History
Brief History Of The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center
The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center had its origin back in the early 1950s when the Federation of Women's Clubs of Geauga county conceived the idea of starting a school for children who were excluded from the public schools because of low I.Q. The county Superintendent estimated that 13 children would qualify for such a school.
With some financial help from the Kiwanis Club, the first school was started in the spring of 1952, meeting in the Odd Fellows Hall in Burton. There were nine students and parents were charged $4.00 per week tuition. The school was named "Opportunity School" and it accepted children up to age 18.
The following year found the school located at St. Helen's Church in Newbury, and then for the next six years, school was held in the old Burton School. In 1959 the school moved to the Newbury Town Hall. In 1960, its home became the Newbury American Legion Hall.
Transportation was a problem right from day one of the school since some of the enrollees were Amish and other non-Amish parents did not have cars. At first, volunteers from the Women's Federation transported the children to and from school in their private cars. Finally, in 1953, the school was able to purchase a Jeep and hired its first driver for $10 a week. During these early days, lunches were prepared and served by mothers. All families were asked to contribute food so that nothing had to be purchased.
During the period 1952 through the early 60's, the school operated on modest tuitions and donations of money and goods from parents and interested citizens. Starting in 1954 and continuing even today, various fund-raising drives were held, the most popular of which were community-wide dinners. The attendance at these affairs always topped 1000. More recently annual quilt and craft auctions have been held. It is not uncommon to raise over $25,000 at these auctions.
Because of the financial burden of operating a special school, the parents petitioned the county welfare department in 1962 to set up special classes. Under a state law, if eight or more parents petitioned the welfare department for such classes, the welfare department was obliged to comply. Under the auspices of the welfare department, two classes were started in the fall of 1962. Students were required to be under the age of 21 with an I.Q. of 50 or less and there was to be no more than 12 students per class. Money from the welfare department was used to operate the school. Wellington Chapman, Geauga County Welfare Director, acted as school administrator.
In 1964, another class was added and a workshop was started for those individuals who were beyond the age requirements of the school. The workshop was housed in the Newbury Legion Hall and later transferred to the Newbury Town Hall.
Also in 1964, the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Foundation donated 12 acres of land and $212,000 to the school for construction of a new building. The stipulation was that the school be named after Bessie and a permanent picture and memorial to her be displayed at the school. The county was to provide operating funds. A half-mill levy was put on the ballot for the operation of the school and passed by a four to one margin.
The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Foundation was founded by James Metzenbaum, a prominent Cleveland attorney and state senator, in memory of his wife, Bessie, who died in 1920 after 14 years of marriage. After her death, James became reclusive and moved from his home in Euclid to a downtown hotel. He visited his wife's resting place, a mausoleum in Cleveland's Lakeview Cemetery, two or three times a week and devoted the remainder of his life doing benevolent work in her memory.
One night in the 1940's, he could not sleep so he got in his car to take a drive. He drove out to Geauga County and found himself in the vicinity of Caves and Cedar Roads. He spotted a parcel of land there that he knew he had to develop into a memorial to his wife, Bessie. He purchased 100 acres on the Northeast corner of the intersection and named it Wisteria Hill after the fragrant vine that his wife had grown at their home in Euclid.
In 1948, the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Foundation was incorporated and 50 acres of land was deeded to the foundation. In 1958, the foundation grounds were opened for the use of various groups such as the scouts and campfire girls. In 1960 a cabin was erected for the use of the Cerebral Palsy Association and the Euclid Day Care Center. Mr. Metzenbaum would often visit the property working on the land, planting trees and enjoying the outdoors. Mr. Metzenbaum died in January of 1961 at the age of 77.
Construction of the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Opportunity School began in the summer of 1965 and was finished the following spring. The first full year of operation began in September of 1966 with 59 students enrolled under the leadership of Superintendent George Clemens, having been appointed in 1965. The school was still operating under the auspices of the county welfare department.
In 1967, S.B. 169 was passed which provided for county boards of MR/DD. These boards were to consist of seven members, five of which were to be appointed by the county commissioners and one to be appointed by the probate judge with the judge filling out the remaining slot. Since the passage of S.B. 169, the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center has operated under the Geauga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Operating funds come from state and local sources and Medicare provides funds for the Residential program.
In 1971, the Center received a $350,000 grant for the construction of a sheltered industries facility. In 1976, four residences were built after receiving a grant of $100,000 from the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Foundation. In 1977, the official name was changed from the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Opportunity School to the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center in order to incorporate all three facets of the facility: school, workshop and residence.
In 1987, a new Adult Services Workshop was built on the western edge of the property and Superintendent George Clemens retired after 23 years on the job. Daniel Larrick, current Superintendent, succeeded Mr. Clemens as the second Superintendent of the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center. Major renovations and additions to the school, including a physical education facility and a therapy pool, were completed in 1991 under Mr. Larrick's leadership.
Over 500 individuals participate in the various services offered by the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center. The Department of Children's Services enrolls 212 children ranging from infants to age 22; the Adult Services Department has about 190 adults in their programs while up to 40 adults reside in the Centers four homes.
The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center has come a long way since its inception over 40 years ago with its initial enrollment of nine children.
Many of us have driven along Cedar Road in Chesterland and wondered what goes on at the growing complex called the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center. In 1993 the program marked their 25th year of providing services to Geauga County's mentally retarded and developmentally disabled citizens. During this time the program has undergone tremendous change. In particular, changes over the past five years have created one of the finest programs in the State of Ohio.
The program is operated by the seven member Geauga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Five members are appointed by the Geauga County Commissioners and two are appointed by the Geauga County Probate Court. All Board members serve as volunteers for four year terms and provide the overall direction for the program.
Over the course of the past five years, the Board has completed a series of capital improvement projects to upgrade and modernize the buildings you see on Cedar Road. The resulting state-of- the-art facilities provide a supportive environment for the delivery of a broad range of specialized services. These changes have been necessary to deal with an increasing number of mentally retarded and developmentally disabled citizens of Geauga County who require the assistance and services the program offers.
While these physical changes have been exciting, those associated with the program talk more about the new philosophies and practices now being used. These changes are making it possible for disabled citizens to achieve more than was ever thought possible a few years ago.
The traditional approach to the care and treatment of disabled citizens frequently resulted in their isolation from the community. Emphasis was placed upon tender, loving care which provided protection in segregated settings. While this traditional approach was well intended, the result was often a lowering of expectations for the disabled person. The assumption was often made that individuals with impaired intellectual functioning were incapable of making even the most basic decisions of daily living.
Over the course of the last five year, this approach has been greatly improved throughout the State of Ohio, and most particularly, here in Geauga county. The emphasis now is upon skill development aimed at achieving the maximum level of independence possible for each individual.
The students and adults who now attend the programs offered by the Geauga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities spend much of their time working, living and playing in the Geauga County community.
The program provides a broad array of services to benefit disabled, and potentially disabled citizens of the county. Heavy emphasis is placed upon Early Intervention Services for children. Children who show evidence of or who are at risk of, delayed development are eligible. The largest enrollment in the Children's Services Department stems from enrollment in the Early Childhood Department. They include both disabled and typically developing children. A wide variety of specialized services such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Music Therapy, and Water Therapy are offered. Throughout these early years, focus is continually placed upon developing the skills required for success upon admission to a local public school.
For those students with more severe disabling conditions, the program provides educational services to school age children through the age of 22. Even more intense therapy and specialized services are offered to these children. At this level, emphasis is placed upon mastering the functional skills of daily living. The focus continues to be placed upon more independent, normalized living in later life.
Of course, a major part of normalized living is one's job or employment. The board's Adult Services Program addresses the vocational needs of over 190 citizens through a variety of services. A similar focus upon independence is the mainstay of these services. A similar focus upon independence is the mainstay of these services as well. The Adult Services Program provides for direct employment in a Sheltered Workshop setting where basic work skills are developed. Over the past five years, new services emphasizing Community Based Employment have been added. This has resulted in community based enclaves and a variety of job opportunities in the surrounding community. Individuals who participate in these programs become tax paying members of their communities just like everyone else.
Over the years, the Board has been confronted with the need for more and more residential services. this need frequently arises from the death of parents who have been life long care givers for their disabled child. For many years, the Board has operated a 40 bed residential facility at the center's location on Cedar Road. This program provided services to severely disabled citizens who do not have a safe and supportive living situation. This program continues today with a long waiting list of those in need of these services.
In the past ten years, the Board has taken a new approach to the development of residential services. This approach is called Supported Living and results in a living arrangement, with appropriate support services in the community. 56 Adult consumers of the program now live in Chardon, Middlefield, Chesterland and other surrounding communities. The Board provided the services required to insure their safety and further skill development. This program has provided exciting opportunities for individuals who were formally very isolated citizens. Tremendous growth has been realized by those who have moved into the community. Many now function as normal citizens who must deal with the typical decisions of daily living.
Hopefully, this information will give you further food for thought the next time you drive past the facilities on Cedar Road. Every county in the State of Ohio offers a similar program for its disabled citizens and The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center has been a fixture in our county for the past 25 years. The program has grown and expanded during this time and it continues to provide opportunities for individual who have much to offer their communities. Recent efforts to expand the abilities of these individuals in spite of their disabilities, places our program at the forefront of current philosophies and practices.
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