Westfield investigating Harry Potter-themed school for 'at-risk' children
Update, Aug. 24, 2023: This story has been updated with an additional statement from property owner Chris Wellman regarding Westfield's inspections of his property.
The city of Westfield is investigating a Harry Potter-themed school and Airbnb built near Grand Park.
The Spellcaster’s Academy aims to teach "at-risk" children in "a new approach to education," according to its website. The school features a small building with Gothic-style architecture and Quidditch hoops on property off 193rd Street west of Grand Park. It's a quiet area, mostly cornfields and houses.
Chris Proffitt, a Westfield spokesman, did not answer questions specifically about what the city is looking into. However, IndyStar could find no trace of a zoning approval for the school in city records.
Such approvals often are necessary. Earlier this year, Westfield Washington Schools received zoning approval from the Westfield City Council that allows the district to build a second middle school on about 96 acres near the northeast corner of Centennial Road and State Road 32.
Chris Wellman, the property owner and "headmaster" of Spellcaster's Academy, in an email to IndyStar said the city of Westfield completed two inspections on the building and that Wellman is waiting for the city's final inspection to be scheduled.
Wellman, who founded a gutter, dryer vent and chimney cleaning business, said the property is zoned "single family agricultural" and that Westfield was "under the false impression" that Spellcaster's Academy is a traditional public school.
"The city didn't see any issue as the city was simply following up on a complaint from an ill informed neighbor," Wellman wrote.
He said the school is intended to operate as a “hybrid home and school, tantamount to a Boys and Girls Club.”
“I fully understand this is very unique and is going to irk some people,” Wellman wrote. “But unique is exactly what is needed to help kids in need because until now, no one has been able to come up with an efficient system to help them achieve a better life.”
It's unclear whether the school has an opening date, has hired teachers or has admitted students. Wellman provided an emailed statement Aug. 3 to IndyStar in which he described the purpose of the school, and another one about Westfield's inspections Thursday after this story published online, but did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls with additional questions from IndyStar during that timeframe.
Spellcaster's website states that an "innovative and tailored" curriculum will help students be successful.
"While we agree that a solid foundation of math, English, and sciences are important for all students, rather than having all of them memorize and regurgitate Calculus, Hemingway, and the chemical formula for photosynthesis all in the name of standardized testing, we believe that a curriculum that focuses on truly learning of foundational subjects enhanced with practical learning and life skills application will help create prepared and functional adults in society," the website says.
It's also unclear if the school has approval from Warner Bros., which owns the rights to Harry Potter, to use the name or likeness of the Hogwarts wizarding school and other similarities to the series. A media contact for J.K. Rowling, who authored the Harry Potter books, referred questions to Warner Bros. Attempts to reach multiple press representatives for Warner Bros. were unsuccessful.
Hamilton County property records show Wellman acquired the land south of 193rd Street in 2019 for just over $500,000. The property also includes two houses on a V-shaped driveway, both visible from the road, plus a tennis court and lake. The academy is south of the lake in a third building, blocked from view from the road by a treeline.
Spellcaster's Academy also is not accredited by the state's Department of Education, though such accreditation isn't necessarily required to teach students. It hasn't applied for school vouchers.
"Spellcaster’s Academy is not state accredited and has not filed an accreditation petition with IDOE, requested a school number, nor applied to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program," said Molly Williams, a spokesperson for the department of education.
The school received tax-exempt approval from the IRS last month. Its website also advertises the property as an Airbnb and the official listing shows guests can stay at $270 a night. Profits from the Airbnb will go toward operating the school, according to the listing.
The listing describes a 2-story tower, library, kitchen and bathroom on a 10-acre campus. Profits from the rentals will fund the school, the listing says.
"Guests will have access to the entire building," according to the listing, "however, we ask that they remember the Great Hall and kitchen and bathroom are used by the teacher and students during the week and ask that they respect the teacher and students' personal belongings. Food items in the kitchen and refrigerator will be labeled and should not be consumed."
Spellcaster's Academy had an open house on the property in July, according to its Facebook page.
Contact IndyStar's Carmel and Westfield reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Westfield investigating Harry Potter-themed school for 'at-risk' kids
