This place is corrupt. The administration are more invested in their ego and feeding their vindictive needs than the best interests of the children. The are not shy about making false reports to the police, divisive ex-parte communications with the court or bullying parents. The mistreatment is applied to staff as well, anyone not white and mindlessly cooperative is driven off.
The police of Melmark is to not report injuries, bleeding wounds would, as they are normal, unless it is necessary to get outside medical attention.
I personally observed melmark staff mishandle student and even violently attack a senior citizen, shoving her backwards down some stairs.
Melmark has manipulated investigations, obstructed discovery of basic information and refused to allow invited witnesses (e.g. an elected constable) into meetings.
Rita Gardner has made the most outrageous allegations, including death threats against her. She claims to have evidence, can share it, but will not, because she does not have to. When presented with subpoena, she sought orders of protection.
Mrlmark has demanded compliance with their directives, that they refuse to share. They have demonstrated extreme incompetence with technology they demand be used. Sober investigation shows that the equipment is ill conceived and misused.
In a ports to the Department of Education, Melmark declared that they no longer secure a particular student to construction lumber. When inpractice, bruises on the wrists suggested something like this, but Melmark denied the practice - until a witness came forward.
Melmark claims that they receive only $10K per year for their services, when in court attorney William Walsh (BBO 5150200) represented that it was $480K per year. The town of Lexington defined a subpoena to produce records of what monkeys were paid.
Melmark took in my child, who had limited language and no behavioral problems and produced a monster that has no language and every problem conceivable.
Speaking with strong advocates of Melmark, there is a lot of gushing, but few clear statements of what they actually did. Looking at their great success stories, the same might have happened if the child were left in the care of any decent folks.
Speaking with other Melmark refugees, the pattern of fraud, corruption and bullying is common. Melmark will threaten to take legal custody away from parents who ask reasonable questions.
The residences are disturbingly run. Staff have filed false reports. Residents are allowed to smash their had on the floor repeatedly, while staff watch.
Paraprofessionals (kids without degrees) are given narcotics (Diazepam) in a rectal syringe and allowed to use at their discretion, with no oversight! YES, SHOVE A SYRINGE INTO THE RECTUM AND INJECT DRUGS - WITH NO OVERSIGHT!
Staff acknowledge that violence is common and will use holds that result in bleeding. One observer questioned the violence of the hold and reported to the director the bloodying of a resident. The director responded that it was OK, it wiped right off.
The resident students are housed in minimally compliant buildings. The are not allowed personal space and forced to comply with the whims of the staff. There is no air conditioning, the grass is damaged by the heavy traffic, neighborhood terrorized by the aggressive driving of staff and the grounds are often overgrown with weeds.
The residence of the directors are mini-mansions with all the conveniences.
I brought a retired law professor, who found the stories of Melmark curious to witness what was happening. He was polite, mild mannered and even timid in demeanor. The Melmark staff called the police and made false allegations against him. The police found no support for the allegations.
If your child in there, smile and say yes a lot. If you have concerns, make other arrangements quietly and run - smiling as you go. The alternative will be bizarre abuse, fraud, complaints and litigation.
STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL.
All USA
This place is corrupt. The administration are more invested in their ego and feeding their vindictive needs than the best interests of the children. The are not shy about making false reports to the police, divisive ex-parte communications with the court or bullying parents. The mistreatment is applied to staff as well, anyone not white and mindlessly cooperative is driven off. The police of Melmark is to not report injuries, bleeding wounds would, as they are normal, unless it is necessary to get outside medical attention. I personally observed melmark staff mishandle student and even violently attack a senior citizen, shoving her backwards down some stairs. Melmark has manipulated investigations, obstructed discovery of basic information and refused to allow invited witnesses (e.g. an elected constable) into meetings. Rita Gardner has made the most outrageous allegations, including death threats against her. She claims to have evidence, can share it, but will not, because she does not have to. When presented with subpoena, she sought orders of protection. Mrlmark has demanded compliance with their directives, that they refuse to share. They have demonstrated extreme incompetence with technology they demand be used. Sober investigation shows that the equipment is ill conceived and misused. In a ports to the Department of Education, Melmark declared that they no longer secure a particular student to construction lumber. When inpractice, bruises on the wrists suggested something like this, but Melmark denied the practice - until a witness came forward. Melmark claims that they receive only $10K per year for their services, when in court attorney William Walsh (BBO 5150200) represented that it was $480K per year. The town of Lexington defined a subpoena to produce records of what monkeys were paid. Melmark took in my child, who had limited language and no behavioral problems and produced a monster that has no language and every problem conceivable. Speaking with strong advocates of Melmark, there is a lot of gushing, but few clear statements of what they actually did. Looking at their great success stories, the same might have happened if the child were left in the care of any decent folks. Speaking with other Melmark refugees, the pattern of fraud, corruption and bullying is common. Melmark will threaten to take legal custody away from parents who ask reasonable questions. The residences are disturbingly run. Staff have filed false reports. Residents are allowed to smash their had on the floor repeatedly, while staff watch. Paraprofessionals (kids without degrees) are given narcotics (Diazepam) in a rectal syringe and allowed to use at their discretion, with no oversight! YES, SHOVE A SYRINGE INTO THE RECTUM AND INJECT DRUGS - WITH NO OVERSIGHT! Staff acknowledge that violence is common and will use holds that result in bleeding. One observer questioned the violence of the hold and reported to the director the bloodying of a resident. The director responded that it was OK, it wiped right off. The resident students are housed in minimally compliant buildings. The are not allowed personal space and forced to comply with the whims of the staff. There is no air conditioning, the grass is damaged by the heavy traffic, neighborhood terrorized by the aggressive driving of staff and the grounds are often overgrown with weeds. The residence of the directors are mini-mansions with all the conveniences. I brought a retired law professor, who found the stories of Melmark curious to witness what was happening. He was polite, mild mannered and even timid in demeanor. The Melmark staff called the police and made false allegations against him. The police found no support for the allegations. If your child in there, smile and say yes a lot. If you have concerns, make other arrangements quietly and run - smiling as you go. The alternative will be bizarre abuse, fraud, complaints and litigation. STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL.