Email announcing April closure ask for full April tuition

[Anonymous]

We have an after school program that closed for 3 weeks (March 16 - April 3rd), and re opening on the 6th for full day care thru the end of the school year. A partial credit is being given to use towards the new April tuition payment.
I'm wondering if anyone has anything similar? Also did anyone have their school/program/center stay open and not close, even temporarily?

[Anonymous]

Ours didn’t even ask for tuition. They said something like “we value the teachers so we will still deduct tuition on the scheduled date.” I value the teachers too but they are not working full time and there are government programs in place for a reason. Unemployment for staff, loans for small businesses and non profits, etc. I find it super distasteful that they don’t say in any way how they are meeting the parents halfway- even something as small as “our electric bill will be less so we will give everyone a $10 credit” or “here is how we are cutting costs without cutting staff and will pass that on to you.”

They did of course manage to send a separate email reminding us to tell them ASAP if we get into the DCPS lottery and need to withdraw (even though the enrollment date is pushed back and even though we have two months to withdraw). So we should be considerate of them but don’t get the same courtesy? Ugh and you are getting badmouthed to other parents considering your school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an after school program that closed for 3 weeks (March 16 - April 3rd), and re opening on the 6th for full day care thru the end of the school year. A partial credit is being given to use towards the new April tuition payment.
I'm wondering if anyone has anything similar? Also did anyone have their school/program/center stay open and not close, even temporarily?

Your program is not reopening on the 6th. Why would you think this is happening?

[Anonymous]

I’m a SAHM and although my workload has doubled, we’re still paying the cleaners and the preschool even though we aren’t using them. That’s just one sacrifice you can make for the greater good. Some other things you can do are donate to a food pantry (they are all short on food right now) or give blood. Let’s all pull together and do our part and be thankful that we are in a position to help others get through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I get the “teachers need to be paid “ argument. But how about the owners foregoing their margin and asking for “sustainer fee” that would cover the teachers and other fixed costs, but would not include owners’ profit margin? I think all (most) parents are asking for is some sort of recognition and a gesture.

This. Plus costs are at least a bit reduced. The school should offer a bit of a discount at least plus more conciliatory rhetoric.
What school is this, OP and PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They’re doing it because no one has asked for a tuition reduction.

So call the other parents, and together ask for a reduction.

This is how you do it. They will eventually cave in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a SAHM and although my workload has doubled, we’re still paying the cleaners and the preschool even though we aren’t using them. That’s just one sacrifice you can make for the greater good. Some other things you can do are donate to a food pantry (they are all short on food right now) or give blood. Let’s all pull together and do our part and be thankful that we are in a position to help others get through this.

Yes, same situation here. We pay tuition annually but I wouldn’t ask for a refund. Ours is set up as a non-profit so no “owners margins” are being padded. I want the teachers to be paid, bottom line, even though the “services” I am paying for are not being provided (same with cleaning lady).

I do agree with the point about the UMC always being squeezed and that big corporations should also have to ante up. But it’s still the right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a SAHM and although my workload has doubled, we’re still paying the cleaners and the preschool even though we aren’t using them. That’s just one sacrifice you can make for the greater good. Some other things you can do are donate to a food pantry (they are all short on food right now) or give blood. Let’s all pull together and do our part and be thankful that we are in a position to help others get through this.

Yes, same situation here. We pay tuition annually but I wouldn’t ask for a refund. Ours is set up as a non-profit so no “owners margins” are being padded. I want the teachers to be paid, bottom line, even though the “services” I am paying for are not being provided (same with cleaning lady).

I do agree with the point about the UMC always being squeezed and that big corporations should also have to ante up. But it’s still the right thing to do.

Not everyone living in this area and stretching to provide the best for their children can afford to support others while not being paid themselves.
We don’t all have job security.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a SAHM and although my workload has doubled, we’re still paying the cleaners and the preschool even though we aren’t using them. That’s just one sacrifice you can make for the greater good. Some other things you can do are donate to a food pantry (they are all short on food right now) or give blood. Let’s all pull together and do our part and be thankful that we are in a position to help others get through this.

Yes, same situation here. We pay tuition annually but I wouldn’t ask for a refund. Ours is set up as a non-profit so no “owners margins” are being padded. I want the teachers to be paid, bottom line, even though the “services” I am paying for are not being provided (same with cleaning lady).

I do agree with the point about the UMC always being squeezed and that big corporations should also have to ante up. But it’s still the right thing to do.

Not everyone living in this area and stretching to provide the best for their children can afford to support others while not being paid themselves.
We don’t all have job security.

Some of the daycare providers and nannies on these boards act like they are the only people struggling right now.

[Anonymous]

Unemployment isn’t enough to maintain a household. If you have been able to afford a high end school consider doing the decent humane thing and continue to pay. Many of us have lost our jobs and were badly able to pay our less expensive church run schools. The classism is horrifying.

[Anonymous]

Why aren’t daycares and preschools getting a bailout?

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP and would have been livid. If they had suggested a reduced rate to hold your spot, that would make sense. Especially since they would qualify for emergency small business grants to help cover operating costs. This is tacky IMO and something that I would definitely bring up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not money down the drain. It's to pay the humans, the teachers who care for your children every day, so they can continue to pay their own rents, mortgage, buy food for their children. Have a heart. If you are still receiving a salary, please continue to support low wage workers who do not have the ability to work from home.

Mind your business. You do you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not money down the drain. It's to pay the humans, the teachers who care for your children every day, so they can continue to pay their own rents, mortgage, buy food for their children. Have a heart. If you are still receiving a salary, please continue to support low wage workers who do not have the ability to work from home.

Mind your business. You do you

This isn’t a you do you thing. Community matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not money down the drain. It's to pay the humans, the teachers who care for your children every day, so they can continue to pay their own rents, mortgage, buy food for their children. Have a heart. If you are still receiving a salary, please continue to support low wage workers who do not have the ability to work from home.

Mind your business. You do you

+1. If PP wants to donate to preschool teachers who are out of work, feel free. I also have a mortgage and need to buy food for my kids and now need to pay for backup childcare to provide the services my preschool is not providing. Why is keeping teacher salaries at 100% the burden of the parents?