20080215 19730215 The Carroll Record: The Bowling Brook Story: Benefactor Relied On Trustees' Discretion

This day in history 35 years ago:

The Bowling Brook Story: Benefactor Relied On Trustees' Discretion

The Carroll Record, February 15, 1973

In the legal confrontation last week, Judge Weant denied the petition of James J. Wolfe, a heir of Raymond Richardson, for the removal of the Trustees.

Sweeping aside the legal mask covering the actions of Mr. Wolfe, Judge Weant said, "It seems rather ironic that petitioner Wolfe is complaining that the trustees are attacking the Raymond I. Richardson Foundation while at the same time the petitioner appears to be pursuing a course which, if successful, would in all probability cause the termination of the Raymond I. Richardson Foundation.

In any event, it is the opinion of this court that the matters and facts before us to this date do not establish sufficient grounds, either mandatory or discretionary, to sustain the removal of the trustees and the petition will be denied."

The court, after vindicating Miller Richardson and the other trustees, asked for further evidence showing that the license would be revoked and that Bowling Brook would be closed by the State of Maryland if the admissions policy is not changed.

The Carroll Record, February 15, 1973.

NBH

20080129 Judge drops all charges in Bowling Brook death

Judge drops all charges in Bowling Brook death

6 were charged with reckless endangerment in death of teen last year

By a Sun reporter, 5:55 PM EST, January 29, 2008 baltimoresun.com

A Hat Tip goes to Carroll County Times reporter Ryan Marshall, who put a “breaking news” alert on the Carroll County Times web site, but did not go into details… “Judge drops all charges in Bowling Brook case” Posted 4:17 p.m. By Ryan Marshall, Times Staff Writer Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun is reporting:

A Carroll County judge dropped charges today against five counselors indicted in the death of an East Baltimore teen at a school for juvenile offenders, saying a failure to call 911 promptly did not meet the definition of reckless endangerment.

Each had been indicted on one count of reckless endangerment in the death last year of Isaiah Simmons, 17, at the privately run Bowling Brook Preparatory School.

Read the rest here: Judge drops all charges in Bowling Brook death

Related:

Central Maryland Regional Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook

Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale

Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy

P. O. BOX 100

Keymar, MD 21757

http://www.bowlingbrookprep.org/

“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=789755&CategoryID=18298&on=1

“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook”

“Soundtrack” blog posts and information about support for Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy, Keymar, Carroll County MD: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/search?q=Bowling+Brook

(Bowling Brook mission statement from web site:

http://www.bowlingbrookprep.org/) “To provide quality residential and education services to male adolescent offenders while helping these same young men make positive changes in their lives. We are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to learning. Our results oriented program focuses on education and providing students with the means of creating and sustaining real life changes through behavior modification and life learning skills. This personal achievement will lead students to successful re-integration into the community.”

Letters supporting Bowling Brook can be mailed to:

The Honorable Governor Martin O’Malley

Office of the Governor

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

The Honorable Secretary Donald W. DeVore

Maryland Juvenile Services

One Center Plaza, 120 W. Fayette Street

Baltimore, MD 21201.

20070424 Indicted Bowling Brook counselors surrender

Lieutenant Phil Kasten: Indicted Bowling Brook counselors surrender

Carroll County Sheriff's Department

Posted Apr 24, 2007

“Indicted Bowling Brook counselors surrender; released on personal recognizance”

Apr 24, 2007 11:44 AM

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, April 24, 2007 ---- Through their attorneys, the six (6) Bowling Brook counselors indicted this past week in connection with the death of 17-year-old Isaiah Simmons have surrendered to sheriff’s detectives as part of the arrest process. This morning, the following five (5) counselors were processed at Carroll County Central Booking.

Mark Richard Sainato, age 36

Shadi (NMN) Sabbagh, age 33

Jason Willie Robinson, age 25

Brian Gerard Kanavy, age 31

Michael Paul Corradi, age 31

All five (5) were released on personal recognizance following a bail review before the District Court Commissioner. A sixth counselor, Dennis (NMN) Harding aged 31 has arranged through his attorney to surrender later this week. All six (6) counselors were indicted each with a single count of Reckless Endangerment, which is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of five (5) years incarceration, and a $5000 fine.

# # #

For additional information about the Bowling Brook matter please refer to:

"The high cost of twin tragedies at Bowling Brook" March 14, 2007 Westminster Eagle column

Bowling Brook Preparatory School web site

Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale The Tentacle March 13, 2007

“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007

“Soundtrack” blog posts and information about support for Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy, Keymar, Carroll County MD.

20070417 A CC grand jury has indicted six Bowling Brook employees

A Carroll County grand jury has indicted six Bowling Brook Preparatory School employees

April 17, 2007 – Posted April 22, 2007

Bowling Brook Preparatory School administrator, Brian Hayden released a statement after the grand jury’s decision was announced. Please see it pasted below.

For additional information about the Bowling Brook matter please refer to:

"The high cost of twin tragedies at Bowling Brook" March 14, 2007 Westminster Eagle column

Bowling Brook Preparatory School web site

Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale The Tentacle March 13, 2007

“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007

“Soundtrack” blog posts and information about support for Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy, Keymar, Carroll County MD.

Ari Natter, writing for the Carroll County Times and Greg Garland, writing for the Baltimore Sun, both have articles about the Carroll County grand jury bring charges of “reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine,” (Six Bowling Brook employees indicted.)

“Those indicted, all of whom (Carroll County State's Attorney Jerry F.) Barnes said took part in restraining (Isaiah) Simmons, were Michael Paul Corradi, 31, of Middletown, Pa.; Jason Willie Robinson, 25, of Westminster; Mark Richard Sainato, 36, of Keymar; Brian Gerard Kanavy, 31, of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Dennis Harding, 31, of Baltimore; and Shadi Sabbagh, 33, of Keyma,” (6 indicted in death at Bowling Brook.)

Neither paper uses permalinks – so if you are accessing this post at a later date and the links are dead, e-mail me at kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com and I will update the post…

Time has not been my friend this week, however, I am writing an update to the Bowling Brook matter as both articles, albeit good articles, are lacking in a few details that are critical for the reader to comprehensively understand the Bowling Brook issues. I will be building upon two previous pieces: Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale The Tentacle March 13, 2007 and “Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007

There continue to be too many logical flaws – too many questions - as to why the storied institution was closed…

But first, for balance – read the commentary on the web site, “Chronicles of Dissent:” “Another needless and tragic death from prone restraint” “20070324 More questions than answers persist about Bowling Brook”

Statement by Bowling Brook Preparatory School Regarding Completion of Grand Jury Proceedings in the Death of Isaiah Simmons

Keymar, MD - April 17, 2007 - The Office of the Carroll County State's Attorney has announced completion of the grand jury proceedings investigating the death of Isaiah Simmons. The entire Bowling Brook community continues to grieve over the loss of Isaiah, and we are disappointed to learn that our former employees will face criminal charges following this unfortunate and tragic loss. Bowling Brook maintains that this incident was unintentional and that these gentlemen have always had the utmost concern for the well being of all of our students without exception throughout their employment.

Bowling Brook administrator Brian Hayden offered the following, "All Bowling Brook team members have always kept the health and welfare of our students at the forefront of our mission to challenge young men to change their behaviors and lead positive and productive lives, and these gentlemen are no exception."

Hayden added, "Hopefully, the truth will bear out through the criminal proceedings and these gentlemen will be found innocent of all charges. We remain in full support and our prayers will be with them and their families throughout the difficult time ahead."

During the past 50 years, Bowling Brook, a nonprofit organization, has achieved an exemplary record of success while serving young men.

Specifically:

79% of students earned their high school diploma while attending Bowling Brook.

In 2006, 159 (89%) of Bowling Brook students successfully graduated from our school. Of these graduates, 49% were accepted to college or technical school, 35% were employed, and 16% transitioned to community-based educational and apprenticeship programs.

In 2006, Bowling Brook students performed over 40,000 hours of

community service across Maryland and 63 students earned Presidential Gold Service Awards for completing over 250 hours of community service.

Bowling Brook closed its doors in early March of this year, but the nonprofit's board of directors and management team remain committed to continuing to fulfill the school's mission in the future. As its path into the future is developed and implemented, the school will update all of its graduates, former employees, and the enormous contingent of supportive community members on its plans.

####

20070327 Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook

“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook”

“The high cost of twin tragedies at Bowling Brook”

“Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale”

“Bowling Brook”

March 13^th, 2007 – March 27, 2007

Re: 20070324 More questions than answers persist about Bowling Brook

UPDATE: I’m certainly encouraged by the thoughtful and responsible feedback I have received about Bowling Brook... I have written several other columns on Bowling Brook if folks would like to have more information.

For more information on “Soundtrack” please click here: Bowling Brook

Pictures needed:

I have scoured through my files and unfortunately I have not been able to locate any of my photos showing the young men from Bowling Brook in action.

As often as I was around these young men and saw them on action; for whatever reason, either I failed to take any pictures or I have filed them “in a really good place…”

If you have any photos of these young men at Carroll or Frederick County events, would you please consider e-mailing them to me at kdayhoff@carr.org and giving me permission to post them on www.kevindayhoff.net?

As of March 13^th, 2007, “Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” is on my blog, “The Winchester Report” on the Westminster Eagle’s web site.

Another post is on www.kevindayhoff.net here: 20070305 Bowling Brook student death ruled a homicide.

On March 14^th, 2007 my column on The Tentacle and in The Westminster Eagle will be on Bowling Brook. (It should be on the front page of the web site – or scroll down the left hand sidebar and click on “Opinion” and then click on my name. Or click here.)

The March 13^th, 2007 Winchester Report blog post – “Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook ” features quotes from Delegates Nancy Stocksdale and Donald Elliott; Tom Welliver, the Carroll County Ag Center’s Larry Collins, Perry Jones, and The Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster.

It begins:

“On March 2, Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy in Keymar announced that after 50 years in operation, it would close on March 9.

“The closing comes in the wake of the death of one of the students on January 23.

“Since the closing was announced, many Carroll Countians have rallied in support of the academy suggesting that it would be better to meaningfully address and correct what precipitated the tragedy than close the academy.”

It ends:

“It is rare that a community rallies to have a juvenile facility in their own back yard. But all of us have a stake in saving young men for a productive future and in those efforts; Bowling Brook is part of the answer.

What is now necessary is for Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore and Gov. Martin O’Malley to hear from Carroll County citizens who care about Bowling Brook and the future of the young men this facility worked so hard to help. Encourage them to take fresh look at re-opening Bowling Brook.

Please review the letters from the Delegate Nancy Stocksdale and the Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster and then find a moment of your time to write to: Governor Martin O’Malley, Office of the Governor, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401-1925, and Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore, One Center Plaza, 120 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Delegate Stocksdale’s and the Junior Women’s Club of Westminster’s advocacy letters are posted at the end of the Winchester Report blog post.

Letters to editor are very important in addition to letters to Governor O’Malley and Secretary DeVore.

Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to: jjoyner@patuxent.com

Mr. Jim Joyner, Editor

The Westminster Eagle

121 East Main Street

Westminster, MD 21157

jjoyner@patuxent.com

I would love for The Westminster Eagle to have a page or several pages of letters to the editor …

Please pass the word. We need as many thoughtful, respectful, and polite letters as possible to go to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore.

I have assured many folks that the letters need not to be long. Push comes to shove, a hand written note with several sentences expressing support is really all that is needed.

On another note, the electronic geek in me loves letters transmitted by e-mail but I gotta tell ya, from my experience as an elected official, nothing beats a stack of polite, well-written and legible – and short, (I can’t stress the short part enough,) letters delivered by mail.

The addresses once again:

The Honorable Governor Martin O’Malley

Office of the Governor

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

The Honorable Secretary Donald W. DeVore

Maryland Juvenile Services

One Center Plaza, 120 W. Fayette Street

Baltimore, MD 21201.

Thanks to everyone who was so patient and helpful with me as I was constructing the columns. Thanks in advance for everyone circulating this information.

Kevin Dayhoff

The writer is the former mayor of Westminster 2001-2005.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net and www.kevindayhoff.com

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr DOT org or kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com

His columns appear in The Tentacle, www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.

20070324 More questions than answers persist about Bowling Brook

“There are more questions than answers remaining about Maryland’s Juvenile Services”

March 24, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff (693 words)

Thursday March 8, Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Carroll County closed in the wake of the death of Isaiah Simmons at the elite private juvenile services facility on January 23. Almost two months after his death, there remain more questions than answers.

It was an ignoble end for a storied highly touted facility of fifty years in an otherwise discredited juvenile services system in Maryland. Since it closed, many have rallied for it to reopen.

Mr. Simmons died while being physically restrained after it is alleged that he threatened another student. In a January 27 Bowling Brook press release it was revealed, “When Isaiah became threatening, our staff responded for his safety and the safety of others… (H)e was restrained humanely consistent with state-approved discipline policies and counseled throughout to de-escalate the crisis.”

A transcript of the 911 tape reveals a Bowling Brook employee saying, “It was the same thing we do all the time when we have an aggressive kid. I don't know what happened. He was in a restraint, and then he stopped responding.”

This tragic death is horrible but nevertheless situational – not systemic. Carroll County deputy state's attorney, David Daggett, has been quoted in published accounts to say “… it seems that clear(ly) no one intended to kill Simmons…”

As the number of juvenile offenders has exploded in recent years, Maryland has struggled to address the challenges of how to rehabilitate the young men into productive citizens.

In the face of a federal lawsuit and the outcry of juvenile advocates, facilities such as the widely discredited Charles H. Hickey Jr. School were closed as recently as June 30, 2005.

However this only exacerbated the Maryland juvenile services capacity problems. One answer was to put increasing numbers of the juveniles in Bowling Brook – a “highly touted private residential treatment facility for aggressively adjudicated young men” according to the 2004 – 2005 annual report of the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor. The state poured $737,000 into capital improvements for the facility which housed 170 students.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s answer to the crisis in juvenile services was to close Bowling Brook and announce in his supplemental budget, $6.8 million to re-open Victor Cullen just several miles from Bowling Brook; for only 48 students. That discredited facility has remained “temporarily” closed since April 2002 due to budget constraints. Where did Governor O’Malley suddenly find $6.8M?

At a time when Maryland continues to face a structural deficit, it has been reported, “The cost of the nonprofit (Bowling Brook) school is $41,000 a year per student – less than the $65,000 a year the state spends to keep a youth at Hickey.”

Why have folks, who once praised the facility, quickly change their tune and sing that Bowling Brook was a victim of its own success and had grown too large?

If the “successful” Bowling Brook School grew too large, then doesn’t it seem more effective public policy to reduce the number of students at Bowling Brook rather than close it?

Why did the Maryland General Assembly overwhelmingly pass House Bill 1148 and Senate Bill 503 in 2005 exempting Bowling Brook from 2004 legislation mandating a capacity limit of 48 for juvenile facilities?

Governor O’Malley’s “Transition Committee for Juvenile Services Report,” issued on February 21, 2007 “strongly recommend(ed) that the new administration proceed quickly with making strategic, evidence-based reforms … addressing problems proactively.”

Is closing the highly acclaimed Bowling Brook, within days of the issuance of the report, “addressing problems proactively” with “strategic, evidence-based reforms?” Exactly why did Mr. Simmons die while being “restrained humanely consistent with state-approved discipline policies?” Why not address that problem proactively?

How are juvenile facilities to appropriately restrain a juvenile offender who is physically threatening other students? Do the state-approved discipline policies for restraint need to be changed with “evidence-based reform” to avoid another tragedy? Why not spend some of the newly minted $6.8M for additional study to change the standards and provide additional training.

How often does a community rally to have a juvenile facility in their own back yard? Many hope that Governor O’Malley will address the challenges of Maryland’s juvenile services with evidence-based reform by re-opening Bowling Brook.

Kevin Dayhoff

The writer is the former mayor of Westminster 2001-2005.

His e-mail address is kdayhoff@carr.org

####

Sunday, March 25^th, 2007 UPDATE: I’m certainly encouraged by the thoughtful and responsible feedback I have received on this post in “comments.”

(For more posts and information on “Soundtrack” please click on Bowling Brook.)

Please keep in mind that letters to editor are also very important in addition to letters to Governor O’Malley and Secretary DeVore.

Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to: jjoyner@patuxent.com

Mr. Jim Joyner, Editor

The Westminster Eagle

121 East Main Street

Westminster, MD 21157

(410) 386-0334 ext. 5004

jjoyner@patuxent.com

I would love for The Westminster Eagle to have a page or several pages of letters to the editor …

Please pass the word. We need as many thoughtful, respectful, and polite letters as possible to go to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore.

I have assured many folks that the letters need not to be long or over-thought. Push comes to shove, a hand written note with several sentences expressing support is really all that is needed.

Whispers in the hallways of Annapolis are that the O’Malley administration is counting on the short attention span of folks and the Bowling Brook matter will blow away with the March winds. Obviously such is not the case. Perhaps folks have misjudged the positive impact of this facility - for fifty years - in our community.

The addresses once again:

The Honorable Governor Martin O’Malley

Office of the Governor

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

The Honorable Secretary Donald W. DeVore

Maryland Juvenile Services

One Center Plaza, 120 W. Fayette Street

Baltimore, MD 21201.

Thank you. There are many young adults that face an uncertain future as a result of being relocated from Bowling Brook to one of the failed state-run facilities. The quicker Bowling Brook is back in operation, the quicker hope may be restored to the lives of many young men.

####

20070313 Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook

Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook

March 13th, 2007

Cross-posted from the Winchester Report

www.thewestminstereagle.com

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=978&NewsID=789755&CategoryID=18298&show=localnews&om=1

03/13/07
by Kevin Dayhoff
Respond to the Westminster Eagle about this story
Email this story to a friend

On March 2, Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy in Keymar announced that after 50 years in operation, it would close on March 9.

The closing comes in the wake of the death of one of the students on January 23.

Since the closing was announced, many Carroll Countians have rallied in support of the academy suggesting that it would be better to meaningfully address and correct what precipitated the tragedy than close the academy.

Delegate Donald Elliott said the day Bowling Brook closed “was a sad day and it is my hope that it will again be restored to a place in the juvenile services system.

“Over the years we have all had contact with the young men from Bowling Brook, it was always a very positive experience,” he said. “In fact, where other places have difficulty hosting a juvenile services facility, Bowling Brook has enjoyed the affection of the community.”

Delegate Nancy Stocksdale recounted many experiences in which the young men of Bowling Brook had left a positive impression upon her and the community. (She has circulating a letter about Bowling Brook. Please find it below.)

She said that she has been “grieving just as if it was my school.”

Delegate Stocksdale added that if this terrible incident had happened in another facility… she doubted that the state would’ve closed down the whole place. “You take care of the problem. You fix it. Instead of isolating a tragic instant from the rest of the good work of the institution (the state) choose to convict the entire school.”

Tom Welliver said, “I have worked closely with these young men on numerous occasions. They were well mannered, respectful - and assisted with tremendously positive attitudes.”

For many years, the Bowling Brook students helped with the Union Bridge town hall funding breakfasts. Perry Jones, former County Commissioner and former Union Bridge mayor said, “Union Bridge had a very positive experience with Bowling Brook and I share everyone’s hope that it is able to re-open in the future and its good work continues.”

Larry Collins, Carroll County Agriculture Center General Manager said, “The young men from Bowling Brook have been to the Ag Center many times and served in many different capacities… They have been excellent across the board. It would be a shame to lose such an important resource in our community.”

The Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster is circulating a letter which cites that Bowling Brook had “an 86 percent success rate. (Please find a copy of the letter below.)

Only 14 percent of the youth were arrested or referred back to the state agency within a year of their release. … The state average for group homes is 50 percent, but we have heard as low as 10 percent success rates. … We hate to see the success of the program overrun by this one failure.”

It is rare that a community rallies to have a juvenile facility in their own back yard. But all of us have a stake in saving young men for a productive future and in those efforts; Bowling Brook is part of the answer.

What is now necessary is for Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore and Gov. Martin O’Malley to hear from Carroll County citizens who care about Bowling Brook and the future of the young men this facility worked so hard to help. Encourage them to take fresh look at re-opening Bowling Brook.

Please review the letters from the Delegate Nancy Stocksdale and the Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster and then find a moment of your time to write to: Governor Martin O’Malley, Office of the Governor, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401-1925, and Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore, One Center Plaza, 120 W. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

####

From: Delegate Nancy Stocksdale

Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 3:30 PM

Subject: Bowling Brook Preparatory School

Dear Friends:

I am writing concerning the Bowling Brook Preparatory School which is located in Keymar, a rural area of Carroll County.

I am saddened by the loss of a student there, and I offer my sincerest sympathy to his mother. I do not know all the circumstances, but I have always believed in the school and its program. Unfortunately, the Public Defender, Nancy Forster, made a statement on the day of this tragic event that she was “closing this school down because it is not safe.” She then proceeded to remove all the Maryland students.

I have attended awards luncheons at Bowling Brook where I witnessed the tears of the mothers who were so proud of the positive changes they saw as they watched their sons receive awards for their accomplishments in the program. I have seen the many trophy cases displaying the trophies earned from the achievements of the sports teams, and I have seen the pride in the faces of the students as they moved up through the ranks and accepted greater responsibility as “thoroughbreds,” a designation for seniors.

I have had an interest in that school since I first went there in 1993 on a tour with Congressman Bartlett. As a retired teacher, I have a special interest in the educational program at Bowling Brook, and I learned that approximately 80% of the students there pass the GED test. I think this is a great accomplishment considering the fact that some students come there with a 3rd grade reading level. Professors from Carroll Community College teach on the Bowling Brook campus, and students have earned as many as 21 college credits. Other students take vocational classes at Frederick Community College learning trades such as bricklaying and landscaping.

You may have seen the students competing in sports at our local schools or working for one of the many non-profit organizations in our communities. I know they have helped the Elmer Wolfe Elementary School, Westminster Fallfest, Union Bridge town breakfasts, Carroll Lutheran School consignment sale, and I am sure there are others. The students are always polite, well groomed, well mannered, and hard working.

They have been there for us and now I am asking that you help troubled youth who may benefit from Bowling Brook’s program by writing letters of support for the Bowling Brook Preparatory School to Governor Martin O’Malley at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail (telephone: 410-974-3901), and Donald DeVore, the Secretary of Juvenile Services at devored@djs.state.md.us (telephone: 410-230-3101).

I would appreciate it if you would ask as many people as you know, who are familiar with the school or who have attended functions where the Bowling Brook boys helped, to write letters or make phone calls. Although it may already be too late, Governor O’Malley will realize how we feel about the successful program. While many communities fight to keep juvenile facilities out of their neighborhoods, we need to fight to keep these good neighbors.

Thank you. I am grateful for your support.

Sincerely,

/s/

Nancy R. Stocksdale

####

Governor Martin O’Malley

Office of the Governor

100 State Circle

Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

March 8, 2007

Dear Governor,

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the importance of the Bowling Brook Preparatory School in our county. I am a resident of Carroll County and a member of the GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster. We are a part of an international non-profit volunteer organization called the General Federation of Women’s Clubs that serves the needs of our community.

Through our group’s events, we have had the experience to work on volunteer projects with the Bowling Brook students. It has always been a very positive experience working with these students. Every single one of them seemed eager to help, was extremely polite and greatly added to the efficiency of our event. Without their help – our work and time would be doubled. In our interactions with the students, they have shared their thoughts on the Bowling Brook program and how it has improved their lives.

In light of the serious issue that has occurred over the past few weeks at the school, our organization still strongly supports keeping this program open. There have been so many successes that have kept hundreds of young adults from returning to the penal system or a life of criminal behavior. On Oct 5, 2005, the Baltimore Sun quoted an 86 percent success rate. Only 14 percent of the youth were arrested or referred back to the state agency within a year of their release. They also said that the state average for group homes is 50 percent, but we have heard as low as 10 percent success rates. 80 percent of these boys are graduating from High School. We hate to see the success of the program overrun by this one failure.

Our hope is that you will see the positive impact Bowling Brook School has had on our community and reopen it with appropriate guidelines to protect the students in the program

Sincerely,

A member of GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster

Westminster, MD 21158

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20070314 Bowling Brook, a sad tale of several tragedies

Bowling Brook, a sad tale of several tragedies

“Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale”

http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41

The Tentacle[1] - March 14, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff (1335 words)

Last January 23 one of the very young men that Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy had tried so hard to mold into a lifetime of hope and future, Isaiah Simmons III, 17, died at the academy.

The death of the young man is tragic and our hearts and prayers go out to the young man’s family. The tragedy is exacerbated in that the young man who had expressed anger over an absent father now leaves behind a daughter who was 22 months old at the time of his death.

In published accounts, the mother of his child, a 10th grade student, “was having a hard time accepting Simmons' death.”

Mr. Simmons, who had only arrived at the academy two weeks earlier, ran afoul of the law after committing an armed robbery. Published accounts report that he had “used a box cutter to rob another juvenile of a cell phone.”

He died while being physically restrained after it is alleged that he threatened to shoot another student. In a January 27 Bowling Brook press release it was revealed, “When Isaiah became threatening, our staff responded for his safety and the safety of others. Isaiah's aggressive behavior continued over a period of time during which he was restrained humanely consistent with state-approved discipline policies and counseled throughout to de-escalate the crisis.”

A transcript of the 911 tape reveals a Bowling Brook employee saying, “It was the same thing we do all the time when we have an aggressive kid. I don't know what happened. He was in a restraint, and then he stopped responding.”

For many years Bowling Brook, which was founded in 1957, has accepted juvenile offenders into the academy. On January 23 there were 170 young men at the academy. 74 were guests of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

Bowling Brook had developed a reputation, not as much as a juvenile services facility but more like an elite private school that became a nationwide model for everything that could be done right in an effort to truly give young men a second chance and mold them into productive futures from an uncertain past.

In recent years, as the state has poured $737,000 into capital improvements for the facility, Bowling Brook Academy had come to be considered “a highly touted private residential treatment facility for aggressively adjudicated young men” according to the 2004 – 2005 annual report of the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor.

As other state-run juvenile facilities were being closed, Bowling Brook, with the encouragement, aid, and support of the state, had grown to fill a needed gap as to where to treat juvenile offenders as their numbers exploded.

The numbers are mind-numbingly. Governor Martin O’Malley’s “Transition Committee for Juvenile Services Report,” issued on February 21, 2007 cites: “In 2005, the agency served 4,888 youth on probation, 1,681 in community-based aftercare, and over 2,400 in committed placements. The Department received over 53,000 intake referrals in 2005, but many youth were referred multiple times. The Committee strongly recommends that the new administration proceed quickly with making strategic, evidence-based reforms and that it avoid repeating the mistakes of past administrations by addressing problems proactively.”

These numbers have been increasing for many years. The Maryland General Assembly’s response, even after legislation was enacted in 2004 mandating regional facilities of no more than 48 juvenile offenders, was to overwhelmingly pass House Bill 1148 and Senate Bill 503 in 2005 exempting Bowling Brook from the 48 juvenile capacity limit.

The state’s reliance on Bowling Brook had become increasingly desperate after Maryland closed the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School on June 30, 2005 after a federal lawsuit accused the state of failing to protect juvenile offenders from physical violence. Over and over again, Bowling Brook stepped up to the plate to fill in the gaps.

After investigating the Hickey School and the Cheltenham Youth Facility in Prince George's County for two years, the U. S. Justice Department had issued a scathing report in 2004. The report revealed that there was a “deeply disturbing degree of physical abuse" by staff and examples “in which staff members did not intervene in fights…” according to the Washington Post.

For many years and several administrations, Maryland has grappled with how to respond to what some consider an epidemic of youthful offenders. There has been legislation, reports, outside independent committees, joint legislative committees, public outcry, lawsuits, and an enormous amount of money spent.

However the governor’s transition committee which had examined the Department of Juvenile Services said in the second sentence of their report, “We discovered an agency that is dangerously dysfunctional, trapped in a cycle of reacting to scandals and deferring proactive reforms.”

But throughout all the years of hand wringing and the gnashing of teeth over what to do about an adequate and appropriate approach to saving youthful offenders and restoring them to productive lives; one institution was being heaped with praise – Bowling Brook.

In an October 5, 2005 Baltimore Sun article, “Susan B. Leviton, who heads the juvenile law clinic at the University of Maryland,” was quoted to say, “It's a fantastic program.”

The article noted that Stacey Gurian-Sherman, who heads an advocacy group for families of delinquents, calls Bowling Brook “a model residential facility, and it's right in our own backyard… The one drawback to Bowling Brook is there is only one of them… We need to be building more Bowling Brooks.”

At a time when Maryland continues to face a structural deficit, the article recited, “The cost of the nonprofit school is $41,000 a year per student – less than the $65,000 a year the state spends to keep a youth at Hickey.”

Yet, on March 2 another tragedy occurred when it was announced that the Bowling Brook would close. For many the decision to close the school is illogical at best. Why not meaningfully address and correct the factors that precipitated the tragedy but otherwise support the one very juvenile services facility in the state that is making a positive difference. The tragic death of this young man is situational problem – not systemic. Fix the problem.

This tragedy shocks everyone, but the reaction to a problem must never exacerbate the problem or exceed prudence. Ironically, the closure of Bowling Brook is now part of the problem. Closing Bowling Brook is certainly not “addressing problems proactively” with “strategic, evidence-based reforms.”

Within days of the announcement to close the academy, the governor announced the need to spend $6.8 million dollars to re-open the Victor Cullen juvenile facility – for 48 students. Spending $6.8M on Victor Cullen is not the answer. The answer is Bowling Brook.

Since the announcement that Bowling Brook was closing, public officials and private citizens alike have publicly touted Bowling Brook for the good work they have accomplished with hundreds – if not thousands - of young men over the last fifty years and how the academy has positively interwoven itself into the Carroll County community fabric.

A letter being circulated by the Junior Woman’s Club of Westminster says, “On Oct 5, 2005, the Baltimore Sun quoted an 86% success rate. Only 14% of the youth were arrested or referred back to the state agency within a year of their release… The state average for group homes is 50%, but we have heard as low as 10% success rates. 80% of these boys are graduating from High School. We hate to see the success of the program overrun by this one failure.”

It is rare that a community rallies to have a juvenile facility in our own back yard. But Bowling Brook is one of the rare examples of leadership and excellence in our world today.

This is the third Maryland administration in a row to get handed this mess. The solution is to not duplicate past mistakes, but build upon what has been done well. Bowling Brook has done it well and is part of the solution.

In a clearer light and with a fresh look, many hope that Governor O’Malley will reassess the decision to close the facility.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr AT org

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20070305 Bowling Brook student death ruled a homicide

Former Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy student death ruled a homicide

March 5th, 2007

Isaiah Simmons, 17, died on Jan. 23, 2007 at Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy[1] in Keymar, Carroll County Maryland.

Today, the Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that Mr. Simmons’ death was the result of “Sudden Death during Restraint.”

Just last Friday, March 2nd, 2007 Bowling Brook announced that it was closing.

In a story by Baltimore Sun reporters Greg Garland and Laura McCandlish on March 2nd, 2007, they wrote:

"Bowling Brook Preparatory School announced today that it intends to cease operations on March 9, 2007, while the investigation into Isaiah Simmons' tragic death continues," the school said in a statement.

"Bowling Brook again expresses its sympathy to the family of Isaiah Simmons. Since the death of Isaiah Simmons, Bowling Brook has cooperated fully with the Department of Juvenile Service and other investigators, and Bowling Brook will continue its cooperation."

The statement said the school, located in Keymar in Carroll County, "remains committed to serving its mission of helping young men make positive changes in their lives and becoming productive citizens" and that it is "proud of its 50-year history of fulfilling that mission."

Many in Carroll County have been both shocked and saddened by the death of the young man and shocked that the 50 year-old academy has closed.

Anecdotally, the reaction of the average person in the street who was even aware of the academy sang praises for the institution that has worked so hard to turn around the lives of so many young men.

Many of us have attended the Union Bridge Town Hall funding breakfasts and witnessed first hand the work of the young men who served food, were so polite and nice to have a conversation.

Upon further inquiry, the reaction was consistent, “What you see is what you get.” That behind the scenes, the teachers and administrators of the school did great work and were committed to maintaining a sterling reputation in a juvenile services program that was essentially considered to be broken throughout the rest of the state.

After the death, many were bewildered that Bowling Brook suffered from a negative political climate in Annapolis so anxious to condemn the facility – while winking and uttering meaningless politically pious platitudes and latitudes about state-run facilities that are broken and are run amok with violence and codified institutional neglect.

Folks who were not even aware of the facility and its good work, much less, to even know where the facility was – were so quick to shake their heads and opportunistically grandstand. All in a misplaced political agenda to capitalize on the death of the young man and paint the facility as an example of everything that was wrong with the juvenile services program in Maryland.

If anything the facility was everything about what is right. About how a juvenile services program can be run well and makes a difference and that bad things happen to good programs.

In an air atmosphere and environment where it is perceived by the elected leadership in Annapolis that big government is the answer to all of our problems, the privately run Bowling Brook Academy is a victim of folks who are still attempting to justify their recent political victory by suggesting a crisis in order to make themselves and their agenda relevant.

To be certain, all signs point in the direction that the state juvenile services program is in crisis – but Bowling Brook was not a part of the crisis.

The death of the young man is tragic and hearts and prayers go out to the young man’s family.

Throwing Bowling Brook under a bus helps relegate so many more young men to a system that is otherwise broken and condemns that many more young men to a lifetime of recidivism – when they could otherwise be lead to a lifetime as a productive citizen.

In an environment like this, one wonders why anyone would want to stick their neck out to attempt to make a difference… _____

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
Lieutenant Phil Kasten,
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
100 North Court Street Westminster, MD 21157

Medical Examiner releases final report”
Mon 3/5/2007 2:56 PM

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, March 5, 2006 ----

The Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office has informed Sheriff’s investigators that an examination into the cause and manner of 17-year-old Isaiah Simmons III death has concluded. While their were no obvious external injuries observed during an initial examination,” the autopsy has concluded that Simmons died from, “Sudden Death during Restraint,” and have ruled his death a homicide. The medical examiners office has shared this information with Isaiah Simmons family.

During the past several weeks, Sheriff’s Investigators have collected more than one hundred pieces of evidence, and in coordination with the Department of Juvenile Services interviewed more than one hundred people, including staff and students. At this stage, the Sheriff’s Office has forwarded the investigative results to the Carroll County States Attorney’s Office for review.
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The Carroll County Times has a breaking news alert on their web site written by Justin Palk. Mr. Palk writes:

“A grand jury will determine whether charges should be filed in the January death of Isaiah Simmons at Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Middleburg.”

[…]

“At the press conference where that announcement was made, Kevin Lewis, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore division, also announced the bureau would be investigating whether Simmons’ civil rights had been violated.

To hear portions of the 911 tape from the night of Simmons' death, click here.”

You can read the rest of Mr. Palk’s article here.

Footnotes
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[1] Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy Mission Statement:

To provide quality residential and education services to male adolescent offenders while helping these same young men make positive changes in their lives. We are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to learning. Our results oriented program focuses on education and providing students with the means of creating and sustaining real life changes through behavior modification and life learning skills. This personal achievement will lead students to successful re-integration into the community.

About Bowling Brook

Bowling Brook Prep School is a private, group oriented residential school for court committed young men. Services provided are designed to change behaviors and attitudes, teach life skills and help these young men sustain these changes as he returns to the community.

Bowling Brook Prep School provides a community based alternative to institutional living for troubling young men. Located just outside of Taneytown, Maryland, the campus is a safe, staff secure environment situated on 120 acres in rural Carroll County.

The program is licensed by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. Bowling Brook offers a pre-GED or GED curriculum that is certified by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school is accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

The Bowling Brook Facility

Bowling Brook Preparatory School is located approximately 40 miles northwest of Baltimore, Maryland and 18 miles southeast of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on a 120 acre site in the rural Carroll County community of Keymar, Maryland. We are currently licensed for 173 students.

The campus consists of three 13 bed cottages, one 24 bed cottage and two 48 bed dormitories. A 28,300 square foot physical education/recreation facility complete with gymnasium, weight room, wrestling room, locker rooms and a health suite was completed in 2000. An education building which houses 8 classrooms, one computer lab and administrative offices on the upper level and a dining hall with food services spaces on the lower level was completed in 2001-2002. The campus also includes a student union area with a television/training room. The administrative/multi-service building houses the library/media center and administrative offices. The campus also boasts an outdoor sports field, track and basketball court and a large garage with a multi-use workshop. Construction is currently underway for a new workforce learning center which will house a barber shop, culinary arts, building trades, masonry, welding, digital print shop and a modern multi-media auditorium and several classrooms.

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