HCRS is very pleased to announce the merger of Kindle Farm School in Newfane, Vermont and HCRS. Kindle Farm and HCRS have had a business partnership for several years, providing for enhanced therapeutic services, programming, and infrastructure at the school.
The merger, recently approved by the Vermont Secretary of State’s office, will allow for increased financial stability for Kindle Farm and will continue to improve services provided at the school. HCRS benefits through an enhancement of its continuum of care for children in our communities.
Kindle Farm offers an alternative educational experience for boys in grades 2 to 12 from two locations in Newfane where they provide year-round day programming for students who have struggled to find success in a traditional classroom setting. Kindle Farm is able to provide a successful educational experience for its students through a low student/teacher ratio, combining academics, therapeutic recreational activities, and traditional therapy, and by focusing on students’ individual behavioral, emotional, and academic needs. Kindle Farm serves students from both southern Vermont and New Hampshire.
According to HCRS CEO, Judith Hayward, “Although HCRS originally affiliated its organization with Kindle Farm some years ago, the goal was not for an eventual merger, but a desire to share our well developed infrastructure with an extremely worthwhile but financially struggling enterprise. HCRS and Kindle Farm share the emotional and educational responsibility for many of the same children and the affiliation seemed a natural fit. To our great satisfaction, this partnership developed and benefited both organizations, and we are delighted to make the informal affiliation permanent by merging Kindle Farm with HCRS, both sharing our business expertise and our mission with such a wonderful school.”
Kindle Farm will continue to operate as a Vermont accredited school.
Dana Gordon-Macey, an employee of Kindle Farm for the past 16 years, will continue as Program Director. Dana notes, “This is a very exciting time for Kindle Farm. A lot of hard work on the part of myriad of individuals from Kindle Farm and HCRS over the past several years has led us to this point. We are celebrating our most robust opening in years and have been able to hit the ground running both academically and therapeutically thanks to the strong alliances we have built and continue to build across the Agency. This is a very positive outcome for our students, families, and staff members.”
