SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

+1 Everyone did the best they could under RG.

[Anonymous]

How bad it must have been for everyone? Was there no one who could have advocated for the staff until things got this bad? Seems a shame that they had to persist through such a toxic work environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

As a parent I can only say, I am sorry you had to face any of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

As a parent I can only say, I am sorry you had to face any of this.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using archive.org, I compiled the US tuition from ssfs.org over time to see how it changed.

17-18 $32,300.00
18-19 $33,250.00 2.94%
19-20 $34,250.00 3.01% *
20-21 $35,250.00 2.92%
21-22 $36,500.00 3.55%
22-23 $38,300.00 4.93%
23-24 $40,980.00 7.00%
24-25 $43,200.00 5.42%
*19-20 tuition is estimated from the average of 18-19 and 20-21 as data was not available from archive.org.

Before RG headed the school, the tuition increases were consistently 3%. During RG's time, the tuition increases are random and reactionary. To me, this proves that TG knew how to manage the schools finances.

Doesn’t the board decide on tuition increase? Didn’t most independent schools in the DMV have ~4-5% increase post pandemic? The jump to 7% seems like an outlier, seems like they wanted to move to the $40k bracket like other schools in the area; there must have been an explanation as to why that increase by the board.

Well if we know one thing, the oversight of the BOT has not been present. So what the BOT agreed or didnt agree to is hard to tell. But then, the BOT is only going to make decisions based on the data they are given, if the data is flawed their concurrence will be flawed as well. The BOT doesnt run the day to day finances, staffing or other operational decisions - at best they only hey/nay's the HOS decisions that are presented to them. But if he's presenting data showing they need to increase to make ends meet, what's the board going to do? I don't believe the BOT knew how bad the finances were.

Second "other schools in the area" are not 40K, there are several in the Moco, Hoco, Baltimore area that are in the 30s still. But prices shouldnt be increased to compete with other schools tuition - it should increase because it needs to and there is a value added service being provided. You have to go towards DC to find schools in the 40K range and frankly SSFS is not those schools. So to increase tuition just because there are schools in the DMV that are pricier is a poor reason (and yes, that is the reason he used - "other schools are more expensive anyway!").

Which non-catholic independent schools (not K-8), in the DMV are below 40k? Who would you say are SSFS peers?

It's not hard to find a few. US tuition 2024-25:
SSFS: $43,200

McDonogh: $41,050
Bryn Mawr: $40,430
Park School: $38,900
Baltimore Friends: $38,000
Gilman: $37,690
Barrie: $37,135
Glenelg Country: $ 35,830
Key School: $35,220

To say none of those can offer an alternative to SSFS is a stretch. You have to move towards DC (Sidwell, Holton Arms) when you start getting the schools that cost more. But you can't say SSFS competes with those schools in what they're offering.

What do you mean by "what they are offering"?

[Anonymous]

Seriously, I just want my kid to have another great year. Hoping this turmoil doesnt affect the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, I just want my kid to have another great year. Hoping this turmoil doesnt affect the kids.

I would say what effects the teachers wellbeing and the school environment ultimately effects the kids. But if none of that has a negative impact on your child than you are fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using archive.org, I compiled the US tuition from ssfs.org over time to see how it changed.

17-18 $32,300.00
18-19 $33,250.00 2.94%
19-20 $34,250.00 3.01% *
20-21 $35,250.00 2.92%
21-22 $36,500.00 3.55%
22-23 $38,300.00 4.93%
23-24 $40,980.00 7.00%
24-25 $43,200.00 5.42%
*19-20 tuition is estimated from the average of 18-19 and 20-21 as data was not available from archive.org.

Before RG headed the school, the tuition increases were consistently 3%. During RG's time, the tuition increases are random and reactionary. To me, this proves that TG knew how to manage the schools finances.

Doesn’t the board decide on tuition increase? Didn’t most independent schools in the DMV have ~4-5% increase post pandemic? The jump to 7% seems like an outlier, seems like they wanted to move to the $40k bracket like other schools in the area; there must have been an explanation as to why that increase by the board.

Well if we know one thing, the oversight of the BOT has not been present. So what the BOT agreed or didnt agree to is hard to tell. But then, the BOT is only going to make decisions based on the data they are given, if the data is flawed their concurrence will be flawed as well. The BOT doesnt run the day to day finances, staffing or other operational decisions - at best they only hey/nay's the HOS decisions that are presented to them. But if he's presenting data showing they need to increase to make ends meet, what's the board going to do? I don't believe the BOT knew how bad the finances were.

Second "other schools in the area" are not 40K, there are several in the Moco, Hoco, Baltimore area that are in the 30s still. But prices shouldnt be increased to compete with other schools tuition - it should increase because it needs to and there is a value added service being provided. You have to go towards DC to find schools in the 40K range and frankly SSFS is not those schools. So to increase tuition just because there are schools in the DMV that are pricier is a poor reason (and yes, that is the reason he used - "other schools are more expensive anyway!").

Which non-catholic independent schools (not K-8), in the DMV are below 40k? Who would you say are SSFS peers?

It's not hard to find a few. US tuition 2024-25:
SSFS: $43,200

McDonogh: $41,050
Bryn Mawr: $40,430
Park School: $38,900
Baltimore Friends: $38,000
Gilman: $37,690
Barrie: $37,135
Glenelg Country: $ 35,830
Key School: $35,220

To say none of those can offer an alternative to SSFS is a stretch. You have to move towards DC (Sidwell, Holton Arms) when you start getting the schools that cost more. But you can't say SSFS competes with those schools in what they're offering.

What do you mean by "what they are offering"?

I think what the poster meant is that Sidwell and SSFS can’t be compared. Sidwell has better resources and more options in the US program. And it’s not just Sidwell. Baltimore friends has a better academic program too. It’s all in what you’re looking for in a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

Employees need to realize that HR always exists to support and defend upper management and the institution, not the employees. Faculty at independent schools often make that mistake. Be careful what you say to HR if you are faculty/staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

Employees need to realize that HR always exists to support and defend upper management and the institution, not the employees. Faculty at independent schools often make that mistake. Be careful what you say to HR if you are faculty/staff.

Unfortunately this is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

Employees need to realize that HR always exists to support and defend upper management and the institution, not the employees. Faculty at independent schools often make that mistake. Be careful what you say to HR if you are faculty/staff.

I have only worked in education, but isn't that true everywhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the HR department do? It would seem employees would file complaints about personnel before departing… so many great teachers left.

The HR Director was still posting about checking-out job openings when there was apparently a hiring freeze so my guess is she doesn't do much.

She works her tail off. She is very supportive of the faculty and staff. Only so much she could do under HOS. Let’s not trash people with rumors and speculation.

Well, I worked there and I absolutely disagree. I brought NUMEROUS issues to her and all were swept under the rug. Nothing done. Just a nod and smile. Always distracted by her cell phone while in a 1:1 meeting. Unprofessional. When people were let go, she didn’t even have the decency to show her face. Coward.

Employees need to realize that HR always exists to support and defend upper management and the institution, not the employees. Faculty at independent schools often make that mistake. Be careful what you say to HR if you are faculty/staff.

I have only worked in education, but isn't that true everywhere?

100%. They are not there to support employees. I would not use them as a support system with toxic leadership. They will suggest mediation, they will make sure nothing illegal is happening but they are not there to protect you are staff. You have two options. Learn to live with the experience or leave. When you leave make sure you get an exit interview to air your concerns.