County Grants Boys School Two-Year Operating Permit
Elk Mountain Academy, a therapeutic school for teenage boys near Clark Fork, Idaho, has two years to prove itself.
The academy, which has drawn the ire of its neighbors, can house up to 25 students for two years, according to a permit approved by the Bonner County commissioners Thursday.
But after two years, the academy’s owners will have to prove to commissioners that they have abided by the terms of the permit in order to continue operating.
The decision was a partial victory for residents of the Cascade Creek neighborhood, who had requested that the county impose a trial period on the school.
Because the academy has more buildings than are allowed under county zoning codes, it needed the conditional use permit to continue operating.
Neighbors were concerned about supervision at the school, fire protection, access in case of emergencies and the school’s tendency to enroll more students than are allowed.
An inspection by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare earlier this year found that the school had 19 students when it was licensed for only 12. Now, the school has 26 students but is licensed by the state for 25.
“What do you do when you abuse trust?” Jim Cheslic asked at a public hearing Thursday. “Elk Mountain Academy is being rewarded for abusing the trust of the state and the trust of the parents of the children in its care.”
The hearing drew about 50 people, about half in favor of and half opposed to the project.
Several supporters of the academy’s owners, Carl and Loretta Olding, spoke on their behalf, including one current academy student who said, “Now I get high on hiking and camping in the mountains surrounding our school.”
Supporters assured commissioners and neighbors that the students are well-supervised, well-behaved and not violent or at risk of running away.
Students who have earned the privilege are allowed to participate in community activities unsupervised.
Loretta Olding said one student will be discharged to meet the permit requirements.