SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a good friend who is an active part of the coalition. She's feeling torn because it is clear from current families that she's spoken with that they aren't returning now, even after the initial excitement over the 15 million pledged (emphasis on "pledged" and not "received"). Even part of the coalition, she's concerned that perhaps they should jump ship......

Well this is concerning and quite frankly unfortunate to be posting anonymously about something like this. If this is true, please find a way to open this discussion in Slack. The coalition aims for transparency so this is information I want to be transparent. Quite frankly I'd like to see a live count of how many have re-enrolled with that number updated as people re-enroll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

It was a response to the previous post that said there was a bright side to grades being blended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

It was a response to the previous post that said there was a bright side to grades being blended.

Why would there be a bright side to blended grades? I’m not paying 40K for that.

[Anonymous]

It’s wild that this information is coming in piecemeal. The board or coalition or whoever is in charge needs to communicate, now

[Anonymous]

There are many teachers returning. Both new teachers and those that have been there 20 plus years. Some have shared they are returning on slack. Others have shared this information with parents and students. There’s no need to put down teachers that wish to stay Let everyone make their own decisions about what is best for them.

[Anonymous]

Not every parent is on slack. This is intentional. Information should be coming from the school/board directly. This has been limited which is why our family is on our way out the door.

[Anonymous]

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

It was a response to the previous post that said there was a bright side to grades being blended.

Why would there be a bright side to blended grades? I’m not paying 40K for that.

First, we don't even know if this is true.
Second, regardless if it's true or not, there is a ton of research that shows there is in fact a bright side to blended grades.
Third, Even though the research supports blended grades, you as a parent can and should decide what you're comfortable with and what you feel is best for your own kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

It was a response to the previous post that said there was a bright side to grades being blended.

Why would there be a bright side to blended grades? I’m not paying 40K for that.

First, we don't even know if this is true.
Second, regardless if it's true or not, there is a ton of research that shows there is in fact a bright side to blended grades.
Third, Even though the research supports blended grades, you as a parent can and should decide what you're comfortable with and what you feel is best for your own kid.

Whether research shows it’s good or not that’s not the school I came to. School can’t convince me now they’re doing it for my own good. If I wanted that I’d have gone to that kind of school already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

It was a response to the previous post that said there was a bright side to grades being blended.

Why would there be a bright side to blended grades? I’m not paying 40K for that.

First, we don't even know if this is true.
Second, regardless if it's true or not, there is a ton of research that shows there is in fact a bright side to blended grades.
Third, Even though the research supports blended grades, you as a parent can and should decide what you're comfortable with and what you feel is best for your own kid.

Whether research shows it’s good or not that’s not the school I came to. School can’t convince me now they’re doing it for my own good. If I wanted that I’d have gone to that kind of school already.

I understand. But I caution everyone on reacting to this since we don't even know if it's true

[Anonymous]

Blended grades was a previous poster suggestion, not something the school has proposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blended grades was a previous poster suggestion, not something the school has proposed.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Correct. To be perfectly clear, a previous poster referred to blended grades as something that had a potential upside and that she would be okay with. She did not say that this had been directly suggested or that she had particular knowledge that it was happening. I have no idea if it was purely hypothetical or if it has been floated/discussed in either small settings are larger ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A series of bad decisions and poor stewardship led to this moment (so unfortunate). However, our SSFS families are wonderful, and even if many of the teachers on board next year are new to the school, that provides opportunity, not just loss. New staff/teachers will bring fresh insight and energy. Regarding lower and middle-school enrollment, small, perhaps blended-grade-level classes could be a real win for families that return. I have faith in the pledge from one very generous family -- a true gift that can stabilize the school finances. HOWEVER, trust needs to be rebuilt in a very small window of time. There should be daily communication from the Board from now until the 5/15 contract deadline. The new HOS's contract should be amended to allow for a remote-start (maybe a short-term consulting contract?) so he can immediately begin to establish trust and rapport. The Coalition should Google-form poll potential families to garner the top 3-5 data points that need to be known by parents (now) to help them feel comfortable with signing a contract in 9 days. And, the BOT should announce when each of the points will be addressed, so families can tune in to learn more. SSFS has a lot to offer, this year and in the future. But, time is of the essence and it feels like the leadership is wasting precious minutes. There are a lot of kids counting on them right now.

While I admire your positivity, I think you will not find many who share your views. Some new teachers can certainly bring fresh perspective, but no viable, experienced, established teacher would choose to work in what will likely be a chaotic, temporary, tumultuous environment. The blending of grades is not someone that (nearly) anyone would voluntarily choose for their kids. There's a reason that it's not a usual practice among younger students. A remote HoS is antithetical to everything that defines a good Head.

It's fine to hope for the best, but it's counterproductive to start to convince yourself that obvious failures, shortcomings and untenable situations are a step in the right direction. It also is not credible to those genuinely trying to evaluate the risk calculus.

I am part of the community and have not heard anything about blending of grades or a remote HofS. Did I miss something?

I am part of the community and I also have not heard anything about blending the grade levels or a remote HOS. Also, the community has heard from many experienced and established teachers who plan to stay. It's counterproductive to post speculations without any basis.