By Susan Knutson, W.I.N.

Have you ever wondered what goes on at the Minnewaska Area Schools Starbuck Campus?  Or maybe you’ve heard some rumors or tall tales about it.  Well let’s get to the facts and dispel the myths. 

Let’s start with the basic facts.  W.I.N. Academy is housed in the upstairs portion of the Starbuck school campus.  W.I.N. stands for What I Need and is a certified Care and Treatment and Special Education Program.  There is a very small student to staff ratio that includes licensed Special Education Teachers, Licensed Mental Health Professionals, Certified Mental Health Practitioners and Qualified EBD Technicians.

It’s a common myth that students are sent to W.I.N. as a disciplinary action.  The truth is that students are referred to W.I.N. by their home districts to receive specialized educational services and intensive mental health outpatient services. All students at W.I.N. are eligible for Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) and have a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  

Myth number two is that students are locked in W.I.N. Academy.  The truth is that W.I.N. is a secure campus just as the rest of the Minnewaska School Campuses are.  You must have a key fob to enter or buzz the front office to gain entrance to the facility.  However, due to HIPPA regulations that must be followed, because of the nature of the mental health services provided, access into the building is extremely limited. The students at W.I.N. Academy have a right to privacy.  

The greatest and most harmful myth is that W.I.N. is for “bad” kids.  The truth is that W.I.N. is full of wonderful, intelligent, charismatic and loving kids that range from kindergarten to 12th grade.  They participate in regular core area classes as well as shop, FACS and Phy. Ed. just as all public school students do. During their school day all students participate in Individual and Group Mental Health Skill Sessions and weekly Mental Health Therapy Sessions. All of this is done with the goal to transition back to their home districts. 

Here’s what some of the students have to say about W.I.N. A 12th grade student at W.I.N. writes that “W.I.N. Academy fosters an environment where children of many different needs are able to grow and learn, academically as well as socially. The staff are dedicated to the well being of the students, giving personalized attention to each child.  The academy also ensures students enjoy their time at the school by offering a wide variety of daily activities for the children to expand their horizons.”   When asked how W.I.N. has impacted them the most, a 7th grade student replied “how to better control my problematic emotions such as anger, stress or anxiety. I learned that there are better ways to deal with those emotions and have become more stable and calm while in a stressful situation.”  Another student writes that “I have a lot of friends here and I like that there is no bullying.”  And finally from one student, “My favorite thing about W.I.N. is the incentives like going fishing. W.I.N. is a great school. I never want to leave.”

We are a lucky community to have a school system that supports the individual needs of students and invests in the state of student mental health as well as their education.  So next time you hear a rumor or tall tale about W.I.N., just remember that the building is filled with highly-trained and caring staff and that the students are just kids needing extra support to be successful in academics and their social and emotional well being.  

Written by Susan Knutson, who is the W.I.N. Academy Principal