Memorandum 

Date:  March 16,  1993  
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon, David Wilson  
Re:  Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood,  KS  

Walt Riker called AV on Friday with your request for details on a matter raised by Dale Hogg of Colby Free Press --closure of a "learning center" that "doesn't meet federal standards." AV spoke with Hogg; as it happens, DW has been monitoring this matter and has spoken to key state and local officials. 

Briefly, the school involved is Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood. Beamgard serves 21 mentally retarded students from NW Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska; students reside with local foster families during the week and return home on weekends. Bearngard is being pressured to close by Betty Withers, the top state special education official. Her objection to Bearngard is ostensibly philosophic --that Beamgard students would be better served in their home school districts, as the "least restrictive environment." However, some believe Withers has a personal animus toward Beamgard or is exercising unrestrained bureaucratic power. 

There have been apparently no allegations that Beamgard students are mistreated or otherwise receiving anything but an appropriate education. Parents support the school; other state officials either have steered clear or supported Beamgard. 

To obtain a balanced evaluation of Beamgard, State Senator Sheila Frahm (in whose district Beamgard lies) privately urged, and the State Department of Education recently requested, a program audit by the U.S. Department of Education. The Feds have informally indicated that they will perform the audit; a formal announcement is expected shortly. 

Parenthetically, whatever the facts of this situation, it is another episode in the debate over the best setting to provide services to the disabled. In a parallel situation, Kansas is considering closing one of its three institutions for the mentally retarded (Winfield, KNI, or Parsons). Although providing services in community or fully integrated settings is a laudable ideal, ofttimes closure of a program such as Beamgard represents a victory of ideology over experience. 

At present, this matter appears to be a state issue. We will continue to monitor this situation and apprise you of any significant developments. 

cc: W. Riker, D. Stanley