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'Unsafe and being used illegally': Search warrant details conditions at Scotland Campus

dylan jacobs, chambersburg public opinion
·5 min read

Scotland Campus Sports, a tiny prep school tucked away in Franklin County, shut down this past spring amid allegations and complaints of deteriorating living conditions and the overall promised athletic experience.

A search warrant was signed by District Judge Kristin D. Nicklas and issued on March 27, leading to an investigation of the campus by the Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance.

The Public Opinion, part of the USA Today Network, obtained a copy of the warrant, which details the conditions on the campus and a timeline of events leading up to when the school closed this spring after it defaulted on its tenant agreement with the property owners.

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Buildings listed as 'unfit' more than 10 years ago

In 2012, R. Clem Malot, a code enforcement officer and the affiant listed on the warrant, inspected the campus. He identified multiple buildings as "unfit" and others that could be used with the proper approval and maintenance.

That report was given to Winebrenner Theological Seminary, which was the owner of the campus at that time. The Seminary deeded the property to Scotland Campus in 2017.

The warrant does not identify the buildings listed as unfit or any resolution from the report.

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'Violations continued to exist'

In 2016, Malot received a complaint from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services regarding blocked doors, which led to an inspector visiting campus. That official determined "violations continued to exist" and found a blocked exit from the infant care area of the on-campus child-care facility.

In 2018, Malot issued a permit for the construction of a concrete pad and gatehouse. The permit gave approval for the footer, foundation and building shell only. No plumbing, electric or HVAC was approved.

An inspection was performed in late 2019 due to an idle permit, which found the pad completed but not the gatehouse. The permit was closed soon after.

However, "recent observations from the public way indicate that the 'gatehouse' has been installed and appears to have electric installed without the necessary permits, inspections or approvals."

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Windows screwed shut, outdated fire extinguishers

In November 2019, Malot received a report from the Greene Township Emergency Management Coordinator regarding an incident at the main school building involving EMC and the Pennsylvania State Police. According to the search warrant, this report listed:

  • Outdated fire extinguishers, including a cabinet that appeared to be locked but wasn't;

  • hallway windows on the second and third floors that were screwed shut;

  • a couch in the hallway near an exit door;

  • clutter near exit doors.

The search warrant did not list any follow up or resolution to that report.

'Extensive list of hazardous and/or dangerous items'

In March 2022, the Building Code Office received complaints about the conditions on campus. Construction Code Administrators then visited the campus in April 2022 for a preliminary inspection, which resulted in an "extensive list of hazardous and/or dangerous items to be corrected."

According to the search warrant, those issues included:

  • Fire extinguisher cabinets that did not house an extinguisher;

  • doors that appeared to be fire doors wouldn't close or operate properly;

  • many of the restrooms were not properly handicap accessible despite signs that indicated they were;

  • paint peeling, broken and missing ceiling tiles in the mail room;

  • safety handrails that were not structurally sound, deemed as a "life safety concern" in the warrant;

  • soda machines blocking fire alarm pull stations and exit doors;

  • one building had no heat, with temperatures 60 degrees or below. Portable heaters were running unattended.

Code administrators also stated that before a final use and occupancy permit would be issued, a full report of the entire fire system would need to be approved.

One month later, in May 2022, the findings, plus permit applications, were sent to the president of Scotland Campus, Dr. David Newell. A reminder letter was sent in July.

According to the warrant, Newell responded that, "We will be compliant in 30 days or less. Most of the deficiencies have been addressed. Signage and emergency lighting remain."

In August, the request for permits was denied due to insufficient information on the application.

In November, a complaint was filed that some doors in the school were chained shut.

Report of 'mouse infestation, bat in a dorm, raw sewage in flooded bathrooms'

In January, a parent of a student filed a complaint with the Code Office, listing a number of safety and health concerns.

Those concerns included:

  • Mouse infestation;

  • a bat in a dorm blocking an entrance;

  • raw sewage coming through the pipes and flooded bathrooms;

  • broken windows and exterior doors;

  • blocked toilets with feces;

  • overflowing trash;

  • leaking water near electrical outlet in laundry room.

The parent told Malot she filed complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Franklin County District Attorney's Office and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Franklin County Youth Protective Services and Pennsylvania State Police visited campus on March 14, and found a lack of heat and hot water in some dorms. At about 1:15 a.m., UGI contacted PSP and said the heat was turned on. PSP then went back to campus later that evening to find that the issue had been resolved.

A day later, Malot received a report that a pipe burst in one of the dorms. The complaint also indicated that issues with heat and water continued.

On March 16, Pennsylvania State Constable Dominique Brown, who worked on campus, requested to file a report. He said there were four dorms without heat or hot water for days. He had noticed exit doors blocked, no fire extinguishers and clogged bathroom sinks and toilets.

Malot wrote in the warrant that "the current conditions … are believed to exist that are affecting the health, safety and welfare of the occupants and users of the facilities.

"The property … is therefore unsafe and being used illegally."

The search warrant was executed at Scotland Campus on March 29. Officials did not seize any property, but pictures were taken.

When asked about the search warrant, Russell Harper, Pennsylvania Municipal Code Alliance enforcement officer, said in an email that "we are unable to reply at this time."

This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Scotland Campus Sports: Search warrant details complaints, conditions