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'You feel betrayed': Parents outraged after Cornelius preschool abruptly closes

By Elsa Gillis
By Elsa Gillis

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Parents are outraged after their child's preschool "Discovery Village Academy" in Cornelius closed abruptly.

"It's just sad what's happened," one parent told us.

"It's like having the rug pulled out from underneath you," said another.

[ALSO READ: Parents upset after Huntersville academy sends letter about closing]

In late September, former Discovery Village Academy parents tell Channel 9 they got an abrupt text from an unknown number.

"Just saying there'd been a building emergency and they had to unfortunately close school that Monday," Emily South told us.

And that was just the start.

They began to get emails from Rick Walker, who they tell Channel 9 is the owner, with the first one saying that the director and several teachers had resigned.

[LINK: Legacy Leadership Academy email to parents]

School continued for a few weeks with a new director and staff then this:

"We get an email that that director resigned immediately and between Wednesday and Thursday the entire teaching staff resigned with no real explanation or warning," South says. "And as of today I have yet to hear anything from Mr. Walker as to whether the school is open, will we be getting tuition repaid, I have received no information."

Kelly Bennett told us she pre-paid $3,600 for the whole school year.

She, like all parents Channel 9 spoke with, has not gotten a refund, and is also paying her child's new school on top of that.

"You feel betrayed because it wasn't just a school, it was a family," says Bennett.

And here's the twist, last year, Channel 9 brought you a similar story.

Parents told us they got a startling email that 'Legacy Leadership Academy' in Huntersville would be closing abruptly.

They couldn't get answers, or their money back. They still haven't gotten either.

And on the Legacy Leadership Academy's website, 'Richard Walker' is listed as being on the Board of Trustees.

He's also listed as a leader with Banyan Strategic Partners, who supports the school.

"I absolutely think that this could happen again," South says, "the saddest thing in all of this, the kids are the collateral damage."

Channel 9 tried to reach Rick Walker, but has not heard back.

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