Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten in hands of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants
A kindergarten with more than 60 students in Melbourne’s east is in the hands of administrators. But there are hopes of a saviour.
Outer East
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More than 60 children, families and staff could be affected with a Heathmont kinder being liquidated.
Administrators were appointed for the Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten on February 25 after its board raised concerns about its ongoing viability.
The kindergarten, which caters for children aged three and four, is one of 22 members of the Maroondah Integrated Kindergarten Association.
In a press release on its website, administrators Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants said the Heathmont centre had been managed by an incorporated association which had “a 33-year history of delivering innovative and nurturing programs”.
“Following identifying that the association was likely to become insolvent, the board proactively sought Worrells’ assistance to appoint voluntary administrators to the association,” they stated.
Worrells’ partner Con Kokkinos said he was in final negotiations with a private buyer for the kindergarten, which had been operating as normal since his team was appointed.
Mr Kokkinos cited “reduced enrolments and an inability to reduce costs” as a reason for the kindergarten’s situation.
“We have reached an in principal agreement for a party to acquire the centre … the aim is for the preschool and kinder to continue,” he said.
The kindergarten’s educational leader, Rachael Slattery, said its staff were hopeful of a resolution soon.
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She said the kindergarten’s uncertain future and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak had created “background stress” which had impacted staff.
“We know how it would like it to run and to keep running sessional kinder for our community and the families we know, but we have no way of knowing if it will continue like this,” she said.
A spokeswoman for the Maroondah Integrated Kindergarten Association’s enrolments office declined to comment.