(Below is a copy of a letter written to the pastor of the Community United Methodist Church of East Norwich)
I am a local realtor in the East Norwich/Oyster Bay area, my office Laffey Fine Homes is in fact around the corner from your church and school. This past winter I decided to enroll my now 2-year-old daughter in the Wesley School so that while I was working I would be nearby in case of illness or emergency. Since we do not live locally, my husband and I thought that was our best option. I enrolled my daughter in summer camp and for school in September on Feb. 27. On that day I wrote a check to the Wesley School for $555 (for summer camp and for a school deposit). In the recent publication in the Oyster Bay-Enterprise Pilot it was stated that parents were notified in December and again in April that the plans for the installation were definite. I was never made privy to any of this information, even though we were already registered for summer camp and school. Again when camp started there was no mention of the school closing.
On July 23 when I picked my daughter up from camp, I went into the school director to add on some camp days for August and that is when I was told that camp would be finished Tuesday, July 29 and the school was closing for good. This news was completely devastating to me, I was completely blindsided having no prior knowledge that there was going to be a tower installation. And then when I tried to find placement in another 2-year-old class in Oyster Bay, everything else was filled to capacity. The way this situation was handled was completely unacceptable. Frankly, if you knew ultimately that your school was closing my money never should have been taken in February.
Summer camp was cut a week short and I am still owed payment for a week of summer camp and also my September deposit. When I was told July 29 was the last day of camp, I was told I would receive my refund in two to three weeks, also unacceptable. I should have been handed a check that day. We have now exceeded that time limit and I have left messages at both the church and school offices. Please remit my refund by Sept. 4 or I will have to take additional action. I also wanted to let you know my daughter absolutely adored the staff at the Wesley School. It was a wonderful program. I also would have been happy to fundraise to keep the school open.
Kristin Coffey-Gauger
