This morning's Ithaca Journal reports on a death at the William George Agency, still commonly called George Junior Republic:
Alexis Javier Cirino-Rodriguez, 20, "became unresponsive after a physical incident involving intervention by the staff from the facility" around 7:18 p.m., according to an announcement by state police officials. Agency staff began CPR, which was continued by Dryden Ambulance personnel, the officials added.
Cirino-Rodriguez was taken to Cortland Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Autopsy results are pending, officials said. In a brief statement, agency officials said they're conducting an internal investigation and that "further information will be released as it becomes available."
Stimulus funds are definitely flowing in Dryden, as the foundation for the new Village of Dryden wastewater treatment plant was poured Wednesday. 55% of the $7.3 million cost is covered by federal and state grants, with a low-interest federal loan covering the rest.
In lighter news, TC3 professor Chris Xaver will have a cooking show on PBS this spring.
Posted by simon at October 15, 2010 6:47 AM in Ithaca Journal , TC3 , schools (other) , water and sewer
My daughter attended "The Republic" many years ago - thank God, uneventfully.
This sends chills down my spine and my condolences go out to the family and friends of this young man.
im gonna leave myself unnamed. i was recently employeed at the William George Junior Children Agency. I feel really bad for this family and their lose. I think that the agency and person or persons involved should be charged with this young man's death. I have seen at first hand how some of the staff treat, and munipulate these children. Even the staff that bully and call these children names. The are trained for 5 days on restraints. The staff at this agency ARE NOT completely qualified for restraints on these children. I was always told by superior staff members that, "its not what you say, but how you word it to keep you out of any trouble." NEW YORK STATE Really needs to reconsider a high performance investigation with this agency. and i would be the first to say this isn't a place for kids that are placed in an unqualified agency. These kids come to a place were they feel secure and excepted. And you have staff that comes in and treats these kids like they are not shit. you can begin to image some of the up brings most of these children have had, and then placed in a setting where the staff members are calling the children child molesters, and retards.