BANGOR, Maine — A beauty school that has operated in Bangor and Lewiston for more than half a century abruptly closed Monday, one day before classes were scheduled to resume after a two-week holiday break.
Officials from Mr. Bernard’s School of Hair Fashion, which was established in 1960, notified several staff members and students from both campuses about the closure by telephone Monday morning and early afternoon.
Several students, however, said they learned of the closure via Facebook posts.
“It is with great regret that we are announcing that Mr. Bernard’s School is closed effective immediately. Students are being contacted individually, and our staff will be working with them during this difficult transition,” the initial post said.
“An attempt was made at calling every single student today,” a later post added. “We worked really hard to try to get in touch with everyone but it was not always possible.”
Jennifer Burgess, 38, of Bangor was among the students affected by the closure. She said no reason has been given for the closure so far.
“We’re not happy about it,” she said. “It’s really upsetting. We want to know why.”
Tiana Whitmore, who also attended the school, agreed.
“I can’t believe they can do this,” she said Monday night.
The students said that neither they nor their instructors were told why the schools were closed. Messages seeking comment left Monday at the Bangor and Lewiston campuses were not returned.
It was not clear Monday if any complaints had been lodged against the school to the Maine attorney general office’s consumer protection division or to the state board of barbering and cosmetology.
According to the school’s website, Mr. Bernard’s offered training for beginning cosmetologists at a cost of $13,966, not including fees for state licensing, and for student instructors at a cost of $7,650, a total that also did not include licensing fees.
The school’s website also said it authorized to provide training under the curred GI bill and the state Department of Health and Human Services’ Vocational Rehabilitation and that it was accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.