FARRELL

Crossroads helps non-violent girls behave in family setting

All are sent there by an order of a judge because of misbehavior such as theft, truancy, or running away from home, said Vice President Alex Giroski. None of the girls is violent.

Most of the girls have been through foster care. "Many of them are here because they have no place else to go," Giroski said.

Crossroads, which received state certification through the Department of Public Welfare and the Bureau of Labor and Industry and opened July 26, is proposing schooling the girls at their building. It would hire a state-certified special education teacher and an aide, Giroski said.

"The same exact curriculum they get at Farrell (Area School District) they will get with us," said treasurer Rhett Duleba.

Should any girls be of graduation age in the spring, they would receive a diploma from the district, Giroski said.

The idea behind schooling them at the home is to help the girls learn to control their behavior without the distractions of school, Giroski said. Some are given the chance to attend Farrell’s regular program later.

The girls are already dealing with a new home and new faces and shouldn’t have to adjust to a new school, he added. "We want to stabilize their behavior."

Farrell administrators support the school and want to send disruptive students for schooling at Crossroads, Giroski said. The district has five slots for boys at the alternative school at the Buhl Club in Sharon, but no recourse with girls.

The school would be accredited through Farrell and the district would be responsible for their education, he said. For students who come from outside Farrell -- only one current resident is from Farrell -- the home districts would reimburse Farrell for the cost of educating the girls.

"Over time, this place will be full of Farrell students," Giroski said. "Six of them will be from Farrell and the rest from Sharon."

Most girls stay at the home for only about six months, Giroski said.

The girls earn privileges and few are at the home long enough to gain any measure of independence. Most are not allowed to leave the building unless they are supervised.

Mayor William Morocco said he has received calls about the home after a girl was escorted in handcuffs into the building. He said the girl was arrested for shoplifting in the Grove City area and her mother, who lives in Akron, Ohio, refused to come get her.

Ms. McDuffie said she didn’t expect the opposition she believes has developed and invited community members to learn about the program before making a judgment.

"I wish people would stop and see what we’re doing," she said.

They will get the chance. Crossroads is planning to hold an open house, though a date has not yet been set.