Last month, law enforcement officials responded to a riot that lead to the arrest of 20 foster children at the school.
“This (the riot) wasn’t the first situation that had caused us concern,” said Deane Smith, DFCS spokesperson. “We’re always looking and reviewing placement resources. There may be other things that have caused us concern.”
“We are terminating our contract with them. It has been decided that we will not use Downing Clark Academy as a placement resource,” she added.
Downing Clark Center & Academy, 1773 Trimble Hollow Road south of Calhoun, is a privately owned and operated residential treatment facility.
The children, who were placed in foster care at Downing Clark Center & Academy, will be relocated throughout the state. DFCS workers will have children assessed and help find them new homes.
Smith said DFCS constantly reviews the placement of children at any location and looks to see if a place provides safety, permanency and well-being.
Kelli Clark, president and owner of Downing Clark Center & Academy, said DFCS foster children will remain there during the 30-day evaluation and placement process.
“We still have our license to operate,” Clark said. “We are going to make some changes and do some different strategic business changes.”
Clark indicated that this could mean a change of the type of clients the center will host.
Incident at the school
On Jan. 4, Gordon County Sheriff Deputy’s arrested 20 students after a 911 call indicated a disturbance at the school at 10:30 p.m., officials stated.
According to Chief Deputy Robert Paris with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, there were 15 juvenile arrests, age 14 to 16, and five arrests of girls, aged 17.
According to Gordon County Jail records, the five girls were charged with allegedly rioting. They are:
Helen Francis Lowe, 17, of 1773 Trimble Hollow Road in Adairsville
Felicia Jatoyia White, 17, of 982 Joseph Blvd. in Atlanta
Iesha Rajeehay Cromer, 17, 1773 Trimble Hollow Road in Adairsville
Aioshi Abrion Orbisorn, 17, of 200 Tutt Road in Cornelia
Whitney Katrina Parker, 17, of 1773 Trimble Hollow Road in Adairsville
Paris said as officers approached the school, the girls were throwing food and plastic bottles.
“They were not being controlled by the staff and were damaging and destroying property, cursing and yelling,” Paris said.
Jail records said the event happened in the presence of what appeared to be an insufficient amount of staff members” and created a “large disturbance.”
Paris said no one was injured or hurt during what he described as “chaos.”
The 15 juveniles were all detained in the Regional Youth Detention Center by order of the Juvenile Court.
Paris said that this wasn’t the first disturbance at the center.
“There’s been a litany of 911 calls,” Paris said.
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