SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing with the BOT is perplexing to me. Presumably all this has been going on for years. Financial problems getting further into debt, potentially bad admin hires, but everything gets by. Then again presumably they start reviewing the finances in the fall, let the cfo go (which can only mean bad things were discovered) spend almost the full school year, trying to find a solution. Not a peep to anyone that shy of these struggles exist, suddenly bombshell and all it takes is a band of volunteers 7 days to turn everything around. Something doesn’t add up. No one can be that inept. Was the board just afraid to take any measures to fix things? Did they know they just needed to ask community assistance but were held back from asking for some reason?

It's very suspect. Almost like someone convinced them they should develop the land another way.

Maybe the coalition is putting on a brave face but there is more doubt then they’re letting on. But they can’t say there is still doubt cause anyone on the fence will withdraw putting the comeback more in jeopardy

I’m sure the bot didn’t make up the severity of the financial problems. All the deferred maintenance and drop in enrollment proved that. But the coalition probably isn’t on as solid ground as they’d like families to think. They have promises but can’t possibility offer a 3 year guarantee when they don’t even know if they’ll get 30 students for 2026-27. So the promises are empty. They’re hoping for the best and since their plan depends on more ppl staying it’s difficult for them to sound like they have doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing with the BOT is perplexing to me. Presumably all this has been going on for years. Financial problems getting further into debt, potentially bad admin hires, but everything gets by. Then again presumably they start reviewing the finances in the fall, let the cfo go (which can only mean bad things were discovered) spend almost the full school year, trying to find a solution. Not a peep to anyone that shy of these struggles exist, suddenly bombshell and all it takes is a band of volunteers 7 days to turn everything around. Something doesn’t add up. No one can be that inept. Was the board just afraid to take any measures to fix things? Did they know they just needed to ask community assistance but were held back from asking for some reason?

Exactly and then in the wake of giving up and announcing the shuttering, any one of them would have the nerve to say, in essence, “oh wonderful, thank you for doing our jobs so much more competently than we could, so now we can continue with our work as the board of the school”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anything new come out of the meeting yesterday evening?

Not really. They said at the start that it was scheduled before SSFS reversed itself and so it was not going to be a Q&A, as previously advertised, as the school administration was in a better position to A any Qs. I believe the school has said they will have more information Monday. They introduced themselves and at the end read a letter from the new HOS, thanking the community for its support and saying how he is looking forward to next year. In all it was more of a "here is who we are" session than a "here is what's going to happen" session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anything new come out of the meeting yesterday evening?

Not really. They said at the start that it was scheduled before SSFS reversed itself and so it was not going to be a Q&A, as previously advertised, as the school administration was in a better position to A any Qs. I believe the school has said they will have more information Monday. They introduced themselves and at the end read a letter from the new HOS, thanking the community for its support and saying how he is looking forward to next year. In all it was more of a "here is who we are" session than a "here is what's going to happen" session.

Yeah didn’t seem really useful. More deferment of information.

I want to see the books. Then I’ll give them more money.

[Anonymous]

We have personal experience of a SLAC that was pulled back from the edge, but six years later it’s still struggling and will likely close. This seems like a great opportunity for kids with a year left in their division to wrap up, but new families are going to see these systemic problems and be wary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anything new come out of the meeting yesterday evening?

Not really. They said at the start that it was scheduled before SSFS reversed itself and so it was not going to be a Q&A, as previously advertised, as the school administration was in a better position to A any Qs. I believe the school has said they will have more information Monday. They introduced themselves and at the end read a letter from the new HOS, thanking the community for its support and saying how he is looking forward to next year. In all it was more of a "here is who we are" session than a "here is what's going to happen" session.

Why do they keep advertising things they don’t deliver on? Why call it a q&a which is all anyone cares about and then not do it? Nothing changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anything new come out of the meeting yesterday evening?

Not really. They said at the start that it was scheduled before SSFS reversed itself and so it was not going to be a Q&A, as previously advertised, as the school administration was in a better position to A any Qs. I believe the school has said they will have more information Monday. They introduced themselves and at the end read a letter from the new HOS, thanking the community for its support and saying how he is looking forward to next year. In all it was more of a "here is who we are" session than a "here is what's going to happen" session.

Why do they keep advertising things they don’t deliver on? Why call it a q&a which is all anyone cares about and then not do it? Nothing changes.

With rather short notice, their legal counsel told them not to answer questions, as those answers will be coming from school leadership themselves. Supposedly detailed answers o specific questions coming Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anything new come out of the meeting yesterday evening?

Not really. They said at the start that it was scheduled before SSFS reversed itself and so it was not going to be a Q&A, as previously advertised, as the school administration was in a better position to A any Qs. I believe the school has said they will have more information Monday. They introduced themselves and at the end read a letter from the new HOS, thanking the community for its support and saying how he is looking forward to next year. In all it was more of a "here is who we are" session than a "here is what's going to happen" session.

Why do they keep advertising things they don’t deliver on? Why call it a q&a which is all anyone cares about and then not do it? Nothing changes.

With rather short notice, their legal counsel told them not to answer questions, as those answers will be coming from school leadership themselves. Supposedly detailed answers o specific questions coming Monday.

I'll believe it when I see it. Why should they all of a sudden be transparent now when they haven't been for years? The Board MUST GO!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe it when I see it. Why should they all of a sudden be transparent now when they haven't been for years? The Board MUST GO!!

Oh for sure. To clarify, it was the Coalition who hosted the Zoom and whose legal team advised them last-minute not to do Q&A. Their work has been tremendous, but at the end of the day, they are volunteers and they can't speak on the school's behalf. Yes, the school leaders and the Board will have a lot to answer for very soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing with the BOT is perplexing to me. Presumably all this has been going on for years. Financial problems getting further into debt, potentially bad admin hires, but everything gets by. Then again presumably they start reviewing the finances in the fall, let the cfo go (which can only mean bad things were discovered) spend almost the full school year, trying to find a solution. Not a peep to anyone that shy of these struggles exist, suddenly bombshell and all it takes is a band of volunteers 7 days to turn everything around. Something doesn’t add up. No one can be that inept. Was the board just afraid to take any measures to fix things? Did they know they just needed to ask community assistance but were held back from asking for some reason?

It's very suspect. Almost like someone convinced them they should develop the land another way.

I have been wondering about this, considering MoCo is big into finding housing options if they default, and the entire package must go together its a huge win for the county to have taxable structures on the land and MoCo can claim they are helping with the housing shortage. Of course the cost of the housing will be well out of reach for the folks that need it the most but developers will get their what they have been wanting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing with the BOT is perplexing to me. Presumably all this has been going on for years. Financial problems getting further into debt, potentially bad admin hires, but everything gets by. Then again presumably they start reviewing the finances in the fall, let the cfo go (which can only mean bad things were discovered) spend almost the full school year, trying to find a solution. Not a peep to anyone that shy of these struggles exist, suddenly bombshell and all it takes is a band of volunteers 7 days to turn everything around. Something doesn’t add up. No one can be that inept. Was the board just afraid to take any measures to fix things? Did they know they just needed to ask community assistance but were held back from asking for some reason?

It's very suspect. Almost like someone convinced them they should develop the land another way.

A have been wondering if they use the funds to pay off the high school would this provide a better situation for a potential merger or sale that can't be done now because no one wants to undertake that level of debt? The 3 year timeframe and funds can be used to sure up the capital assets. It the parcel was to be sold to developers why sure up the high school building debt - I have a hard time envisioning that parcel being used for schools and housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don’t understand how years of mismanagement and debt can be fixed in a week by a group of volunteers. I’m
Glad the school says it won’t close but I don’t see how this can be well thought through.

I think the most likely scenario is that the board hadn't been up front about the issues and quickly decided to close without involving the community. This often happens and communities feel blindsided.

Again, I think the most likely scenario is a wholly incompetent board which does in fact give some hope that the school could continue if they are replaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe it when I see it. Why should they all of a sudden be transparent now when they haven't been for years? The Board MUST GO!!

Oh for sure. To clarify, it was the Coalition who hosted the Zoom and whose legal team advised them last-minute not to do Q&A. Their work has been tremendous, but at the end of the day, they are volunteers and they can't speak on the school's behalf. Yes, the school leaders and the Board will have a lot to answer for very soon.

So the legal counsel of our knights in shining armor who are supposed to be ushering in a new era of transparency and trust advises them not to be transparent. That makes me feel great. Where can I pledge money again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe it when I see it. Why should they all of a sudden be transparent now when they haven't been for years? The Board MUST GO!!

Oh for sure. To clarify, it was the Coalition who hosted the Zoom and whose legal team advised them last-minute not to do Q&A. Their work has been tremendous, but at the end of the day, they are volunteers and they can't speak on the school's behalf. Yes, the school leaders and the Board will have a lot to answer for very soon.

Okay so now he coalition is just a band of volunteers who can’t promise anything on the schools behalf, when literally their entire story is built on the trust that they’re promising everything on the schools behalf. Doesn’t this seem like a concern to anyone?

[Anonymous]

I’m so grateful they raised the funds and will send my kids again next year. Looking forward to the school’s communication on Monday. It’s a lot to figure out in a short period of time, but they can do it with the support of the coalition and the community. Thank goodness many amazing teachers are staying!