Franklin Academy (Connecticut) Explained

Franklin Academy
Motto:Belong, Grow, Succeed
Gender:Co-educational
Enrollment:80
Grades:8-PG
Streetaddress:140 River Road
State:Connecticut
Zipcode:06423
Country:United States
Coordinates:41.4406°N -72.4349°W[1]
Ceeb:070166
Mascot:Phoenix
School Colors:Maroon and blue

Franklin Academy is a co-ed special education boarding school in East Haddam, Connecticut, serving students in grades 8-12 as well as post-graduate students. The school's primary mission is to provide education to adolescents and young adults with nonverbal learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Description

The Middletown Press reported, The students are boys and girls in grades 8-12 as well as some doing a post-graduate program.[2] The school also runs a Summer Sojourn program which focuses on experiential learning. The camp:

Franklin Academy's online learning curriculum mirrors a classroom built on student and teacher interaction, according to reporter Dave Puglisi. Built in just a week, the online platform system includes students' routines, providing a schedule of a full day's classes and social activities.[3]

Both boarding and day school programs are available. Its student to faculty ratio in 2022 was approximately 2.4:1.[4]

Franklin Academy is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[5] It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges,[6] and is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.[7]

History

The East Haddam property on which Franklin Academy's campus is located previously had been home to three other institutions: Becket Academy, established in 1964 as a residential school for boys; Founders School;[8] and Haddam Hills Academy for juvenile offenders.

In November 2001, Franklin Academy was incorporated by John Claude Bahrenburg and Albert Brayson, leaders of the former Haddam Hills.[9] [10] Initially, "business partners intend to open Franklin Academy without seeking state approval", according to Hartford Courant reporting.[11] Preparations for opening began with an administrative team in 2002, with founding headmaster Frederick Weissbach.[12] After the Connecticut State Department of Education granted approval to operate, the school spent $2.5 million on campus facilities.[13]

On February 22, 2021, Franklin Academy and its headmaster were sued for alleged racism. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount.[14] The school's legal issues are documented on Unsilenced, a non-profit website.[15]

In 2022, Tom Hays became director of Franklin Academy, with Fred Weissbach taking the role of president.[16] On November 2, 2023, the Board of Trustees announced retirements of Fred Weissbach and Tom Hays at the end of the school year, and the appointment of Alex Morris-Wood as Head of School on July 1, 2024.[17]

Enrollment

Franklin Academy opened with an enrollment of 33 students in September 2003. Enrollment has generally increased with time. Its opening enrollment of 33 students climbed to 57 to start 2005, then 68 in 2006.[18] As of 2020, enrollment was 76 students. Since at least 2010, the enrollment total seems to have steadied around 80 students annually, according to statements by independent organizations.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maps and Directions - Franklin Academy. January 29, 2018.
  2. Web site: Franklin Academy New England Psychology. directory.nepsy.com. September 29, 2017 . en-US. 2018-01-30.
  3. Web site: April 10, 2020 . Franklin Academy in East Haddam creates unique online platform for students with special needs . 2022-11-29 . fox61.com . en-US.
  4. Web site: Private Schools - Detail for Franklin Academy . 2022-11-28 . nces.ed.gov . EN.
  5. News: Tigas . Mike . Wei . Sisi . Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica . en . ProPublica . January 27, 2018.
  6. Web site: December 14, 2017 . Franklin Academy . January 27, 2018.
  7. Web site: NAIS - School, Institution: Franklin Academy . January 27, 2018 . National Association of Independent Schools.
  8. Web site: Report of the attorney general and the child advocate : Department of Children & Families oversight of Haddam Hills Academy - Page 20 . 2022-11-29 . cslib.contentdm.oclc.org . en.
  9. News: Kovner . Josh . Poitras . Josh . 26 February 2002 . School May Avoid Oversight by State . A1 . . January 27, 2018.
  10. News: Already, A Shaky Beginning . en . Hartford Courant . dead . January 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128080505/http://articles.courant.com/2002-03-14/news/0203140630_1_dcf-house-juveniles-facility . 28 January 2018 . Attorney John Claude Bahrenburg and his partners say they plan to open the residential treatment facility in September... The corporation that will run Franklin Academy is headed by Albert Brayson, who was instrumental in the running of Haddam Hills..
  11. News: Covner . Josh . Poitras . Colin . 2002-02-26 . School may avoid oversight by state . en-US . . 2023-10-13 . https://archive.today/20220127221952/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-02-26-0202262145-story.html . 27 Jan 2022.
  12. Web site: Jacobs . Janet . 16 January 2002 . St. Stephen's taps priest who was in Peace Corps as its new headmaster . subscription . 2022-11-28 . . B7 . ProQuest . . Fred Weissbach... has been headmaster of St. Stephen's since 1989. Weissbach is moving to Connecticut, where he will become the headmaster at Franklin Academy, a new boarding school for learning-challenged students..
  13. News: March 29, 2012 . The History of Franklin Academy . Franklin Academy . dead . January 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180101000000/https://fa-ct.org/high-school/history-franklin-academy . 1 January 2018.
  14. Web site: Winborne v. Franklin Academy Inc. et al. . 2023-07-08 . Justia Dockets & Filings . en.
  15. Web site: Franklin Academy . 2023-08-20 . Unsilenced . en-US.
  16. Web site: Weissbach . Frederick . 2022-03-14 . Administrative Restructuring 1 . 2023-10-09 . Franklin Academy . en-US.
  17. Web site: November 2, 2023 . New Head of School Announcement . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231212184506/https://files.constantcontact.com/89c4417c701/531dbd56-7441-4097-986e-ae3f5158b2b8.pdf?rdr=true . December 12, 2023 . December 12, 2023.
  18. Web site: January 16, 2006 . LD Resources » Sanford Shapiro looks at Franklin Academy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808064743/http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1202 . August 8, 2014 . January 29, 2018 . LD Resources.

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