“The entity prospectively operating at that location is a newly established and licensed entity known as Clock Tower Schools. They also batted down the idea shared by some and expressed in West Chester’s letter, that Clock Tower and Glen Mills are one and the same. In response to a WHYY News request for comment, the state departments of education and human resources provided a copy of the letter their secretaries sent to West Chester, days after the request was made, and weeks after West Chester’s letter was received.īoth departments said in the letter that the district’s claims were mostly “unfounded.” “It is unfortunate that representatives of the school district have chosen to focus on perceived obstacles to meeting the needs of this population rather than exploring ways that we can work collaboratively to timely address challenges that all schools are facing in the present environment.” State departments disagree with West Chester’s claims “The Clock Tower Schools is committed to developing a partnership with West Chester Area School District that will enable us to offer a student-centered, trauma-informed, academic, and rehabilitative program designed to address the unique needs of the highly vulnerable population our child residential and day treatment facility will serve,” Zee said. In a written response, Bill Zee, an attorney with Appel, Yost and Zee, the legal firm representing Clock Tower, said the facility has been trying “to rectify several false impressions that appear to exist regarding our capacity to serve students and the timetable under which we will commence operation.” Jubelirer said the facility plans to have five kids on campus when they open and no more than 25 children at any time, in accordance with its license. Jeff Jubelirer, a spokesperson for Clock Tower, told WHYY News in an email that the facility will not open until the “education piece is set.” He said leaders have “no reservations” about calling the facility a school despite not being authorized to provide education services. Clock Tower responds to ‘perceived obstacles’ raised by local school district State officials denied its initial application, but granted them a two-year license with increased monitoring following an appeal. The lawsuit is ongoing against several other defendants, including former employees of Glen Mills and officials with the state departments of education and human services.Ĭlock Tower, which includes eight individuals who worked at Glen Mills and is run by a long-time executive of the school, has been trying to open a program at the site since 2021. They reached a $3 million settlement with Chester County Intermediary Unit, the local educational agency which Faust also represents, in January. Lawyers filed a lawsuit on behalf of Glen Mills students that says in addition to physical and psychological abuse, the school violated students’ educational rights. Two months prior, the Inquirer published an investigation that found employees regularly beat children and covered up the abuse for decades. State officials shut down Glen Mills, once the country’s oldest reform school, in April 2019. “West Chester has to ensure a full educational program, one capable of delivering a full high school curriculum, special education programming, and the needs of English language learners,” Faust said. West Chester is willing and able, he said, but needs more time to essentially build a school from scratch while also dealing with the state’s teacher shortage. Since learning that’s not the case, Faust said the district has been preparing to serve students on campus. “They presented us with a glossy brochure about the school, characterizing it as a trauma-informed educational program,” he said. West Chester still expects to teach students on Clock Tower’s campus based on conversations with facility officials, Faust said Friday.įaust said the district was originally under the impression that Clock Tower would provide its own educational services allowing the district to authorize them as a contractor. WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsorĬhildren won’t necessarily be required to attend school on campus and will be educated in the least restrictive environment possible, both departments said.
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