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Gymnasium on the Rhine island of Nonnenwerth - aerial view
Photo:
Thomas Frey / dpa
Shortly before the start of the new school year in Rhineland-Palatinate, the parents of the Nonnenwerth Gymnasium were angry and disappointed: After they could not prevent the private school on the Rhine island from being closed, their children not only have to go to other schools.
In addition, new details about the sale of the school have become known – and there is frustration because the authorities have closed the case.
Many parents of former students of the Nonnenwerth-Gymnasium are "devastated" that the Koblenz public prosecutor's office has dropped the investigation against Peter Soliman, the sponsor of the private grammar school, the parents said in a letter on Thursday.
Parent representative Olaf Schmitz appealed to the investigating authorities to resume the process and "to appreciate the factual facts of both sides".
The public prosecutor's office informed SPIEGEL that an appeal had been lodged against the termination of the proceedings.
These will now be checked.
Parents and US investors have been at odds for years
The US investor Peter Soliman took over the private high school on the island of Nonnenwerth in August 2020.
Before that, the school had been run by Franciscan nuns for almost a year.
Soliman said at the time that he wanted to "bring the facility to new splendor."
The future of the island and the school is "permanently secured," according to a joint statement by the Franciscan nuns and the new owner and school authority.
However, this promise was not kept.
Soliman cited unexpected fire protection costs, parents suspect profit interests.
(Read the details here)
more on the subject
Off for private school: The futile fight for nun value by Armin Himmelrath and Miriam Olbrisch
End for Inselgymnasium Nonnenwerth: "A disaster for the school landscape" by Armin Himmelrath
Nonnenwerth private school threatened with closure: House searches for fraud "in a particularly serious case" by Miriam Olbrisch and Armin Himmelrath
School Nonnenwerth: The drama on the island by Armin Himmelrath and Miriam Olbrisch
For the parents, there are clear indications that the investor Peter Soliman - contrary to his assurances - intended to close the school from the start.
This is how they write it in their current message.
They do not see these indications sufficiently appreciated by the public prosecutor.
A parent had filed a complaint.
The public prosecutor investigated.
In mid-August, the Koblenz public prosecutor's office announced that the investigations had not confirmed the initial suspicion of double fraud in the particularly serious case.
According to the investigations, no verbal or written promise was made to the saleswomen that the school would continue to operate.
The sale was also not made dependent on the school being continued.
The statement from the public prosecutor's office goes on to say: "In connection with the receipt of donations, no binding commitments could be made according to which the school should continue to operate indefinitely beyond the current school year and also in the event of unforeseen costs."
The former accused referred to the considerable expenses that would become necessary for fire protection at the school.
The investigations would not have provided sufficient evidence that these would have been pretended.
Students and parents feel betrayed by the order
In their current message, the parents now complain that it was unclear for a long time whether the purchase contract included the continuation of school operations.
"The applicants are deeply disappointed to note the bitter truth that there is no contractual regulation and that the Order obviously deliberately created the false impression that the future of the school was secured by a corresponding agreement," write the parents' representatives.
Not only they, but also the students felt betrayed by the order.
The parents are also disappointed by the public prosecutor's office.
This had not sufficiently investigated the parents' suspicion that donations from the school had been used improperly.
Unfortunately, the accused's accounts were not checked.
This is "amazing" for parents and reporters.
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