Marlin Academy, is an Alabama military school. Edwin Spangler was commandant of the academy for the first two seasons and beginning of season 3. He ruled the school with an iron fist (read: claw) and hates cadets who disrupt authority with insurrection. Spangler loses his job at Marlin after a cadet reported him to the police for being drunk and charges were filed against him.
Lois Wilkerson had sent her eldest son, Francis, there after getting arrested. His insurrection and rebellious nature caused Spangler to clash with him a lot. Francis emancipates himself and leaves school in season 3's Houseboat, with the help of an unscrupulous, cheap lawyer. This ends up incurring Lois' wrath because she was against him leaving school from the start. Spangler is fired shortly thereafter and it is unknown what becomes of the school or other cadets.