"Experience at CSA" - Sherri Weems, 2006
Carolina Springs Academy
I put my daughter in Carolina Springs after weeks of research on speacilty boarding schools. I began speaking with Nancy Thompson (Admissions Coordinator) about Carolina Springs. She assured me they were a top notch school and even claimed to have students accepted to Ivy League colleges among completion of the program. She made it sound like exactly where Tristen needed to be. We made arrangements for me and my husband, Randy to take Tristen on a friday night.
We flew into Atlanta and then drove to Carolina Springs arriving around 11:30PM. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by two women and taken into the building where the girls slept. It was very dark so I didn't see much. I didn't want to disturb the girls at such a late hour. After speaking with the women for about 30-45 minutes, my husband and I left.
I did take notice that the school didn't look the same as the website portrayed it. I had an uneasy feeling about leaving Tristen, but dismissed it as anxiety about leaving her in someone elses hands after raising her 16 years. I prayed that evening that God let me know if I made the right decision. After arriving back home, I went online again that Sunday morning. That's when I found the "other website" about Carolina Springs. I began to read the horror stories about things that had happened to other famililes. I then called the school and wasn't able to reach anyone. I called Nancy Thompon and told her about what I had found and she dismissed it as fabricated stories by one unhappy parent. I then told her I wanted to speak with Tristen and make sure she was okay. That's when I was told that I probably wouldn't speak with her for a few months. Upon our initial conversations, I was under the impression I would be speaking to her and writing to her in the beginning. Then I was to complete a seminar and see her in a few months. She said that I must have misunderstood. At that point I called the number on PURE website. They gave me more unsettling info about the program and also gave me names and numbers to other schools that had nothing to do with WWASP.
I then called Pat Jones at Harbor Oaks. She suggested I get Tristen out of there ASAP. I booked a flight and left that afternoon. I let Nancy know that I would be picking up Tristen and she said that we should really wait until Monday during business hours. I let her know that I wasn't waiting. They didn't have a problem taking her in outside of business hours, so they shouldn't have a problem giving her back under the same circumstances.
When I got to the school, I wasn't greeted quite a nicely as the first time. I asked that they be sure and return everything that I brought with her. I took an envelope that had the contract, her SSN card and an insurance card. The contract was only signed by me at that time. They said they didn't have access to the office or a copy machine and assured me they would mail the SSN card and insurance card back to me on Monday. They conveniently kept the contract, which I'm sure was signed by someone on Monday, after Tristen was gone. Before I closed my car door I was asked why I wasn't leaving Tristen. I politely told them I was misinformed about the conditions and I didn't feel like this was the right place for my daughter or anyone else's child. At this point my car door was slammed in my face.
Carolina Springs kept my $5500, eventhough Tristen was never enrolled in the school. They processed her paperwork after I picked her up. They even kept monies for uniforms that she never recevied. A separate check was written for the uniforms. I want to make it very clear, that I would have never agreed to leave my daughter ANYWHERE that would not allow me access to her upon my request. It was pointed out to me later, that their contracts actually sign over guardianship and they could have sent my daughter out of the country without my permission.
Tristen has since been at Harbor Oaks and has received the help she needed. I can't even explain the look of relief on her face when she realized I was at Carolina Springs to get her. I thank God that I was able to get my daughter and that He showed me the things that He did so that I would know she was in danger. I pray for all the children that are there and all the parents who don't know or don't care about what is happening to their children.
Sources:
http://www.caica.org/Sherri_Weems_Carolina_Springs_Academy.htm
I put my daughter in Carolina Springs after weeks of research on speacilty boarding schools. I began speaking with Nancy Thompson (Admissions Coordinator) about Carolina Springs. She assured me they were a top notch school and even claimed to have students accepted to Ivy League colleges among completion of the program. She made it sound like exactly where Tristen needed to be. We made arrangements for me and my husband, Randy to take Tristen on a friday night.
We flew into Atlanta and then drove to Carolina Springs arriving around 11:30PM. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by two women and taken into the building where the girls slept. It was very dark so I didn't see much. I didn't want to disturb the girls at such a late hour. After speaking with the women for about 30-45 minutes, my husband and I left.
I did take notice that the school didn't look the same as the website portrayed it. I had an uneasy feeling about leaving Tristen, but dismissed it as anxiety about leaving her in someone elses hands after raising her 16 years. I prayed that evening that God let me know if I made the right decision. After arriving back home, I went online again that Sunday morning. That's when I found the "other website" about Carolina Springs. I began to read the horror stories about things that had happened to other famililes. I then called the school and wasn't able to reach anyone. I called Nancy Thompon and told her about what I had found and she dismissed it as fabricated stories by one unhappy parent. I then told her I wanted to speak with Tristen and make sure she was okay. That's when I was told that I probably wouldn't speak with her for a few months. Upon our initial conversations, I was under the impression I would be speaking to her and writing to her in the beginning. Then I was to complete a seminar and see her in a few months. She said that I must have misunderstood. At that point I called the number on PURE website. They gave me more unsettling info about the program and also gave me names and numbers to other schools that had nothing to do with WWASP.
I then called Pat Jones at Harbor Oaks. She suggested I get Tristen out of there ASAP. I booked a flight and left that afternoon. I let Nancy know that I would be picking up Tristen and she said that we should really wait until Monday during business hours. I let her know that I wasn't waiting. They didn't have a problem taking her in outside of business hours, so they shouldn't have a problem giving her back under the same circumstances.
When I got to the school, I wasn't greeted quite a nicely as the first time. I asked that they be sure and return everything that I brought with her. I took an envelope that had the contract, her SSN card and an insurance card. The contract was only signed by me at that time. They said they didn't have access to the office or a copy machine and assured me they would mail the SSN card and insurance card back to me on Monday. They conveniently kept the contract, which I'm sure was signed by someone on Monday, after Tristen was gone. Before I closed my car door I was asked why I wasn't leaving Tristen. I politely told them I was misinformed about the conditions and I didn't feel like this was the right place for my daughter or anyone else's child. At this point my car door was slammed in my face.
Carolina Springs kept my $5500, eventhough Tristen was never enrolled in the school. They processed her paperwork after I picked her up. They even kept monies for uniforms that she never recevied. A separate check was written for the uniforms. I want to make it very clear, that I would have never agreed to leave my daughter ANYWHERE that would not allow me access to her upon my request. It was pointed out to me later, that their contracts actually sign over guardianship and they could have sent my daughter out of the country without my permission.
Tristen has since been at Harbor Oaks and has received the help she needed. I can't even explain the look of relief on her face when she realized I was at Carolina Springs to get her. I thank God that I was able to get my daughter and that He showed me the things that He did so that I would know she was in danger. I pray for all the children that are there and all the parents who don't know or don't care about what is happening to their children.
Sources:
http://www.caica.org/Sherri_Weems_Carolina_Springs_Academy.htm
