Mar 3, 2007 9:18 am US/Eastern
Bowling Brook Will Close As Teen Death Is Probed
by Mike Hellgren
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
The school in Carroll County where a teenager died after being restrained is closing and the state is taking sweeping new steps to ensure the safety of children in its care.
The school had been in operation for decades and had, some say, it had a stellar reputation until the tragedy. It's closing voluntarily.
17-year-old Isaiah Simmons died at Bowling Brook Preparatory Academy in January.
Isaiah's mother holds his daughter as she speaks out about the school's closure.
"We're happy that the school is closed now. At least we know that the other children are out of harm's way," said Felicia Wilson, Simmons' mother.
Donald DeVore, the new Secretary of Juvenile Services, says he recently visited Bowling Brook.
"I found a facility that was really in crisis as a result of this particular incident," he said.
He says the state would've likely moved for closure if the school didn't.
"We have taken steps to remove our eight children who remain at the facility," he said.
The school issued this statement. "Since the death of Isaiah Simmons, Bowling Brook has cooperated fully with the Department of Juvenile Services and other investigators, and Bowling Brook will continue its cooperation."
Bowling Brook management also says its staff acted appropriately.
Since Simmons' death, the state has assigned staff to monitor the school around the clock, restricted the use of restraints and asked that eight staff members be placed on leave.
"We now have one less facility and the need for many, many more beds out there," said Senator Bobby Zirkin.
The death has led to increased scrutiny of facilities like Bowling Brook--privately-run schools--that contract with the state to rehabilitate troubled youths and will issue new guidelines for restraints and new crisis intervention standards.
"It's just tragic, and it's something hard to get over. It's hard to get over," Wilson said.
And as this mother tries to cope, new legislation is in the works to make sure this does not happen again.
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