Kilmore’s Colmont School year 12 students given a lifeline by ‘hero’ teachers

By Colin MacGillivray

A SELFLESS group of teachers has banded together to provide stability for year 12 students following the closure of Kilmore’s Colmont School.

The international baccalaureate, IB, school, formerly known as The Kilmore International School, appointed administrators on July 26, with students from years three to 10 finishing three days later.

The administrators from Vince and Associates had vowed to keep the school open for year 11 and 12 students for as long as possible, but last week announced year 12s would be unable to study at the school beyond today. Year 11 students finished on Friday last week.

Colmont families were left reeling by the decision, but senior teachers were determined to give their students the best possible chance of completing their final IB exams.

IB coordinator Deanna Krilis said a group of teachers had negotiated access to Ivanhoe Grammar School’s Plenty campus in Doreen, as well as GOTAFE’s Wallan campus with the aid of Mitchell Shire Council.

Ms Krilis said the arrangement would allow students to continue their studies with familiar teachers.

“The most important thing is creating a program for the next few weeks that is stable for the kids, because they’ve had such a mix of news,” she said.

“This plan allows them to finish their work, prepare for their final exams and complete their final exams at [an IB] registered school. They deserve some certainty and security, which is what this plan is all about.”

Although the teachers volunteered for the plan without any assurance of being paid, students and their families threw their support behind the group by organising an online fundraiser on website GoFundMe.

As of yesterday afternoon the page, titled TKIS Year 12, had raised more than $6000 of a $30,000 goal.

School parent Jane Lamb said she was grateful for the support of the teachers.

“All I can say is thank goodness these teachers have put their hands up and really put the kids first. They’ve been the heroes in all of this,” she said.

“There was no other option. For a lot of people their kids can’t go down to Melbourne [to study at another IB school], and even if we could a lot of the schools didn’t have places.

“Without wanting to sound too dramatic, they’ve been our saviours. Without them I don’t know what we would have done.”

Ms Krilis said teachers would be at Ivanhoe Grammar’s Plenty campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and GOTAFE’s Wallan campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of term.

She said there would be a mix of online and face-to-face learning to allow flexibility for both teachers and students.

“Some of the teachers can only work in the morning, some in the afternoon and some only online depending on their personal circumstances,” she said.

“We’re trying to be respectful of people’s individual needs, so across the five days the students will have access to their teachers, either face-to-face or online at one or both of the two campuses if the teachers choose that.

“It means they will have a really good finish and preparation for their final exams.”

Ms Krilis said while she was not directly involved in the fundraiser to support the students, she appreciated the backing of the community and pledged to be accountable to parents.

“I don’t know how the fundraiser will work and we certainly didn’t come into this with the expectation of putting in a bill,” she said.

“We’re obviously going to keep records. It’s not just going to be a whole lot of cash handed over. We’re keeping records of attendance for students and staff work hours as well.

“There is full accountability and transparency for the parents, and then it’s up to them how the fundraiser works. The parents are a very strong group for our year 12s, and they’ll decide how that money is best used.”