YONCALLA, Ore. — A Douglas County boarding school for troubled teens could shut down over allegations from the state that it allowed students to go hungry and used abusive punishments.
The Department of Human Services Child Welfare Program notified Scotts Valley School in December that it intended to revoke its license. Agency spokesman Gene Evans says the notification letter serves as a warning to facilities to fix problems identified by the state.
DHS claims students at the Yoncalla school report being hungry and denied snacks. The school is also accused of forcing students to sit all day in front of a wall for weeks as punishment.
The school’s director, Dave Thomas, says the allegations are false. He has filed an appeal that will bring the case before a judge.
