Seven Hills to acquire N.H. autism school

Photo | Google Maps Crotched Mountain School in Greenfield, New Hampshire

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By Timothy Doyle

Worcester human services nonprofit Seven Hills Foundation has agreed to purchase Crotched Mountain School in Greenfield, New Hampshire from Legacy by Gersh, a program of Huntington, New York-based Gersh Autism.

Offering day and residential programs, the school serves students aged 4-21 on the autism spectrum. It currently enrolls 38 students and covers 125 acres, according to a Monday press release.

The purchase will make the Crotched Mountain School part of Seven Hills New Hampshire, the nonprofit’s newest affiliate.

Long-time Seven Hills president David Jordan served as president of the Crotched Mountain Foundation from 1985-95.

“This will be a bit of a homecoming for me because I dedicated a significant part of my professional career to making this school one of excellence,” Jordan said in the press release. “I look forward to creating a new and promising future for Crotched Mountain School.”

Legacy by Gersh announced on Oct. 17 the school would need to close on Nov. 18 unless the organization could find a buyer for the school.

“Given Seven Hills Foundation’s long history, size and scope, we believe that it is well positioned to resolve the issues and challenges at the school,” said Kevin Gersh, chief autism officer for Legacy by Gersh, Crotched Mountain in the press release. “We are now working hand-in-hand with Seven Hills Foundation to complete the transaction of operations and ensure a smooth transition.”

Seven Hills Foundation and Affiliates is the largest Central Massachusetts human services nonprofit, according to the WBJ Research Department, with nearly $263 million in assets and $303 million in revenues reported at the end of fiscal 2021.