HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.0 ApplicationWESTERN ACADEMY
Bill Evans, Director • P.O. Box 1342 • Rifle, Colorado 81650 • (303) 625-0244
June 3, 1986
Mr. Mark Bean
Office of Planning and Zoning
Courthouse of Garfield County
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602
Dear Mr. Bean:
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JUN 91986
GARFIELD COUNTY
This letter is intended to explain the operation that is scheduled to begin
on July 1, 1986 at 1252 294 Road, just outside Rifle city limits (formerly
known as the First Baptist Church of Rifle), and to request your determination
of the adequacy of the current Land Use Permit for that property and its
intended use.
The facility to be operated will be known as the Western Academy and will
be a residential training and education program for young people age twelve
to eighteen. It will be licensed by the Colorado Department of Social Services
to ensure adequate standards for living, care, and special counseling and
treatment services, and the program will be certified as a Designated Educa-
tional Facility by the Colorado Department of Education. Children will be
referred for admission to the program due to adjustment problems in behavior,
family relationships, emotional stability, school attendance, learning disa-
bilities, substance abuse, or community conflicts. The program of education
is a substitute for public school participation and the children will receive
their academic education at the Western Academy. The academic program will
operate nine months a year and will be supplemented by a part-time summer
program. Children will reside at the facility twelve months a year. The
regular academic program will also be supplemented by holistic and comprehen-
sive education and counseling services designed to remediate a child's problems
so that he or she can return to live in a less restrictive environment and
attendance at public school. Children can be referred for admission to the
program from public sources - county departments of social services, public
schools, etc. - or privately - families, private therapists, private school
counselors, etc., but in all cases the parent or legal guardian must formerly
approve admission. Public school districts with legal jurisdiction of the
child must also approve the admission if the services for a particular child
are being publicy, not privately financed.
I hope this explanation of the facility's purpose and function is adequate
for you to determine the appropriateness of the current Land Use Permit for
the building. If you have other questions or comments, I would appreciate
your earliest response. You have my commitment of complete cooperation so
that we may begin to benefit Garfield County and the children of western
Colorado as soon as possible.
Very truly yours,I*.----
Bill Evans, President
Community Based Services, Inc.
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