Mowbray College will close to all students, except those studying VCE subjects, on Wednesday.
Administrator, Jim Downey, of J P Downey & Co, said the school’s three campuses in Melton and Caroline Springs will close at 5pm, June 6, but will remain operational all 276 students in Years 11 and 12 enrolled in the VCE and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma only, until the end of the current school term.
Students in Years 9 and 10 undertaking VCE subjects will be able to complete their VCE exams and assessments at Mowbray College.
Mowbray College will operate as usual – including bus services – each day until Wednesday, when it will close at 5pm. As usual, the College will supervise students until they are picked up from school.
The College will be in contact with parents to let them know when they can collect any personal belongings remaining after Wednesday 6 June 2012.
Administrator, Jim Downey, of J P Downey & Co., said that he is pleased that the State Government has provided up to $1 million by way of loan funding which will allow the VCE students to continue at the College until the end of term and complete their mid-year VCE and IB Diploma exams and assessments with as little disruption as possible.
Following this it is anticipated that, in due course, the College will proceed into liquidation.
The Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will assist students and parents to find alternative placements at other schools.
Staff will be eligible to claim outstanding entitlements via the General Employee Entitlements Redundancy Scheme (GEERS), administered by the Federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). The scheme comes to the aid of employees following such a situation where an employer is placed into liquidation.
Mr Downey said that the limited funding was a positive for VCE and IB Diploma students in the short term, however, despite concerted efforts to obtain requisite funding to keep the entire College operating, a sufficient amount was not available.
“The closure is a highly regrettable outcome, however there is no alternative,” Mr Downey said.
“I have engaged at length with the State Government and the College financiers, to find suitable funding.
“As the Administrator appointed to manage the insolvent College, I am only able to trade on if there is sufficient funding available.. In the absence of sufficient funding, I am left with no alternative but to progressively close the school by the end of Term 2.”
Enquiries regarding the future of students should be directed to the Government Parent Information Lines on 92916524, 9291 6559 or 03 92916500 – or email community.stakeholders@ edumail.vic.gov.au. The telephone lines are operating between 10am and 8pm pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm this weekend.
