Whetstone Academy’s special exception request tabled

The Oconee County board that decides zoning appeals wants more time to decide whether a therapeutic-based school at Mountain Rest should be allowed to expand, over the objection of some of its neighbors. For about an hour and a half last night, representatives and supporters of the Whetstone Academy and some their unhappy neighbors pitched their arguments as to whether the academy should be allowed to accommodate an additional eight boys. Those boys, described as middle school age troubled boys, are selected from across the country to enroll in a therapeutic-based curriculum that incorporates the rural 57-acre Mountain Rest setting to help them overcome their problems. But neighbors, such as Faith and Danny Hedden, say some of those boys scream and yell profane language inappropriate to their family. And the Heddens and others say a school that they thought was going to limit enrollment to 10 or 12 students now wants to double the number which creates other problems, such as additional traffic down their road. Speaking for her school, Director Sharon Stricker said her school specializes in helping boys with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and, especially she said, boys who’ve been bulled in school. And the father of one bully victim, said Whetstone Academy succeeded in helping his troubled boy get on the right path to succeed in life. But some members of board of zoning appeals indicated they are concerned about what they are now hearing about the three-year old academy. One appeals board member, Gary Littlefield, asked for more time to decide whether to make a special exception to the zoning rules and allow the expansion. Littlefield said he wants to visit the area and judge the conditions before voting.