Another local, private career school closed its doors this week, though largely free of the controversy that dogged two other schools earlier this year.
Northwest Technical College, a computer and medical coding training school in Lynnwood, folded Monday after a meeting with about 60 of its 90 students.
A representative from the state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, which oversees such schools, was on hand to give students information on other schools and how to get refunds.
Owner Jeff Day said he decided Friday that the school, which had declining enrollment, would not be able to stay open. After consulting with the Workforce board, Day said he notified students via e-mail Saturday of the meeting and posted messages on the school’s door and Web site.
Day agreed Wednesday to talk to The Herald via e-mail.
“This is a traumatic event for everyone involved, and we are working hard to make sure that the students are able to finish their education or to get refunds of their tuition,” he said.
Day said he did not notify students earlier because it would have caused students to drop out early, meaning tuition payments would not come in and instructors would not be paid.
Day gave sufficient notice to the Workforce board and is cooperating, said Tana Stenseng, a spokeswoman for the board.
The state board has been working on new rules for private career schools since the 20-student Go2cert.com and 500-student Business Career Training Institute closed earlier this year under a cloud of questions.
In March, Gig Harbor-based BCTI closed its seven campuses, including one in Everett and two in Oregon, amid an Oregon investigation that it had trumped up its job placement success and recruited outside welfare offices.
In May, Federal Way-based HTLC Inc., which did business as Go2cert.com, closed its Everett and Federal Way campuses after the state began the process of revoking its license following student complaints about classes and refunds.
Among the Workforce board staff’s proposed changes to help prevent such sudden closures are stiffer financial requirements, a probation process for at-risk schools and experience requirements for teachers.
Staff also are proposing a rapid-response team to assist students affected by closures.
Gena Wikstrom, director of the nonprofit Washington Federation of Private Career Schools and Colleges, was at the meeting in Lynnwood to talk with students.
“This is exactly what we’ve been working on,” she said.
Workforce board members, who represent education, business and labor, must approve the changes. They asked for more details and will make a final decision in October
Day noted that his school, BCTI and Go2cert.com all taught computer-related courses, which underscores a drop in demand for such training. As businesses, there is less financial protection when that happens, he said.
Students with questions about refunds or continuing their training should contact the Workforce board at 360-586-8682 or 360-753-5673.
“The closure of private vocational schools has certainly contributed to the perception that the public should be wary of such private schools,” Day said.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
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