is Green Acres safe?

[Anonymous]

I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

[Anonymous]

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520613675

Their 990 doesn’t look great, but there’s probable worse ones. Expenses seem to be higher than revenue the past few years and they don’t have a very large endowment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Green Acres, although it has fewer students than 10 years, are totally fine. Finances are well-managed, new HOS keeps parents informed on steps she's taking that will ensure the long-term stability of the school. You could send your kids there with a clear conscience, it's not closing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get why SSFS closing impacts SSFS people, but I swear people who have NO connection to the school are just using the (genuinely awful and upsetting!) news of its closure to try and get attention, including the OP. Disgusting to see.

let's not be evil here, m'kay?

It's not evil, it's a legitimate point. The amount of people who are not affected in the slightest by this news who are using it to try and get sympathy is beyond me. People need to stop being such pick-me attention seekers. M'kay?

I have seen a lot of empathy for the SSFS community but no one taking advantage. Something doesn’t have to impact you directly for you to feel for the person or situation. I am not connected to SSFS but I certainly feel their pain and that is just part of being human.

I also don’t see anything wrong with OP’s post.

[Anonymous]

I agree with poster above, the school is in good hands under the leadership of the new head of school. She also brought with her a new business manager that is very well respected. For a small school they do have decent reserves and Deanna keeps us up to date on the state of the school including finances. The school is unusual in that parents are all members of the corporation and have voting rights on the trustees and any bi-law changes.

[Anonymous]

The gaslighting of Green Acres is childish. The school, like other independent schools for the past 4 years, has experienced challenges but it has taken significant steps to reign in expenses, find revenue opportunities where they exist without watering down its standards. It has also made strategic decisions to staff according to need as opposed to ignoring the economic and business realities however bleak. Not all will agree that changing with the times is the right thing to do. Some prefer to stand in place and focus on the things past but Green Acres does not.

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, the endowments of Green Acres and Lowell look surprisingly similar, and both appear stronger than some other schools around with public 990s. Green Acres has made some prudent choices in recent years and is definitely on much stronger footing than where they were. That said, I am curious about the middle school enrollment issue and would investigate that further as a prospective parent.

[Anonymous]

I've had my kids at Green Acres since 2020 (Zoom Kindergarten and PreK!) and the way they handled the pandemic and rebuilding after it, I have never had any doubts. For the future of the school, look at how that Kindergarten class has retained so many students, now brilliant 4th graders. Financially, the school has made some wise, transparent choices to rightsize is different areas when it's appropriate, and expand when it's called for. They are nimble in their administration, and the school has only strengthened under the current leadership. I'm planning on keeping all three of my kids there through 8th grade. Join us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

Agree

Someone sounds very bitter that they were let go.

[Anonymous]

Green Acres looks like a lovely little school, but after what happened at SSFS...if I were a family there and there were rumblings of financial trouble, I would probably consider applying out early next year just to keep your options open.

[Anonymous]

Be glad you can see a 990! The religious exemption is so frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

Agree

Someone sounds very bitter that they were let go.

Umm, someone lost their job due to mismanagement and low enrollment. Do you want them to skip around and be happy. How do you think Federal Workers feel right now, or is that different? It’s easy to crap on teachers, though, I get it. We’re here to serve your precious offspring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had my kids at Green Acres since 2020 (Zoom Kindergarten and PreK!) and the way they handled the pandemic and rebuilding after it, I have never had any doubts. For the future of the school, look at how that Kindergarten class has retained so many students, now brilliant 4th graders. Financially, the school has made some wise, transparent choices to rightsize is different areas when it's appropriate, and expand when it's called for. They are nimble in their administration, and the school has only strengthened under the current leadership. I'm planning on keeping all three of my kids there through 8th grade. Join us!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

Agree

Someone sounds very bitter that they were let go.

Umm, someone lost their job due to mismanagement and low enrollment. Do you want them to skip around and be happy. How do you think Federal Workers feel right now, or is that different?.

Losing your job due to low enrollment is obviously quite a bit different than losing your job due to fascists.