SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “unable to cover payroll” bit is simply not true.

Why did they put on a hiring freeze and lay more staff off then? Seems like that would indicate they can't cover payroll. That's how that message read.

If the school is struggling with enrollment, it would be irresponsible to hire staff that you don't have available work for due to student ratios. This tends impact extra and co-curricular roles first.

They were not losing extra and co-curriculars. They lost homeroom teachers, English, Humanities, History, Math along with Spanish and other teachers (just to name a few I know happened). To say you don't need to replace those teachers seems a stretch. If they lost so many students that they can lose 30+ teachers, counselors etc and not need to replace those positions, I'm not sure what that means. How many students are left?

Some of those core academic positions were hired for back in the spring. You wouldn't see them on the website now because the vacancy has been filled.

I'm not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows at SSFS, but the sky isn't falling either.

This is precisely why families are owed clear, detailed and rapid information right now. Families see announcements (and often not) of all the people leaving. But nowhere can an official list of departures be found.

There are no announcements of positions successfully filled, so who knows they have been?

There are no list of current vacancies, so who knows what those are.

Then the week after school let’s out a message goes out that due to withdrawals, a hiring freeze is in effect along with 7 more positions but. But no information on what positions the freeze effects. So again where are families to know what the real damage is?

You’ve got the interim LS principal (after cutting two grades and giving those to the MS principal) suddenly taking over as interim head of school. Yet no clarity on how additional work load will effect how well these ppl can operate. If there are no empty positions because 1 person is doing the job of 3 or close sizes are doubling, that’s hardly a good setup. But again how would families know? It’s all speculation until the school sends out anything which they haven’t.

The sky isn’t falling out? Maybe. Or maybe it is. Both would be speculation.

And the list goes on. Are they in debt? Can they complete their 4 million in repairs? Pay off the US loan? No one knows. Have 50/80/100 students pulled out? Families can only speculate, guess, create and circulate rumors. This thread would not be this long if families received the info they are owed and didn’t have to scrounge around for anything they can find out.

Often admins say parents need to let them do their job and not be poking around like they need to approve every admin decision. This is true under normal circumstances. When admins demonstrate they are capable you trust them and don’t question and complain about everything. But this is not that situation. The incompetence and coverups have been going on for multiple years so families have every right to know exactly what’s going on right now.

The longer it takes for information to go out the less confidence in that information, cause it just seems like it’s another spin for damage control.

THIS. The BOT owes familes answers. NOW.

Then email the clerks of the BOT. Their emails were at bottom of the email announcement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “unable to cover payroll” bit is simply not true.

Why did they put on a hiring freeze and lay more staff off then? Seems like that would indicate they can't cover payroll. That's how that message read.

If the school is struggling with enrollment, it would be irresponsible to hire staff that you don't have available work for due to student ratios. This tends impact extra and co-curricular roles first.

They were not losing extra and co-curriculars. They lost homeroom teachers, English, Humanities, History, Math along with Spanish and other teachers (just to name a few I know happened). To say you don't need to replace those teachers seems a stretch. If they lost so many students that they can lose 30+ teachers, counselors etc and not need to replace those positions, I'm not sure what that means. How many students are left?

Some of those core academic positions were hired for back in the spring. You wouldn't see them on the website now because the vacancy has been filled.

I'm not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows at SSFS, but the sky isn't falling either.

This is precisely why families are owed clear, detailed and rapid information right now. Families see announcements (and often not) of all the people leaving. But nowhere can an official list of departures be found.

There are no announcements of positions successfully filled, so who knows they have been?

There are no list of current vacancies, so who knows what those are.

Then the week after school let’s out a message goes out that due to withdrawals, a hiring freeze is in effect along with 7 more positions but. But no information on what positions the freeze effects. So again where are families to know what the real damage is?

You’ve got the interim LS principal (after cutting two grades and giving those to the MS principal) suddenly taking over as interim head of school. Yet no clarity on how additional work load will effect how well these ppl can operate. If there are no empty positions because 1 person is doing the job of 3 or close sizes are doubling, that’s hardly a good setup. But again how would families know? It’s all speculation until the school sends out anything which they haven’t.

The sky isn’t falling out? Maybe. Or maybe it is. Both would be speculation.

And the list goes on. Are they in debt? Can they complete their 4 million in repairs? Pay off the US loan? No one knows. Have 50/80/100 students pulled out? Families can only speculate, guess, create and circulate rumors. This thread would not be this long if families received the info they are owed and didn’t have to scrounge around for anything they can find out.

Often admins say parents need to let them do their job and not be poking around like they need to approve every admin decision. This is true under normal circumstances. When admins demonstrate they are capable you trust them and don’t question and complain about everything. But this is not that situation. The incompetence and coverups have been going on for multiple years so families have every right to know exactly what’s going on right now.

The longer it takes for information to go out the less confidence in that information, cause it just seems like it’s another spin for damage control.

THIS. The BOT owes familes answers. NOW.

Then email the clerks of the BOT. Their emails were at bottom of the email announcement.

Seriously? The point is we shouldnt have to request this information. It should.be forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “unable to cover payroll” bit is simply not true.

Why did they put on a hiring freeze and lay more staff off then? Seems like that would indicate they can't cover payroll. That's how that message read.

If the school is struggling with enrollment, it would be irresponsible to hire staff that you don't have available work for due to student ratios. This tends impact extra and co-curricular roles first.

They were not losing extra and co-curriculars. They lost homeroom teachers, English, Humanities, History, Math along with Spanish and other teachers (just to name a few I know happened). To say you don't need to replace those teachers seems a stretch. If they lost so many students that they can lose 30+ teachers, counselors etc and not need to replace those positions, I'm not sure what that means. How many students are left?

Some of those core academic positions were hired for back in the spring. You wouldn't see them on the website now because the vacancy has been filled.

I'm not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows at SSFS, but the sky isn't falling either.

This is precisely why families are owed clear, detailed and rapid information right now. Families see announcements (and often not) of all the people leaving. But nowhere can an official list of departures be found.

There are no announcements of positions successfully filled, so who knows they have been?

There are no list of current vacancies, so who knows what those are.

Then the week after school let’s out a message goes out that due to withdrawals, a hiring freeze is in effect along with 7 more positions but. But no information on what positions the freeze effects. So again where are families to know what the real damage is?

You’ve got the interim LS principal (after cutting two grades and giving those to the MS principal) suddenly taking over as interim head of school. Yet no clarity on how additional work load will effect how well these ppl can operate. If there are no empty positions because 1 person is doing the job of 3 or close sizes are doubling, that’s hardly a good setup. But again how would families know? It’s all speculation until the school sends out anything which they haven’t.

The sky isn’t falling out? Maybe. Or maybe it is. Both would be speculation.

And the list goes on. Are they in debt? Can they complete their 4 million in repairs? Pay off the US loan? No one knows. Have 50/80/100 students pulled out? Families can only speculate, guess, create and circulate rumors. This thread would not be this long if families received the info they are owed and didn’t have to scrounge around for anything they can find out.

Often admins say parents need to let them do their job and not be poking around like they need to approve every admin decision. This is true under normal circumstances. When admins demonstrate they are capable you trust them and don’t question and complain about everything. But this is not that situation. The incompetence and coverups have been going on for multiple years so families have every right to know exactly what’s going on right now.

The longer it takes for information to go out the less confidence in that information, cause it just seems like it’s another spin for damage control.

THIS. The BOT owes familes answers. NOW.

Then email the clerks of the BOT. Their emails were at bottom of the email announcement.

Seriously? The point is we shouldnt have to request this information. It should.be forthcoming.[/quote i

It is forthcoming. The email from the BOT specifically said that. There will be meetings for parents to attend. I was simply saying if you can’t wait for their next email, then contact them yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The “unable to cover payroll” bit is simply not true.

Why did they put on a hiring freeze and lay more staff off then? Seems like that would indicate they can't cover payroll. That's how that message read.

If the school is struggling with enrollment, it would be irresponsible to hire staff that you don't have available work for due to student ratios. This tends impact extra and co-curricular roles first.

They were not losing extra and co-curriculars. They lost homeroom teachers, English, Humanities, History, Math along with Spanish and other teachers (just to name a few I know happened). To say you don't need to replace those teachers seems a stretch. If they lost so many students that they can lose 30+ teachers, counselors etc and not need to replace those positions, I'm not sure what that means. How many students are left?

Some of those core academic positions were hired for back in the spring. You wouldn't see them on the website now because the vacancy has been filled.

I'm not saying everything is sunshine and rainbows at SSFS, but the sky isn't falling either.

This is precisely why families are owed clear, detailed and rapid information right now. Families see announcements (and often not) of all the people leaving. But nowhere can an official list of departures be found.

There are no announcements of positions successfully filled, so who knows they have been?

There are no list of current vacancies, so who knows what those are.

Then the week after school let’s out a message goes out that due to withdrawals, a hiring freeze is in effect along with 7 more positions but. But no information on what positions the freeze effects. So again where are families to know what the real damage is?

You’ve got the interim LS principal (after cutting two grades and giving those to the MS principal) suddenly taking over as interim head of school. Yet no clarity on how additional work load will effect how well these ppl can operate. If there are no empty positions because 1 person is doing the job of 3 or close sizes are doubling, that’s hardly a good setup. But again how would families know? It’s all speculation until the school sends out anything which they haven’t.

The sky isn’t falling out? Maybe. Or maybe it is. Both would be speculation.

And the list goes on. Are they in debt? Can they complete their 4 million in repairs? Pay off the US loan? No one knows. Have 50/80/100 students pulled out? Families can only speculate, guess, create and circulate rumors. This thread would not be this long if families received the info they are owed and didn’t have to scrounge around for anything they can find out.

Often admins say parents need to let them do their job and not be poking around like they need to approve every admin decision. This is true under normal circumstances. When admins demonstrate they are capable you trust them and don’t question and complain about everything. But this is not that situation. The incompetence and coverups have been going on for multiple years so families have every right to know exactly what’s going on right now.

The longer it takes for information to go out the less confidence in that information, cause it just seems like it’s another spin for damage control.

THIS. The BOT owes familes answers. NOW.

Then email the clerks of the BOT. Their emails were at bottom of the email announcement.

Seriously? The point is we shouldnt have to request this information. It should.be forthcoming.[/quote i

It is forthcoming. The email from the BOT specifically said that. There will be meetings for parents to attend. I was simply saying if you can’t wait for their next email, then contact them yourself.

I think the point parents are trying to make is that they should not have to seek out the BOT or wait for more information. Given the gravity of the situation the BOT's initial email should have included the time/date/location of an open Q&A forum where parents could ask questions, and express concerns, anxiety and probably some anger. Even if all is not known, there has to be a lot that is known even now, like for next year where does enrollment and staffing actually stand, what is the financial situation, what options are being considered, what is a rough timeline/next steps. But all it had was "we'll be in touch when we know more" with no indication of whether that was going to be in a week? A month? in September? this puts families is a real bind because with each passing day their options to go elsewhere get even harder and it feels like the delay is meant to make families trapped to stay here. Not everyone is planning to leave of course and maybe most are not, but those who even want to consider it, this waiting makes it harder to weigh options for their family. Asking parents to be patient or contact the board themselves if they can't wait, makes it seem like they havent already been patient and writing for months or even years, it feels almost condescending.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that the BOT didn’t plan on what they’d do if RG quit. They gave the 1 year notice thinking they’d have time to plan the actual exit and recovery. But then RG decided throwing the school completely under the bus was better so he resigned on the spot. BOT didn’t anticipate this and had no plan. That’s why no plan has been shared yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the BOT didn’t plan on what they’d do if RG quit. They gave the 1 year notice thinking they’d have time to plan the actual exit and recovery. But then RG decided throwing the school completely under the bus was better so he resigned on the spot. BOT didn’t anticipate this and had no plan. That’s why no plan has been shared yet.

This sounds right. He called their bluff. It’s also wildly unprofessional of him. And shameful for the board to not have a plan. A true disaster all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that the BOT didn’t plan on what they’d do if RG quit. They gave the 1 year notice thinking they’d have time to plan the actual exit and recovery. But then RG decided throwing the school completely under the bus was better so he resigned on the spot. BOT didn’t anticipate this and had no plan. That’s why no plan has been shared yet.

This sounds right. He called their bluff. It’s also wildly unprofessional of him. And shameful for the board to not have a plan. A true disaster all around.

There is so much speculation happening. No one knows what actually happened except for Rodney and the BOT, and chances are the wider public will never find out.

That said, I am a current parent and an SSFS Alum, and I can say that I have faith in the current (emphasis on current) BOT Leadership. I trust that they are working out a plan, and will communicate that to us. They do not have anyone internally to move into the Head of LS position, as RGs administration was already running a shell game, so appointing an interim could take some time. Way will open, and I trust the people making the decisions now.

[Anonymous]

It's hard to have faith in anything without communication, and the window is RAPIDLY closing for the Board or the acting Head to send out any kind of message and have it be well-received and reassuring to the parent community.

It's actually very surprising to me that in 2024, the Board doesn't seem to understand that they need to communicate SOMETHING. I'm sure things are happening behind the scenes, but without a message going out to reassure the parents, this will turn from what is likely a good thing (removing Rodney) to a very bad thing (parents losing faith and pulling kids). Even if there's no specific plan in place yet, detail steps that are ongoing, set a meeting time to answer any questions they can, send out a form where people can submit questions - literally any communication will be better than radio silence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to have faith in anything without communication, and the window is RAPIDLY closing for the Board or the acting Head to send out any kind of message and have it be well-received and reassuring to the parent community.

It's actually very surprising to me that in 2024, the Board doesn't seem to understand that they need to communicate SOMETHING. I'm sure things are happening behind the scenes, but without a message going out to reassure the parents, this will turn from what is likely a good thing (removing Rodney) to a very bad thing (parents losing faith and pulling kids). Even if there's no specific plan in place yet, detail steps that are ongoing, set a meeting time to answer any questions they can, send out a form where people can submit questions - literally any communication will be better than radio silence.

I’m guessing it’s the old Quaker Process slowing things down and am trying to be patient.

Reaching consensus is not known for being a speedy way of getting things done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to have faith in anything without communication, and the window is RAPIDLY closing for the Board or the acting Head to send out any kind of message and have it be well-received and reassuring to the parent community.

It's actually very surprising to me that in 2024, the Board doesn't seem to understand that they need to communicate SOMETHING. I'm sure things are happening behind the scenes, but without a message going out to reassure the parents, this will turn from what is likely a good thing (removing Rodney) to a very bad thing (parents losing faith and pulling kids). Even if there's no specific plan in place yet, detail steps that are ongoing, set a meeting time to answer any questions they can, send out a form where people can submit questions - literally any communication will be better than radio silence.

I’m guessing it’s the old Quaker Process slowing things down and am trying to be patient.

Reaching consensus is not known for being a speedy way of getting things done!

This. But also it’s been less than a week since RGs resignation, and it was less than a week into the new contract year before the resignation email. That’s a very tight timeline to hire anyone.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure a lot of work is happening behind the scenes. It's been less than a week since RG's departure was announced. I guess they will report on details to give a sense of where things stand, what things will look like in the Fall and what still needs attention. Until his departure was formally acknowledged and/or accepted, the BOT and SSFS could do nothing.

There are legal aspects to this that impact what could be announced to the parents/families/community. I'm sure they couldn't have any scenario conversations before suggesting he leave and him deciding between quitting or staying on another year.

I trust in the BOT's ability to manage this and while it will be a tough Fall - SSFS will be in a better place now that this has been decided. There are so many wonderful parts to the school that I think this announcement will help to rejuvenate those that were flagging. While the financial stuff is difficult - I have to believe with him gone, that the school will end up in a better place.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if his contract had a non-disparagement clause (because if it didn’t I think he’s likely to do a whole lot of disparaging.)

[Anonymous]

There is this family summer event planned for for next week, but it is being presented as an event to have fun and meet new and former parents. I hope they use some of this time to say something about the transition plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is this family summer event planned for for next week, but it is being presented as an event to have fun and meet new and former parents. I hope they use some of this time to say something about the transition plans.

These events happen every year, and was planned well before the resignation. I doubt there will be anything said during the event, because that’s a) not its purpose, and b) that’s not a venue for official communication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is this family summer event planned for for next week, but it is being presented as an event to have fun and meet new and former parents. I hope they use some of this time to say something about the transition plans.

That’s not the place. Faculty or admin don’t always attend these and if they did, this isn’t the place to spring on them tough questions that they may not be authorized to answer. This event is really just to meet families and kids. In all likely it won’t have the same carefree vibe this year, but it still won’t be the place to ask about the current problems.