Where did the money go?
The question continues to be asked of Discovery Tours, a local tour company that once planned student trips.
Documents reveal as many as 5600 parents in roughly two dozen school districts recently made deposits and paid for trips in full only to have them canceled last-minute without refunds.
Pat Adkins is the Superintendent of Port Clinton Schools. His daughter’s 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. was canceled last week.
“Over 50% of our kids are on free and reduced lunch. So, for our parents to raise $500 to send their kids on a Washington, DC trip isn’t easy,” Adkins said.
Principal Carrie Sanchez said it was not the company that first informed them, either, but a hotel where the kids were supposed to stay.
A representative called to tell them Wednesday that the trip had allegedly been canceled in February.
“They were hearing about Discovery Tours, they decided to be proactive and contact their customers,” said Sanchez, who called Discovery Tours next.
She said they never got back to her until Friday, and responded only by email.
“It was just a very blanket, short email saying, ‘we are no longer in business,’” she said.
On Monday, the company filed for bankruptcy. Documents reveal though they had roughly $1.3 million in assets, they were more than $3.9 million in debt.
Ryan Gembala wants to know why and filed a class action lawsuit in Ottawa County, home of Port Clinton, to find out.
“What happened to the money, where did it go, and who has it now?” he asked.
Ohio’s Attorney General is investigating, as prosecutors in at least two counties mull over possible criminal charges.
An attorney for Discovery Tours tells Channel 3 News that the company did have an insurance policy that may help cover some of what the company owes to families.
As for Port Clinton, the move did not mark an end to their trip. The district will cover half the expense, while the rest will come from fundraising.
You can access their GoFundMe page here https://www.gofundme.com/send-pc-to-dc