Lowell School Delaying Employee Contracts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds related to enrollment.

They may be working the wait pool list.

Independent schools are not like public schools wrt job security. It is a year by year hire, so there is a new contract every year.

In Virginia, if I understand it correctly, the contract doesn’t actually guarantee your job if they can prove they do not need you after the year starts. They have to give you a month notice, and then can boot you to the curb.

Good luck.

Ha! Privates can terminate at any time. I had already signed my contract at a different private two years ago, yet I was laid off on the last day of school for teachers in June when there was a higher than expected attrition. JUNE. After my contract was signed. 5 of us were let go. Out of the blue.

[Anonymous]

Maryland private-I get an employment letter rather than a contract. The letter spells out the at will nature of my job...no 1 month notice required!

[Anonymous]

This is terrible management. Employees are harmed because if they are let go, it’s late in the hiring cycle for next year. A lot of jobs will already have been filled.

Not yet mentioned here is that families are harmed too as this comes after enrollment contracts were due. If big cuts are coming, families should have been informed before being asked to commit. If there are significant changes, the Board will need to agree to let families out of contracts or it will be malfeasance on their part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also seems like the person who has to make the call on who exactly gets cut is sitting in jury duty for longer than anticipated... also does every school send fresh offer letters to every teacher, every year???

Every private school I've worked at does.

Yes, And some heads take sick pleasure in reminding employees that they're the only ones with multi-year contracts.

[Anonymous]

I believe Lowell had a big tuition hike after contracts were due a couple of years ago. It was handled poorly and they lost families because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe Lowell had a big tuition hike after contracts were due a couple of years ago. It was handled poorly and they lost families because of it.

Lowell has been a disaster for years. Sounds like the chickens are finally coming home to roost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also seems like the person who has to make the call on who exactly gets cut is sitting in jury duty for longer than anticipated... also does every school send fresh offer letters to every teacher, every year???

Yes, teaching contracts are renewed every year.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are Lowell’s greatest asset. My child and I have been waiting to have a particular teacher, so the idea that teachers are “nice” instead of “necessary” is disappointing. It’s a wonder folks are jumping ship and enrollment is down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe Lowell had a big tuition hike after contracts were due a couple of years ago. It was handled poorly and they lost families because of it.

Lowell has been a disaster for years. Sounds like the chickens are finally coming home to roost.

Three years ago we were researching schools. After doing the initial zoom call with Lowell we crossed it off. We could tell from that hour long call that they had money issues. They said something like "we don't want the family contribution to end with the tuition, we do ask for additional contributions throughout the year" or something like that. Giant red flag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe Lowell had a big tuition hike after contracts were due a couple of years ago. It was handled poorly and they lost families because of it.

Lowell has been a disaster for years. Sounds like the chickens are finally coming home to roost.

Three years ago we were researching schools. After doing the initial zoom call with Lowell we crossed it off. We could tell from that hour long call that they had money issues. They said something like "we don't want the family contribution to end with the tuition, we do ask for additional contributions throughout the year" or something like that. Giant red flag.

Literally every school (including public) fundraises and asks for contributions throughout the year. I have never heard of it being mentioned during recruitment like that (at most like an occasional "the boosters do XY&Z every year snd it really helps to fund the ABC programs)... mentioning that is wildly tone deaf... sounds like they are feeling desperate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are Lowell’s greatest asset. My child and I have been waiting to have a particular teacher, so the idea that teachers are “nice” instead of “necessary” is disappointing. It’s a wonder folks are jumping ship and enrollment is down.

This HoS has treated Lowell teachers like trash since the second she walked in the door. She is mean, incompetent, and has been driving the school into the ground for years. Many, MANY incredibly talented teachers have been bullied out by this person who has no business being within 500 miles of a school. Her definition of “necessary” is to keep the people who will lick her boots and preserve her control while ditching the best ones whom she sees as a risk to her power.

[Anonymous]

The school owes it to parents to explain how and why things have gotten to the point where basic expenses can't be guaranteed. Not guaranteeing teacher placement for the fall is an ominous sign. It is a basic expenditure. There is no "necessary" and "nice," there is "necessary" and "necessary." No, it isn't something that happens at all schools or that is normal in any way. Parents pay 50k+ per year! Where is the money going? Why has enrollment dropped off?

[Anonymous]

Well there is the demographic cliff thing. I imagine they are not the only elementary school struggling.

[Anonymous]

A couple of years ago, they over-enrolled a grade (maybe on purpose) and added a class. Maybe that class has right-sized and they don't need the additional teachers. I haven't heard of any big shifts in enrollment. Yes, a few years ago when they raised tuition abruptly many families left. And, yes, I agree with some of the above posters that new leadership could be the best step for the school but we have had so many great teachers over the years and met many incredible families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is terrible management. Employees are harmed because if they are let go, it’s late in the hiring cycle for next year. A lot of jobs will already have been filled.

Not yet mentioned here is that families are harmed too as this comes after enrollment contracts were due. If big cuts are coming, families should have been informed before being asked to commit. If there are significant changes, the Board will need to agree to let families out of contracts or it will be malfeasance on their part.

Yep. It's crummy all around and the mismanagement of the process is (yet another) hit to staff morale.