SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

The board will take the heat, yet in schools with such a complex governance structure — in this case tied to an “overseeing” meeting — the board may not be the legal entity per bylaws. This is the case with many Episcopal parish schools overseen by vestries with final authority on property, loans, etc. Do we know if the SSFS board is the legal party? If not, then the meeting may be the responsible party who signed off on the loans agreeing with the board/school on its commitment to repay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone posting here go to the BOT meetings? Lots of rubber stampers serve on boards. It may be unfair to assume everyone on BOT supported the excess spending.

Plus I bet almost everyone in school community wanted the new high school. Did anyone speak against it?

Everyone wants a new high school. No one wants to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Yup. Then when enrollment doesn’t go up wildly, tuition hikes, then families leave.

[Anonymous]

It’s philanthropy that has built so many of these schools over time. Doesn’t sound like the advancement arm of SSFS was too sophisticated.

[Anonymous]

Slight disagreement: inherited wealth families want it. Families in financial aid want it. The full pay but it hurts families don’t want it bc they know tuition will go up to pay for it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s philanthropy that has built so many of these schools over time. Doesn’t sound like the advancement arm of SSFS was too sophisticated.

Kinda amazing that BOT, HOS, teachers, families all don’t understand basic economics.

[Anonymous]

It's just such a shame. Not only was it a good school, it had it’s own unique niche and a different flavor than the standard area independent school.

[Anonymous]

About the coalition, I’m choosing to be cautiously optimistic, or at least hopeful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Who are the people ultimately responsible for the closing?

The board.

I agree. The board.

[Anonymous]

No one asked the board where the $ was coming from?

[Anonymous]

How are families finding out about the coalition? Many families of older students aren’t so connected to other parents. I had no idea until discovering this thread today. Current family and alumni family. Just mentioning in case the organizers aim to reach every current family, at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slight disagreement: inherited wealth families want it. Families in financial aid want it. The full pay but it hurts families don’t want it bc they know tuition will go up to pay for it

And the financial aid but it hurts families? Where do we fit in your characterization? You don't think financial aid families worry about tuition increases every year? You think financial aid families are privileged? Maybe some are, I don't know honestly. But I do know this financial aid recipient had their utilities cut off twice last year. I'm not complaining. I choose to spend every cent of my hard earned money on tuition--I am a PROUD SSFS parent, but your comment is mischaracterization of most financial aid families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are families finding out about the coalition? Many families of older students aren’t so connected to other parents. I had no idea until discovering this thread today. Current family and alumni family. Just mentioning in case the organizers aim to reach every current family, at least.

I found out about the coalition through my grade's WhatsApp group chat. Is that a thing all grades have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s philanthropy that has built so many of these schools over time. Doesn’t sound like the advancement arm of SSFS was too sophisticated.

Kinda amazing that BOT, HOS, teachers, families all don’t understand basic economics.

I think at a lot of schools in more recent years, tuition has become so incredibly high that families are disinclined or unable to donate on top of it. You really need to be able to tap into the alumni who are a few decades out and more. They need to feel connected to the school though.

[Anonymous]

Not all grades have WhatsApp chats