Elan School
Poland, ME

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Elan Closing Doors
After 41 Years

In a News report from WMTW.com Channel 8 news, http://www.wmtw.com/news/27297685/detail.html , they reported receiving a letter on Wednesday afternoon from the Elan School Executive Director Sharon Terry. The Elan School will be closing its doors after 41 years of service due to declining enrollment that has resulted in financial difficulties. The school plans to close its doors sometime next week.

"The school has been the target of harsh and false attacks spread over the Internet with the avowed purpose of forcing the school to close," Terry said. In addition, despite several recent investigations conducted by the Maine Department of Education that Terry said have vindicated the school, "the school has, unfortunately, been unable to survive the damage."

The Web campaign alleges the school engaged in punitive tactics, like isolating students for long periods, requiring students to scream at other students as part of the disciplinary program, and limiting student contact with parents.

"I will miss very much working with the students and, perhaps most of all, attending their graduations, where regularly they gave fresh proof that, put simply, Elan saved lives," Terry said.

Elan School is a coeducational, residential, special-purpose school, serving grades 8 through 12. Elan serves Students classified as Emotionally Disturbed, Learning Disabled (mild to moderate), Other Health Impaired or who exhibit disruptive behaviors associated with ADHD and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Students are admitted year round and stay an average of 27 months.