenneth R. Allen
Age range9 - 17
Enrollment150
Websitehttp://westridgeacademy.com/

West Ridge Academy (known as the Utah Boys Ranch until 2005), is a youth rehabilitation boarding school based in West Jordan, Utah, USA. It seeks to provide clinical services, education, and other programs for teens, both girls and boys, that are identified as at risk. Until 2005, the Utah Boys Ranch was male-only. In early 2005, it opened new, separate facilities for girls and changed its name to West Ridge Academy. It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the name Children and Youth Services, Inc. The academy states that it provides "quality clinical services, education, and experiences which promote spiritual awareness, personal accountability and change of heart."

West Ridge also provides a day program called Sunshine Solutions for underprivileged local kids, age five and up who need summer activities, positive mentors and emotional growth to help them learn how to make good decisions. The school is described in the self-study as “Christian but non-denominational.” West Ridge Academy has also has a men's high school team that competes in basketball, baseball and soccer.

Stated purpose

Currently the stated purpose of the West Ridge Academy is "to offer hope and healing to families" by establishing "new coping skills and moral and spiritual values that will propel them into a more functional and peaceful way of life."

Sports program

West Ridge Academy offers a comprehensive sports program, believing it to be a positive treatment for some students because it offers a chance to form a bond with their teammates. West Ridge Academy have been an official member of the 1A Utah High School Activities Association since 2002 with the boy's varsity athletics. In 2006 West Ridge Academy started the girl's athletics program. West Ridge Academy offers twenty eight different sports for students.

Leadership and governance

The current board of directors includes prominent Mormon Utah residents Shawn Bradley, BYU religion instructor Sally Wyne, and LaVar Christensen. Past board members included Utah Senator Delpha Baird, West Jordan city Judge Ronald Kunz, and police chief Ken McGuire. Stan and Mary Ellen Smoot, and Richard and Linda J. Eyre serve on an advisory board. The current executive director is Kenneth R. Allen, who is also director of Proficio Management, a management company owned by the academy. Since their founding, they state they have helped over 25,000 teens. West Ridge is licensed by the Utah Department of Human Services.. The license of West Ridge Academy is reviewed annually and the organization receives periodic visits from a licensing specialist to monitor and provide technical assistance and to insure compliance with Core and Categorical Rules of Treatment. The Utah Division of Child and Family Services responds to West Ridge Academy upon an allegation of child abuse or neglect.

History

Utah Boys Ranch navigation sign prior to renaming of the facility to West Ridge Academy in 2005

The Utah Boys Ranch was founded by William L. Hutchinson, Lowell L. Bennion and a group of primarily Salt Lake County educators in 1964. Later, leadership changed hands and Utah State Senator Chris Buttars became the executive director and remained so for more than fifteen years before retiring amid controversy.

Litigation and controversy

West Ridge has been the subject of several lawsuits. On May 15, 2008, Tyler Elsey, a former student, filed a lawsuit against the school in Utah District court alleging negligence and sexual abuse. As of June 2009, the case was inactive (the status in the Utah court system is given as "notice of removal").

On April 9, 2010 a lawsuit was filed against West Ridge Academy, its board of directors, and several employees alleging medical malpractice, lack of informed consent, negligence, negligent placement, breach of fiduciary duty, outrageous conduct inflicting emotional distress, fraud, negligent hiring/retention, and breach of warranty. That case is still ongoing.

On January 2, 2009, Eric Norwood, a past student of the academy, published an article alleging abuses and controversial practices at the ranch. On January 9, 2009, Salt Lake City radio station KRCL invited Buttars, current West Ridge staff, and Eric Norwood to the talk show RadioActive! to discuss the article, but Buttars and West Ridge staff declined the invitation. On October 21, 2010 Norwood sued West Ridge Academy in California District court, alleging negligence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. That case is still ongoing.

Although the Academy professes to be nondenominational and open to all regardless of religious affiliation, former students and staff at the academy allege there is a connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church).

References

  1. "Admissions". West Ridge Academy web site.
  2. Ball, Fred (October 3, 2007). "Fred Ball Speaking on Business". KSL Radio Small Business Resource Center. KSL. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
  3. ^ Kristie Campbell, Visit Reports: West Ridge Academy, Strugglingteens.com
  4. "Home page". West Ridge Academy web site.
  5. http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/accred/reports/TeamReports/WestRidgeAcad.pdf
  6. http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/high-school/82/West-Ridge-Academy.html
  7. http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/high-school/stats/team/82/1/West-Ridge-Academy-Boys-Basketball.html
  8. http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/high-school/stats/team/82/7/West-Ridge-Academy-Baseball.html
  9. http://www.deseretnews.com/sports/high-school/stats/team/82/3/West-Ridge-Academy-Boys-Soccer.html
  10. "West Ridge Academy program description". West Ridge Academy web site. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. "List of sports".
  12. ^ "Board of Directors". West Ridge Academy website. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
  13. "West Ridge Academy 2007 tax form 990" (PDF). p. 20.
  14. "Board of Trustees". Web Archive of Utah Boys Ranch website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. "Home page". Proficio Management web site.
  16. "West Ridge Academy 2007 tax form 990" (PDF). p. 8.
  17. "West Ridge Academy Staff". West Ridge Academy. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  18. "West Ridge Academy web site home page". West Ridge Academy web site. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. "UT Admin Code R501-15. Therapeutic Schools". Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. "Utah Department of Human Services licensure records for West Ridge Academy". Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. Orden, Del Van (March 4, 1964). "Boys Ranch In Kearns Nears Reality". Deseret News.
  22. Bradford, Mary Lythgoe (1995). Lowell L. Bennion: Teacher, Counselor, Humanitarian. Dialogue Foundation. pp. 214–215. ISBN 1560850817.
  23. Collins, Lois M. (Jan 22, 1995). "Boys Ranch to dedicate spiritual center Thursday". Deseret News. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  24. Illegal Goings On at the Utah Boys Ranch?. Associated Press. September 27, 2004.
  25. "Elsey v. West Ridge Academy case #2:2008cv00390". Federal District Court Filings. Retrieved 6/12/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  26. "Doe et al v. Children and Youth Services et al case #2:2010cv00313". Federal District Court Filings. Retrieved 5/5/2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  27. Norwood, Eric (2009-01-02). "Trapped In A Mormon Gulag". Orato Media Corp. Retrieved 2009-02-19. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. Gena Edvalson (2009-01-13). "RadioActive! Jan 9 The Mormon Gulag". KRCL RadioActive website. Retrieved 6/9/2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  29. "Eric Norwood v. Children and Youth Services Inc., case #2:2010cv07944". California District Court Filings. Retrieved 4/29/2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  30. http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/accred/reports/TeamReports/WestRidgeAcad.pdf
  31. http://utah.schooltree.org/Salt-Lake-County-Schools.html
  32. http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2006/pdf/146-October06.pdf
  33. Frequently cited examples of this connection with the LDS church include the following:

External links

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