Year 12 students at Colmont School to finish classes this week

Despite great optimism after the appointment of new administrators, devastated year 12 students at Colmont School will finish up this week.

Year 12 students at Colmont School will finish up on Tuesday and those who have left cannot return, administrators told staff on Monday.

Despite great optimism amid the appointment of new administrators, a financial lifeline for the beleaguered school has not eventuated and an investigation into its affairs has commenced.

Staff who have received termination letters will have their jobs end on Tuesday.

The school went into liquidation in late July, giving students only two days’ notice of its closure.

Some of the 90 International Baccalaureate students have continued studying at the school, but will have their final day on Tuesday.

Students and parents protesting outside Parliament House last week. Picture: Ian Currie

A letter from Rachel Burdett and Bruno Secatore from new administrators Cor Cordin said the transition arrangements put in place by former administrators Vince and Associates will continue.

“Our priority is to ensure the students are looked after and a vast number have taken up positions with other schools and we are required to ensure this transition occurs,” the letter said.

“Year 12 students are continuing their classes until close of the day on Tuesday. Classes for all other year levels have finished up.

“Given the existing transition of students and teachers, the strict regulatory requirements (which are significant given the student environment) and the need to have the school funded properly to maintain these requirements, students cannot return to school,” it said.

The administrators told staff that longer-term arrangements were progressing but “we have not received any proposals to consider to date. We have also commenced our investigations into the Company’s affairs”.

Some parents have forked out up to $50,000 in tuition and boarding fees to Colmont School for the rest of the school year.

Kylie Busk, assistant secretary of the Independent Education Union, said the news was “heartbreakingly sad for staff, students and parents”.

“We’re pleased the new administrators have been able to provide clarity for staff so promptly,” she said.

“At this stage Cor Cordis are not saying ‘no future’ but seem to have determined ‘not right now’”.

Administrators are assessing the full financial position of the school, which received around $16m in public and private funds in 2021 and still had 360 students when it went broke last month.

The Herald Sun spoke to a creditor who is owed $50,000 who doesn’t have much hope of being paid for work associated with the transition from Kilmore International School to Colmont.

“How did they go ahead when they were not in a position to pay their debts when they fell due?” he said.

It comes as more than 100 students have accepted places at other schools, including Assumption College and St Patrick’s Primary in Kilmore and Our Lady of the Way in Kingsbury.

Advanced talks are under way with Ivanhoe Grammar, with some IB students and staff attending three days a week and some students moving to the VCE program.