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May 31, 2005
Academy Faces
Uncertain Future: Riot, Allegations of Mistreatment Drive Down
Enrollment
By Julie Goodman
jgoodman@clarionledger.com
J. Fountain
Enrollment at the
troubled Eagle Point Christian Academy in Lucedale has dropped from
about 100 to 78 cadets this year since the school quelled a riot and
kicked out a group of offending students.
Other students at
the former Bethel Boys Academy were yanked out by parents concerned
about safety at the school, which has been defending itself against
allegations of mistreatment.
The academy's
director, John Fountain, said he has not admitted any students since
the April riot which landed nine students in detention and left the
school with significant property damage. He said his staff is
undergoing more training, and he is trying to get the school back in
order.
Asked whether he
could sustain the school financially with the drop in enrollment,
Fountain said he is unsure.
"I don't know.
We'll see. I hope so," he said, but then added the setback is "just
a bump in the road."
Parents of former
students at the school have alleged abuse, and some have filed suit.
Many of the
allegations came while the academy was under the direction of Herman
Fountain, John Fountain's father, who was forced by a court to
relinquish all interest in the school.
While his son has
made improvements and detailed a plan to turn the school around,
allegations of mistreatment have continued.
George County Chief
Deputy Sheriff J.D. Mitchell said his department hasn't received any
reports of problems at the academy since the riot.
But at least one
parent has complained.
When Loretta
Trawinski and her husband, Ed, of suburban Detroit, became concerned
about their 15-year old son's lying and stealing, they looked into
opportunities for help and decided on the military-style school in
Lucedale.
But the Trawinskis
became worried after they heard about the riot and continued reports
of mistreatment, including parents who said their children returned
home with injuries from overzealous drill instructors.
"I don't know what
to believe or what not to believe," she said at the time.
They recently
showed up unannounced at the academy — armed with pepper spray — and
pulled their son, Paul, out of the school.
Ed Trawinski said
their son complained he was underfed and overworked at the academy,
and forced to focus more on manual labor than schoolwork.
He said Paul
Trawinski was forced to help repair windows that were broken in the
riot and to help fix a pool on the campus.
"I'm not paying
three grand a month for them to use my son as a carpenter," he said.
"Yes, you should keep them busy, but it ain't his fault that this
place got all torn up."
John Fountain
dismisses the allegations, saying all cadets are required to do
chores.
More intensive
work, such as mowing the lawn, is done on a volunteer basis only. He
said he had students help with the riot repairs because they were
responsible for the damage but was unable to explain why Paul
Trawinski was included in the punishment.
And John Fountain
said his mother, the cook at the school, has always provided plenty
of food for the students.
The school hired
additional security after the riot. Tony Best, vice president of
Mississippi Security Police Inc., said his company promptly
dismissed one drill instructor for "aggressive" behavior, which he
described as pushing cadets.
"Either they're
going to be on board with us, or they're going to be gone," Best
said.
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