The Seven Hills Foundation has agreed to purchase Legacy by Gersh’s Crotched Mountain School, according to a statement made by Kevin Gersh, chief autism officer for Legacy by Gersh.
Legacy by Gersh, a school for children with autism, announced last month it would be closing Nov. 18 due to staffing shortages. However, according to a statement made by Gersh on Nov. 7, the school will not be cl0sing.
Gersh stated on the school’s website that he is “thrilled that the school has found an ideal partner to continue all operations at the Crotched Mountain Campus. The school will not be closing.”
“Seven Hills is uniquely positioned to help address the staffing issues that have plagued Crotched Mountain School in recent years,” Gersh stated. “They employ more than 4,600 professionals and offer[s] a continuum of support and services to more than 60,000 children and adults with disabilities and life challenges across New England.”
In the statement, Gersh praised the work of David A. Jordan, who has served as president of Seven Hills for 28 years and also as president of Crotched Mountain Foundation from 1985 to 1995.
“Not only does [Jordan] have a history here and a deep love for the campus, but he is the pioneer who built many of the facilities you see today at Crotched Mountain,” Gersh stated. “He is wholly and personally invested in the success of each student we serve. We could not have scripted a better person or organization to lead this campus and create a new and promising future for Crotched Mountain School.”
In the meantime, Gersh stated that Legacy by Gersh would continue to provide a high level of safety and care to all of its students.
“Our top priority now is to work hand in hand with Seven Hills to ensure a smooth and seamless handoff as the campus enters this new and exciting phase,” he stated.
Gersh Autism acquired Crotched Mountain School in 2021 after the Crotched Mountain Foundation announced it would be closing the school because of unsustainable operating costs. It had taken over management of the school in November 2020.
According to Seven Hills’ website, it was founded when “a group of parents in Central Massachusetts came together to advocate for their children in 1953,” and now has more than 190 locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and eight foreign countries.
“Since 1953, Seven Hills Foundation has had a history of caring for people who have the ability to thrive when given the support, respect and dignity that all human beings deserve,” the website states. “The basic principle of serving others is the cornerstone of the foundation upon which Seven Hills is built.”