Parents at troubled Montessori school may be out thousands of dollars

Parents at this Montessori school may be out tens of thousands of dollars after it went into receivership Monday, July 23, 2012.

Dozens of parents could be out tens of thousands of dollars after a west-end Montessori school went into receivership this week.

A meeting for parents was held Friday at Nepean’s Canadian Montessori School, whose owners owe the city, Business Development Bank of Canada and the Canadian Revenue Agency almost $2 million.

Parents who had pre-paid their children’s tuition said they’re wondering if they’ll be able to recover any of that money.

“I would like to get our money back but I don't think that's going to happen,” said parent Brad Lecheminant.

“I'd like to be optimistic but I choose to be a little more realistic,” said Christine Pellerin. “I'd look forward to it, but I don't really think I'll be getting that money back.”

David Salamanca said he pulled his two-year-old out of the school in the spring and alleges the De Mel family was trying to sell the property back then.

“They were openly hiding stuff from us, the parents,” he said, adding he’s out $4,000 and that’s on the low end of the scale.

One parent told CTV Ottawa they’re out $17,000.

Court-appointed receiver BDO Canada said they can’t make any guarantees about refunds for parents.

The school property will soon be up for sale, but it’s unknown how much money that will raise towards getting parents their money.

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Claudia Cautillo