WyoTech To Close West Sacramento Campus
WEST SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Barring a last-second miracle, a West Sacramento technical school announced it would be closing, leaving students shocked as dozens are already out of work.
Rumors surfaced that WyoTech's parent company was looking to sell the campus, but failed to find a buyer. Now, students like Brittan Kendall, who moved from Georgia to attend the mechanic's trade school, feel blindsided.
"Everyone's crying and upset because they're letting people go left and right," he said.
The announcement was made Thursday that no new students will be accepted and 49 employees in admissions and financial aid were being laid off the same day.
"It's hard to see people that have helped you out so much, standing on the curb crying with a box of their stuff, walking to their car," said Kendall.
Campus leaders say the nearly 1,000 students currently enrolled will be able to graduate before closing Oct. 18.
Still, many students are left feeling misled.
"Signed up Jan. 30, to enroll with promises that 'we're going to be open, we're the WyoTech family," student Eric Doyle said. "They sold us a false dream. You made all these promises and now you're taking them away."
Local school leaders say it was a decision that, ultimately, was out of their hands.
"We suspect it was (a financial decision). We don't know all the details but those details are being released by our corporate headquarters," said WyoTech President Kurt Schake.
WyoTech issued this statement:
"While we will continue our efforts to sell the Sacramento campus, we have decided to discontinue all new student enrollment activities at the Sacramento campus and will teach-out that campus in the event that we are unable to find a viable operator."
WyoTech says it's hoping staff and teachers will be able to transfer to other campuses. The nearest one is in Fremont.
