Everest College students, staff hope potential purchase deal goes through

Students and staff at Everest College in Sudbury are anxiously waiting for news about the possible sale of the defunct private career college.

All 14 of its Ontario campuses closed last month after the province pulled its license to operate. The company declared bankruptcy the next day.

For Leena Poxleitner, news that the province is reviewing a purchase offer for the bankrupt college is reason for hope.

She spent $26,000 on tuition and is just a few months from completing her massage therapy course.

Poxleitner said if Everest College doesnt reopen in Sudbury, she would have to go to another city to finish her program which isnt an option for the mother of two.

This is a very, very positive sign, she said.

It makes me very hopeful.

Poxleitner said a group of students plan to meet with Sudburys MPP on Friday and are hoping for good news.

Looking for thebest option

There are few details on what a potential sale would mean for the 2,400 students and 450 staff around the province.

The province said the sale is between the purchaser and the trustee handling the bankruptcy, but the provinces superintendent of career colleges also has to make sure the buyer meets all legislative requirements.

Derryck Turcotte, who was the director of admissions for Everest College in Sudbury, said he hopes that provides some leverage to get students back into classes.

Can they just start school again and pretend like this nightmare of the last two or three weeks, or whatever it turns out to be, just didnt happen? he said.

He said hed like to see a deal reached quickly.

Its the best option, its the quickest option [and] its the easiest option, he said.

So I just hope the ministry keeps rallying with the bankruptcy trustee, with the potential purchaser, whoever it may be. I hope they keep working together as fast as they can to find the best solution for the students.

The ministry is not naming the potential purchaser, but is still working with students on options to transfer to another college or receive a tuition refund.

Nearly 8,000 people have signed a petition demanding the province find a way to reopen the college campuses.