RSCC office staff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish that they would just tell us why they are being so quiet about her departure. If it is a legal issue, then say so. If it is a personal issue that Betsy wanted to keep private, then say so. Maybe they are worried that it will open a bigger can of worms, but the huge elephant sitting in the school is more than worrisome.

totally, totally agree (i am the OP of this thread btw). all we want is an explanation as to what kind of thing we are dealing with. this affects the entire school community and needs to be addressed - this is the place where our children spend their days and we need to feel comfortable with the way things are handled there!!

I am not on the Board, just a parent with kid in the program. And I think this is totally blown WAY out of proportion. Betsy was great, but she's just an employee like any other employee. Carrie and Erin are great, too. We don't know what led to the departure, and no, I don't think we are entitled to know what led to the departure unless it directly affects our children. And, to me, it just doesn't look like it does. And nothing that's been said or spread in all the above vitriol gives me any reason to suspect otherwise. Are my kids well-cared for while I am working - Absolutely. Do the teachers seem happy to be there and happy to see the kids (Absolutely). Does my $$ appear to go to good use - yes - the facility, the toys, the caregivers, everything is top notch - unlike those other "comparative" facilities where the toys are old, the playground is old, and the facilities always look like they need rehab. No knock on the others - they have wonderful caregivers, too - but they also have their share of drama in admin - as any workplace does. Is the Board open? Yes - everything that is discussed in a meeting is published in the newsletter, and if you want more detailed information you can discuss with any board member. I personally am glad that there are parents willing to take on this thankless task (see above for all the gratitude), as it takes more time and effort than most have, including me. Again, this is one staff decision - I get that you may have been friends or thought that Betsy was the best thing since sliced bread - but she left, so get over it and move on, and put your energies to making the place better, not tearing it down with innuendo and gossip.

You're entitled to your opinion, but most on this thread disagree with you. We all want the place to be the best it can be - that's why we're on this thread.
And I don't believe that you aren't closely connected to the Board. How would anyone not on it know if 'everything' is published in the newsletter?
And Betsy leaving DOES affect my child. He adored her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish that they would just tell us why they are being so quiet about her departure. If it is a legal issue, then say so. If it is a personal issue that Betsy wanted to keep private, then say so. Maybe they are worried that it will open a bigger can of worms, but the huge elephant sitting in the school is more than worrisome.

totally, totally agree (i am the OP of this thread btw). all we want is an explanation as to what kind of thing we are dealing with. this affects the entire school community and needs to be addressed - this is the place where our children spend their days and we need to feel comfortable with the way things are handled there!!

I am not on the Board, just a parent with kid in the program. And I think this is totally blown WAY out of proportion. Betsy was great, but she's just an employee like any other employee. Carrie and Erin are great, too. We don't know what led to the departure, and no, I don't think we are entitled to know what led to the departure unless it directly affects our children. And, to me, it just doesn't look like it does. And nothing that's been said or spread in all the above vitriol gives me any reason to suspect otherwise. Are my kids well-cared for while I am working - Absolutely. Do the teachers seem happy to be there and happy to see the kids (Absolutely). Does my $$ appear to go to good use - yes - the facility, the toys, the caregivers, everything is top notch - unlike those other "comparative" facilities where the toys are old, the playground is old, and the facilities always look like they need rehab. No knock on the others - they have wonderful caregivers, too - but they also have their share of drama in admin - as any workplace does. Is the Board open? Yes - everything that is discussed in a meeting is published in the newsletter, and if you want more detailed information you can discuss with any board member. I personally am glad that there are parents willing to take on this thankless task (see above for all the gratitude), as it takes more time and effort than most have, including me. Again, this is one staff decision - I get that you may have been friends or thought that Betsy was the best thing since sliced bread - but she left, so get over it and move on, and put your energies to making the place better, not tearing it down with innuendo and gossip.

I agree with this poster. We have been thrilled with DC's care at RSCC. The love and care that she has received there have been phenomenal. A lot of people at RSCC put their hearts and souls into caring for those kids, as Betsy did.

I hope that those on this thread are also directing their requests for more information and/or a meeting to the office. It will give them an opportunity to actually deal with your dissatisfaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish that they would just tell us why they are being so quiet about her departure. If it is a legal issue, then say so. If it is a personal issue that Betsy wanted to keep private, then say so. Maybe they are worried that it will open a bigger can of worms, but the huge elephant sitting in the school is more than worrisome.

totally, totally agree (i am the OP of this thread btw). all we want is an explanation as to what kind of thing we are dealing with. this affects the entire school community and needs to be addressed - this is the place where our children spend their days and we need to feel comfortable with the way things are handled there!!

I am not on the Board, just a parent with kid in the program. And I think this is totally blown WAY out of proportion. Betsy was great, but she's just an employee like any other employee. Carrie and Erin are great, too. We don't know what led to the departure, and no, I don't think we are entitled to know what led to the departure unless it directly affects our children. And, to me, it just doesn't look like it does. And nothing that's been said or spread in all the above vitriol gives me any reason to suspect otherwise. Are my kids well-cared for while I am working - Absolutely. Do the teachers seem happy to be there and happy to see the kids (Absolutely). Does my $$ appear to go to good use - yes - the facility, the toys, the caregivers, everything is top notch - unlike those other "comparative" facilities where the toys are old, the playground is old, and the facilities always look like they need rehab. No knock on the others - they have wonderful caregivers, too - but they also have their share of drama in admin - as any workplace does. Is the Board open? Yes - everything that is discussed in a meeting is published in the newsletter, and if you want more detailed information you can discuss with any board member. I personally am glad that there are parents willing to take on this thankless task (see above for all the gratitude), as it takes more time and effort than most have, including me. Again, this is one staff decision - I get that you may have been friends or thought that Betsy was the best thing since sliced bread - but she left, so get over it and move on, and put your energies to making the place better, not tearing it down with innuendo and gossip.

You're entitled to your opinion, but most on this thread disagree with you. We all want the place to be the best it can be - that's why we're on this thread.
And I don't believe that you aren't closely connected to the Board. How would anyone not on it know if 'everything' is published in the newsletter?
And Betsy leaving DOES affect my child. He adored her.[/quote

You can believe what you wish, but I am not close with the board - could only name a couple (maybe - under threat of death, and only after looking at the website first). I assume that parents on the Board are not nefarious about their intentions. I assume that when the newsletter states that x,y,z was discussed at board mtg that x, y and z was what was discussed. I assume that when the newsletter says I could ask about x,y or z or anything else of a board member, I could. Maybe my assumptions are naive, but then again maybe your contrary assumptions make you a bit of a conspiracy theorist. Further, your son being close with Betsy is all very well and good, but that's no different from any other teacher or aide leaving that your son was fond of, and doesn't entitle you to conduct an inquisition. I am not even sure that "most on this board" would disagree with me - as I was a prior poster that wondered where she went.

[Anonymous]

Seriously 09/01/2011 11:29....I think you need a time out.

[Anonymous]

This has been an interesting distraction from work.

1. I think we can all agree that when our kids are involved parents will come out fighting, but their intentions are doing what is best for their kids.

2. RSCC is a great school, but like anyplace there are things people don't like. No one is forced to stay. We all know the grass isn't greener, so there will be different issues to deal with somewhere else, but rest assured there will be issues.

3. Like the others said, a little bit of transparency and communication on the school’s part goes a long way. How about a notice that said, “Dear parents, much to our dismay, Miss Betsy has left RSCC to attend to family issues. We will miss her and wish her the best. Her legacy will remain though and here is what we are doing in the mean time…1, 2, 3, etc.” Whether this is true or not isn’t the point. I know teachers have left the school and the students or parents are given no notice. It happens, parent’s understand that, but again giving some details, a heads up, would be nice.

4. Regarding the board, I think we can all agree that it is nice that parents are willing and able to volunteer their time, but my child has been at the school for 2 years and I have never seen an invitation to attend a board meeting or a vote on board members. Board members don’t have nefarious intentions. Their children belong to the school also, but as was previously mentioned, understanding this process and allowing the other parents to be involved, like voting on the board, would help. How and why are these parents on the board, do they have some tenure, how can I get involved if I want to, etc. I personally don’t feel comfortable discussing any issues I have with the board because the limited interaction I have had with some of the board members makes me feel a bit inferior. That is just my impression. I’m not saying that is the truth. I just don’t understand the makeup of the school administration and what the roles are.

5. To the Office who I’m sure is reading this. You know parents, especially ones around here, they get involved and are fussy and demanding, but they are paying a very hefty fee every month to send their kids here. Many parents have not seen pay raises in years and some have actually received pay cuts, yet the school raises rates each year. I hope you can understand why parents get worked up about these things when they are working so hard just to send their kids to school and pay their mortgage. Personally my family has no extra funds at the end of the month. We are one major disaster away from financial ruin. That doesn’t distract my appreciation for the school or acknowledgement of the phenomenal job the teachers and staff do. It doesn’t change the benefit that I think my child receives from attending. It’s just something I wish the school and board could understand the strap. Don’t get offensive, but try to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been an interesting distraction from work.

1. I think we can all agree that when our kids are involved parents will come out fighting, but their intentions are doing what is best for their kids.

2. RSCC is a great school, but like anyplace there are things people don't like. No one is forced to stay. We all know the grass isn't greener, so there will be different issues to deal with somewhere else, but rest assured there will be issues.

3. Like the others said, a little bit of transparency and communication on the school’s part goes a long way. How about a notice that said, “Dear parents, much to our dismay, Miss Betsy has left RSCC to attend to family issues. We will miss her and wish her the best. Her legacy will remain though and here is what we are doing in the mean time…1, 2, 3, etc.” Whether this is true or not isn’t the point. I know teachers have left the school and the students or parents are given no notice. It happens, parent’s understand that, but again giving some details, a heads up, would be nice.

4. Regarding the board, I think we can all agree that it is nice that parents are willing and able to volunteer their time, but my child has been at the school for 2 years and I have never seen an invitation to attend a board meeting or a vote on board members. Board members don’t have nefarious intentions. Their children belong to the school also, but as was previously mentioned, understanding this process and allowing the other parents to be involved, like voting on the board, would help. How and why are these parents on the board, do they have some tenure, how can I get involved if I want to, etc. I personally don’t feel comfortable discussing any issues I have with the board because the limited interaction I have had with some of the board members makes me feel a bit inferior. That is just my impression. I’m not saying that is the truth. I just don’t understand the makeup of the school administration and what the roles are.

5. To the Office who I’m sure is reading this. You know parents, especially ones around here, they get involved and are fussy and demanding, but they are paying a very hefty fee every month to send their kids here. Many parents have not seen pay raises in years and some have actually received pay cuts, yet the school raises rates each year. I hope you can understand why parents get worked up about these things when they are working so hard just to send their kids to school and pay their mortgage. Personally my family has no extra funds at the end of the month. We are one major disaster away from financial ruin. That doesn’t distract my appreciation for the school or acknowledgement of the phenomenal job the teachers and staff do. It doesn’t change the benefit that I think my child receives from attending. It’s just something I wish the school and board could understand the strap. Don’t get offensive, but try to understand.

I am 13:09 PP, and I think this is very well said. I may or may not agree with it 100%, but I think it gives the issues needed perspective, and I do hope that the Board/Administration see and take these particular comments into consideration.

[Anonymous]

1129 here - re 1405, #3 - exactly. I think that would go a long way. And to whoever said I need a time out - the point is that just bc one poster's kids weren't affected, that doesn't mean no one's are. We're all on the same team here.

[Anonymous]

I just came across this thread and have a few things to add that everyone engaged in this dialogue should think about.

1) I am a working mother of two children. When my daughter (now 4) first joined RSCC as a baby, I was a wreck. I was a control freak (still am) with no experience with daycare and did not know if I was making the right decision for my child. I had looked a lot of daycare facilities and chose RSCC because of the excellent teachers and staff, impressive preschool curriculum (which other daycare centers did not have), and impeccably maintained facility. Within less than two days after dropping her off for the first time, I realized that I had made an excellent decision for my daughter and she thrived socially, cognitively, physically and emotionally each and every day that she spent at RSCC. We ultimately made a heart-wrenching decision to move my daughter to Montessori school last year just because we thought it would be a good fit for her personality, but I cried before, during and after the transition because I hated to remove her from the loving and competent care of the folks at RSCC. My daughter continues to thrive, in large part due to the foundation that was laid for her at RSCC.

2) No place is perfect, but overall my experience at RSCC was excellent. I am a very demanding, say what's on my mind person. All of the administrators and teachers handled my numerous inquiries, suggestions, worries, criticisms, etc. with fairness and concern. I never felt they were anything other than open and helpful -- but then again, I never assumed I was entitled to information about the inner workings of the organization and its personnel, so it never occurred to me to ask for or expect that information. How many businesses do you know that actually "go public" with personal information relating to personnel? As an attorney, I can tell you that any business that does so is subjecting itself to potential legal liability under employment laws. In fact, many employers will simply acknowledge that a person is leaving their employ and, if asked for a reference in the future, provide only dates of employment, title and general job functions and nothing more because doing more puts them at risk of disclosing confidential personnel information. Even if people leave on good terms, it is nobody's business and RSCC is doing the right thing by Betsy, themselves and their staff and families if they are heeding advice to respect the confidentiality of personnel matters.

3) I too was surprised to learn that Betsy recently left RSCC. She struck me as a very competent person who cared very much for the children and families at RSCC. My daughter loved her! However, I also understand that it is simply a fact of life that people leave their employers from time to time -- sometimes for personal reasons, sometimes for other reasons -- and Betsy's departure should not be the basis for the frenzied fear mongering that I am seeing on this thread. I mean REALLY? Her departure does nothing to impact the incredibly well organized and well led programs at RSCC. To suggest otherwise -- even if you were very close to Betsy -- strikes me as a bit irresponsible and vindictive and not something that Betsy (who always seemed to have the best interests of RSCC at heart) would want.

4) For those on this thread who may at their core be more concerned about not being "in the loop" on confidential details of Betsy's departure than about the impact, if any, that Betsy's departure might have, I ask: Have any of you personally approached the administration of RSCC to have a conversation about what concerns you? Are you feeling disenfranchised because your curiosity cannot be satiated by a more-than-appropriate notification about Betsy's departure, or because you actually personally inquired with the administration about how this change might impact your child's care only to be completely blown off and ignored? Based on my experience at RSCC, I suspect it is not the latter case.

I have many more pressing things to do with my time this evening and I have no personal stake that compels me to defend RSCC, but I felt compelled to respond because I think the treatment of RSCC has been unfair based on what I am reading on this thread. I know we sometimes tend to thrive on negativity, but instead of trying to publicly vilify RSCC because they cannot say more than they have about any staff member's departure, maybe you could offer support and ask how you might be helpful as they transition. That, it seems, would be in the best interests of your children.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that is all fine and good and I wholeheartedly agree with much of what has been said by the PPs, but Betsy I am sure did not leave by choice.   If you have ever been involved in a termination before or had a team member that was cut, I think you just need to read that note to confirm she was let go.  And the fact that the board and office is being mum, is surely because of possible legal action, hence further confirmation she was fired. 

Frankly I'm just amazed that the board and remaining office staff have allowed it to get this out of hand.  There's alot of pent up anger, perhaps Betsy's departure was what opened pandora's box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that is all fine and good and I wholeheartedly agree with much of what has been said by the PPs, but Betsy I am sure did not leave by choice.   If you have ever been involved in a termination before or had a team member that was cut, I think you just need to read that note to confirm she was let go.  And the fact that the board and office is being mum, is surely because of possible legal action, hence further confirmation she was fired. 

Frankly I'm just amazed that the board and remaining office staff have allowed it to get this out of hand.  There's alot of pent up anger, perhaps Betsy's departure was what opened pandora's box.

To the person who wrote this, I will give you the same advice that I would give to anyone who feels unhappy in a relationship: Either go directly to the other party in an attempt to resolve the issues so that you can release whatever is causing you to hold onto unhealthy "pent up anger", or simply move on...

Unfortunately, these posts do not seem to be a genuine attempt at resolution. They kinda feel like a passive aggressive and destructive way to vent about something you happen not to like. Not trying to offend anyone, just calling it as I am seeing it in these posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Unfortunately, these posts do not seem to be a genuine attempt at resolution. They kinda feel like a passive aggressive and destructive way to vent about something you happen not to like. Not trying to offend anyone, just calling it as I am seeing it in these posts.

You make a reasonable point here, but did you ever consider that people may be hesitant to voice their concerns directly because they fear being labeled troublemakers? Or perhaps the president and CEO will accuse them of having "inappropriate conduct" and may ask their child to leave the school. This may sound far-fetched, but is actually accurate, as this is how the current leadership handles things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, that is all fine and good and I wholeheartedly agree with much of what has been said by the PPs, but Betsy I am sure did not leave by choice.   If you have ever been involved in a termination before or had a team member that was cut, I think you just need to read that note to confirm she was let go.  And the fact that the board and office is being mum, is surely because of possible legal action, hence further confirmation she was fired. 

Frankly I'm just amazed that the board and remaining office staff have allowed it to get this out of hand.  There's alot of pent up anger, perhaps Betsy's departure was what opened pandora's box.

To the person who wrote this, I will give you the same advice that I would give to anyone who feels unhappy in a relationship: Either go directly to the other party in an attempt to resolve the issues so that you can release whatever is causing you to hold onto unhealthy "pent up anger", or simply move on...

Unfortunately, these posts do not seem to be a genuine attempt at resolution. They kinda feel like a passive aggressive and destructive way to vent about something you happen not to like. Not trying to offend anyone, just calling it as I am seeing it in these posts.

I agree with this. Someone is sounding more and more like they have an axe to grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Unfortunately, these posts do not seem to be a genuine attempt at resolution. They kinda feel like a passive aggressive and destructive way to vent about something you happen not to like. Not trying to offend anyone, just calling it as I am seeing it in these posts.

You make a reasonable point here, but did you ever consider that people may be hesitant to voice their concerns directly because they fear being labeled troublemakers? Or perhaps the president and CEO will accuse them of having "inappropriate conduct" and may ask their child to leave the school. This may sound far-fetched, but is actually accurate, as this is how the current leadership handles things.

Okay, really? You are a grown adult...with a child or children! You rather sit on a message board and complain that you are upset, or that your child or children are in jeopardy due to the lack of information, rather than speaking up for you and your family! I think, with any adult situation, if you went to the office and tried to talk to them with a cool head you would get results. Based on what information has been given so far you may not get much, but at least you can start an open dialogue.

We teach our children to be brave and have courage in scary or troubling situations, but yet no one has approached the office to speak their mind.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone else think this is getting way out of control?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else think this is getting way out of control?

Yes. I only want to know about Betsy (have posted a few times on this thread) and know nothing of any issues with the Board, have no complaints about the school in general, etc. We're pretty new, though.