Parents were surprised to learn the Academy at King’s Way in Cape Coral is closing February 15th. They also noticed a new sign, “Living Water’s Church” covering the school’s marquee as they arrived to drop of their kids Thursday morning.
“We have no idea what’s going on, what the reason is, we don’t know where we are going to put our kids at this point,” said one mother, who did not want to give her name.
The school provided 4-In-Your-Corner with the following statement:
"Academy at King's Way is shutting down due to financial hardships and challenges placed on the building and school after Hurricane Irma. We are working diligently to find schools and daycares for our kids to attend as well as seeing that the burden on our staff is absorbed.”
But another parent isn’t buying that explanation, based on the school’s lavish spending.
“They have provided portables that are very expensive, they have replaced all of the kids toys completely with new toys, and they cater lunch that the parents don’t pay for,” said another parent who also wanted to stay anonymous.
Both women are left scrambling to find another Pre-k option for their children, something that is almost impossible halfway through the year.
“We’ve called all these schools and they have nothing available for us,” said one of the parents.
She also worries about how a potential gap between Pre-k and kindergarten will affect her son.
“This is a critical moment, his social life, his emotions, his learning.”
Parents are urging the church to keep the academy open until the end of the school year, so everyone has time to find another school for their children
“Being a church you would think that would care about the families, the lives they are leaving high and dry.”
Both of the parents 4-In-Your-Corner interviewed said King’s Way won’t refund the deposit and application fee they had to put down for their children at the start of the school year.
