Rock County's youth detention facility could be one of the most misunderstood businesses around. Pinnacle Programs and Praxis, both in the former Magnolia school, are about education and reformation Ñ just a little different than may be expected.
Pinnacle is the boys-only, live-in program made up of boys sent by corrections departments in various counties and states. Praxis is a day-only school in which both male and female students from the area are sent by schools that feel students need additional attention, usually because of behavioral problems.
Right now, things are going well for the facility, for Pinnacle in particular. Rebecca Dreesen, group leader, said, "We're filled to capacity [at 22] and we're considering increasing the license to allow up to 35."
After employee Sharon Smidstra was convicted in November 1999 of sexual crimes against residents, there was a slip in enrollment.
Smidstra is now serving time for those crimes, and Dreesen said the initial enrollment loss has been more than made up for. Pinnacle has re-established itself as a quality facility that has learned from its mistakes. Dreesen said the Smidstra problems, if nothing else, have taught staff how to better see signs of trouble.
Dreesen credits the strong usage of the program to a skilled staff consisting of fully-accredited teachers, counselors and a recreational therapist. Anger management and chemical dependency are regular parts of the curriculum.
The facility itself isn't what many may remember as Magnolia Public School. Carpeting, paint and remodeling have changed the look and feel into residential, rather than institutional.
Many of the Pinnacle residents are sent because of crimes that courts deem justification for removal from their homes. Dreesen said theft, truancy and vandalism are the main offenses that residents have committed. And because Pinnacle is a non-secure facility, it wouldn't handle felons or severely violent offenders.
"They're not bad kids," Dreesen said. "We have some with behavior problems, but others go out and work in the community."
Blue Mound Inn, Luverne, has been a steady employer of Pinnacle boys, who also help at various events like Arts in the Park during Buffalo Days. Any work that the youth don't get paid for is considered community service, which most have been sentenced to serve. The Blue Mound Woodcarvers just requested some help from the boys, and the boys also volunteer at places such as the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.
Other times, the Green Earth Players have performed a dress rehearsal at Pinnacle and church groups or senior citizens have visited for socials. Isolation is not a part of the programming.
A home in the middle of nowhere
Having to drive a distance to reach even a bus depot is a benefit to the program, Dreesen said. "I think it's a big plus. We haven't had anyone run for a year, and where are they going to go?"
With many of the students coming from Omaha or St. Paul, Dreesen said they may enjoy country life differently than our own Rock County residents do.
"One helped a farmer do castrations, and he just thought that was the most amazing thing. Another boy helps the neighbors shovel their snow. It's new to them," Dreesen said.
More than anything, Pinnacle tries to provide a stable life for its residents. Strict schedules and rules fill the boys' days, and any outside work or activities are considered a reward for following the regimen.
Mark Raymon, line supervisor and trainer, works with the residents all day as they go about their activities and classes. He also tries to work with them on physical challenges like rope climbing to instill self-trust, self-esteem and motivation in the students.
Friday he took a group to a hockey game in Sioux Falls and said itÕs fun to relate to them outside the usual environment. "It's fun to see the changes in them," Raymon said.
"Some of their family lives haven't been the best," Dreesen said. "Some call this their home and donÕt want to leave."
Even when they leave, some have kept in contact with the program facilitators. "We just had a student who was discharged five months ago who called Saturday to check in with us," Dreesen said. "And we ran into another one when we were at a conference in Omaha."
Those strong ties, Dreesen said, are formed because of good staff and administration team efforts.
Pinnacle and Praxis employ about 35 people.