CINCINNATI, Ohio — Dohn Group Excessive College college students and employees had been having fun with their spring break on Friday, when out of the blue, they came upon their faculty yr had come to an finish.
In an electronic mail despatched to oldsters and guardians of scholars, it was introduced that the college could be closing efficient Monday, March 31, resulting from “monetary challenges stemming from the earlier faculty yr.”
Kemothy Ruffin Jr., the uncle of a senior scholar at Dohn, informed WCPO 9 the information caught the household off guard.
“It’s totally devastating and unlucky,” Ruffin Jr. stated.
He stated the choice put his household and others in a troublesome spot.
“We do not know what the following steps are as a way to make sure that this younger, African American male is ready to graduate along with his diploma so he can go on to be a productive citizen,” Ruffin Jr. stated.
The information got here with out warning to everybody, together with academics like Keryle Hess.
“The top of the corporate informed us that we would be able to go to no less than the tip of April, most likely finish of Might with no downside in any respect, after which we came upon that we had been closed,” Hess stated.
Hess stated they knew the college could be closing. That had already been introduced earlier this month, however all indications pointed towards college students ending the rest of the college yr.
“None of us anticipated it to be this fast,” Hess stated.
Hear how college students and academics at the moment are looking for various choices within the video under:
Dohn Group Excessive College college students, employees left scrambling after sudden closure
Hess stated the corporate that owns Dohn expects a month’s discover from academics if they’re leaving for an additional job. She stated in addition they take a ten% reimbursement from the trainer’s wage.
She stated she needed to start searching for one other job, however due to her contract, she put it off.
Now she stated she and different academics are left scrambling.
“We’ve to search for positions,” Hess stated.
WCPO 9 reached out to the CEO of the college, William Geraghty, asking what choices college students, notably seniors, had transferring ahead. Geraghty despatched the next response:
We acknowledge how troublesome this case is for our college students and households, particularly our seniors who’ve labored so arduous to achieve this level. Guaranteeing that our seniors can graduate on time is our high precedence. We’re actively working with a number of colleges within the space to determine the most effective placement choices that meet commencement necessities. Every senior’s scenario is exclusive, so we will probably be reaching out to households individually to debate the most effective path ahead. Mother and father will obtain detailed data early subsequent week.
For college students who usually are not graduating this spring, now we have been in touch with a number of native colleges to make them conscious that households could also be reaching out about enrollment. We’re dedicated to supporting college students find the most effective transition plan to proceed their schooling.
Moreover, I’ve spoken with CPS Superintendent Shauna Murphy, and CPS is internet hosting an enrollment honest on Sunday at midday at 2651 Burnet Avenue in Corryville. They provide quite a lot of applications that might be able to assist college students throughout this transition. We’ve shared this data with all dad and mom.
I respect you reaching out to get data from us on this. We all know that is an extremely difficult time for college kids and their households, and we’re doing the whole lot we are able to to help them in making a easy transition.
William Geraghty, CEO of Dohn Group Excessive College
WCPO 9 interviewed CPS Superintendent Shauna Murphy on Saturday. She stated they are going to be internet hosting an enrollment honest on Sunday at Midday for households searching for an alternative choice.
“We’ll have a whole group of individuals from our Buyer Care Heart who can stroll them by our registration and enrollment course of.”
Murphy stated they may even be on the constructing at 8 a.m. on Monday. She stated should you aren’t capable of attend both session, you’ll be able to register to enroll on their web site.
Regardless of the troublesome information, some folks, like Diane Sharp, are attempting to make the most effective out of the scenario.
Sharp is the meals service director at Dohn. Saturday night, she held a banquet for 2 graduating seniors at Trinity United Methodist Church in Covington.
“I am giving them their flowers, as a result of Dohn stated ‘it is the place goals come true,’ after they closed like that, that is a nightmare,” Sharp stated.
Sharp stated she mentored the 2 seniors, who served dishes they made for his or her households on the banquet.
She stated she hopes the almost 600 college students who attend Dohn will discover solutions quickly.
“We’re attempting to maintain the youngsters out of the road,” Sharp stated. “That is the entire function of faculties and stuff proper? However, I do not suppose the youngsters ought to endure for some adults’ foolishness.”
Watch Stay:
The Week As It Occurred