Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca denied reaccreditation; former CEO is sued -...

[massage]

Matt Steecker Ithaca Journal

Published 2:53 PM EDT May 3, 2019


An organization that once accredited the Finger Lakes School of Massage has decided to deny reaccreditation to the massage school.

The Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training announced its decision Wednesday.

In December, ACCET sent a letter to the school's director, Jerry Barber, outlining 14 topics of concern that needed to be resolved, some of which included record keeping and financial issues.

More: Accreditors inspecting issues at Finger Lakes School of Massage

In the latest letter from April 29, ACCET stated: "The institution failed to demonstrate that its newly established broad institutional goals are systematically and effectively utilized to guide the operation of the institution, including admissions, finances, education and training, management and student services."

ACCET's letter also outlines other areas, including human resource management, where the massage school has not met requirements:

"The institution failed to demonstrate that it ensures that: (a) qualified and capable personnel, at appropriate staffing levels, are effectively utilized and evaluated at least annually; and (b) the implementation of policies and procedures effectively address the recruitment, selection, hiring, orientation, evaluation, retention, training, and professional development of all personnel."

Although the school was denied its application for reaccreditation, it does not have to close immediately. The Finger Lakes School of Massage can seek accreditation through another organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or it can appeal the reaccreditation denial.

The school's parent organization, TruMantra Education Group, released a statement to students, faculty and staff about the denied application for reaccreditation

"On Monday, April 29, 2019, the school’s accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission on Continuing Education and Training (ACCET), denied Finger Lakes’ application for reaccreditation. Please know that everyone at the schools and Trumantra Education, which owns and operates the Finger Lakes main campus in Ithaca, NY and branch campuses in Mount Kisco, NY, and Frederick, MD, are deeply concerned with your welfare," the statement read. "Finger Lakes is committed to reversing this decision and will file an appeal with ACCET by the May 14, 2019 deadline."

"Finger Lakes and its branches remain accredited at this time and will remain accredited throughout the appeal process. Management and ownership are committed to protecting the ability of all of our students to complete your education and training from an accredited institution," the statement continued. "We will provide more information as it becomes available and we will keep the community informed. The School remains committed to providing the best possible experience and education for its student body and we thank you for your patience and understanding."

As if the school's lost accreditation is not turbulent enough, TruMantra is suing its former owners, David Merwin and John Robinson, for damages.

TruMantra has accused Merwin and Robinson of breach of contract, fraud and breach of fiduciary duties.

A lawsuit states Merwin and Robinson hid from Kuzari Investor $670,000 that was significantly past due out of $850,000 of total accounts payable. The past due payables included more than $400,000 to key vendors who were putting the company's account on hold.

"The inability of the Company to continue to purchase textbooks, supplies and other key items from its existing partners poses a significant threat to the Company's ability to operate," the complaint states.

The company also was critically late in payments of more than $160,000 on credit cards, collecting significant levels of interest and fees. A landlord also obtained an eviction notice because the company owed more than $170,000 on "wildly" past due rent.

The lawsuit also cites emails Merwin sent to suppliers showing he was aware of TruMantra's financial circumstances, as well as emails he sent to Kuzari in which he conceals the financial problems the company was facing.

"I'm telling you this is the worst situation I've been in during my 15 years as owner," Merwin wrote in an email to a supplier on Nov. 2, 2017. "I'm not sure what to do at this point, because if I can't get our results up I'll lose my Title IV status and if I lose that I will shut the schools down."

Four days later, Merwin wrote in an email to Kuzari: "Attached is a Q3 update for all Trumantra companies. I am encouraged by the results, even though we have had some unforeseen challenges in companies I hadn't anticipated. All in all, I think we are in a better place now than we were this time last year, and going into 2018 we are primed for a good start to the year."

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