Lawsuits when you don't attend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Terrible behavior by Sandy Springs. People will forever refer to Sandy Springs as the Quaker school that sues poor black people.

What is the point of suing this woman? She's broke. It looks like Sandy Springs wants the sick pleasure of seeing her declare bankruptcy.

I am not Quaker but I work with their national organizations. I won't be surprised if this comes up in meetings next week.

why is suing a Black person any worse or any better than suing a White person? You'd better check your racism.

Why are you so fragile?

LOL, I have been called many things in my day, but this is the first time I have been called fragile! The WAPO story and the majority of DCUM readers portray Blacks as needing special treatment under the law, as if they are somehow less intelligent. How would you feel if some commercial real estate White guy signed a contract so his spoiled entitled lax bro son could go to Landon, but then tried to back out because he didn't understand the contract he signed? Trust me, rich White guys are just as capable of making dumb mistakes as poor Blacks, but race should decide how the law applies to them? We all have two eyes for reading and a brain for thinking, regardless of skin color.

First of all, anyone who talks about "racism against white people" is fragile.

Secondly, you seem to be the only one obsessed with her race here. I saw exactly one comment in this whole thread that referred to her race. That is not "the majority" by a long shot. Also, the article doesn't mention race, though there are pictures of her.

Third, your example is ridiculous. A "commercial real estate white guy" presumably deals with contracts all the time, so no one would believe he didn't understand one. But an "after school care director" is likely to have pretty limited experience with contracts. In fact, the article said she assumed the contract was like ones at the Y, where you lose a month of tuition if you withdraw. And in your example, a "rich white guy" can afford to pay the tuition. In this article, the mom is afraid she will lose her housing.

I have tons of sympathy for her and think the school is handling this situation terrible, but it has nothing to do with her race.

In sum, you are the one making it about race, likely because you are a fragile crybaby white person racist. I'm glad I could clear that up for you.

Also, it's "white", not "White". Cry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised people just focusing on Sandy Springs. For the Landon lawsuit in the article it read as though the family was encouraged by the school to hold a spot for their son even though the school knew the family wouldn’t know if he was going to the baseball training school until after June 1 and then school sued for full tuition when the family decided on baseball school June 12.

Yeah that one struck me as very underhanded. Basically the school seems to have verbally agreed to give them more time and let them out of the contract later and then reneged. Sh!tty.

[Anonymous]

^but also: get everything in writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The truly crazy part is that SSFS is on life support. Who in their right mind would sign their child up as full-pay for PreK at a school that runs through 12th Grade? The school won't be around for 14 more years. I'm surprised it's still open at all.

One thing is for sure. This mom's child wasn't taking away a slot from someone else. She didn't cause any loss whatsoever to SSFS. Shame on SSFS and its lawyer.

Ummmm this happened a year ago and literally none of the people who did this are at the school. The entire board is even new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The woman profiled got incredibly unlucky. A school not in financial turmoil may have let her slide but she happened to be working with a school in trouble and who can’t afford to lose a single dollar “owed”. Legally I understand, though ethically it’s awful. Maybe this article helps her find a Good Samaritan willing to help her.

The school must have paid at least $10k in legal fees, and now the harm to its reputation is going to be much more severe. It’s likely that the school will never raise funds the way it did this year again and will close. so good job guys I guess?

As I wrote weeks ago on one of the Sandy Springs threads, that school is probably not going to survive. Schools in that predicament have a tiny chance of surviving to begin with, but with the various bad decisions made on the financial front, it shows that their administration isn't very skilled in financial matters. The bad press is probably not going to sink them further, because such news aren't, by their nature, widely disseminated (even with an article in the Post). But of course it doesn't help with that very small number of families who were considering that school and who have read that article.

And I agree with the general sentiment that even though it may be legal, it doesn't seem fair that a family can be on the hook for an entire year of tuition even when they did not pay a deposit and did not attend. The contracts and their early deadlines are indeed predatory. DC private schools exist in a bubble where their services are in such high demand that they can force families into these types of financially abusive situations. It's not right.

It’s really unfortunate these kinds of really poorly informed comments floating around. It’s just not true that the school is in more jeopardy, and this situation happened a year ago. What should be the discussion is the horrible click bait reporting by this reporter who didn’t even get a quote from the school— which doesn’t even have one, not one remaining leadership including the board that was there when this decision was made. A complete sweep of everyone in charge. This is not the same school and the audacity you have to trash it with your personal opinion but no facts is a good example of why society can’t rise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The woman profiled got incredibly unlucky. A school not in financial turmoil may have let her slide but she happened to be working with a school in trouble and who can’t afford to lose a single dollar “owed”. Legally I understand, though ethically it’s awful. Maybe this article helps her find a Good Samaritan willing to help her.

The school must have paid at least $10k in legal fees, and now the harm to its reputation is going to be much more severe. It’s likely that the school will never raise funds the way it did this year again and will close. so good job guys I guess?

As I wrote weeks ago on one of the Sandy Springs threads, that school is probably not going to survive. Schools in that predicament have a tiny chance of surviving to begin with, but with the various bad decisions made on the financial front, it shows that their administration isn't very skilled in financial matters. The bad press is probably not going to sink them further, because such news aren't, by their nature, widely disseminated (even with an article in the Post). But of course it doesn't help with that very small number of families who were considering that school and who have read that article.

And I agree with the general sentiment that even though it may be legal, it doesn't seem fair that a family can be on the hook for an entire year of tuition even when they did not pay a deposit and did not attend. The contracts and their early deadlines are indeed predatory. DC private schools exist in a bubble where their services are in such high demand that they can force families into these types of financially abusive situations. It's not right.

It’s really unfortunate these kinds of really poorly informed comments floating around. It’s just not true that the school is in more jeopardy, and this situation happened a year ago. What should be the discussion is the horrible click bait reporting by this reporter who didn’t even get a quote from the school— which doesn’t even have one, not one remaining leadership including the board that was there when this decision was made. A complete sweep of everyone in charge. This is not the same school and the audacity you have to trash it with your personal opinion but no facts is a good example of why society can’t rise.

NP. Oh, why was that? Truly, the sign of a great school is having to overhaul its leadership down to the very last person in order to stay in business. That and aggressively pursuing a contract claim against a single mom without means to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The woman profiled got incredibly unlucky. A school not in financial turmoil may have let her slide but she happened to be working with a school in trouble and who can’t afford to lose a single dollar “owed”. Legally I understand, though ethically it’s awful. Maybe this article helps her find a Good Samaritan willing to help her.

The school must have paid at least $10k in legal fees, and now the harm to its reputation is going to be much more severe. It’s likely that the school will never raise funds the way it did this year again and will close. so good job guys I guess?

As I wrote weeks ago on one of the Sandy Springs threads, that school is probably not going to survive. Schools in that predicament have a tiny chance of surviving to begin with, but with the various bad decisions made on the financial front, it shows that their administration isn't very skilled in financial matters. The bad press is probably not going to sink them further, because such news aren't, by their nature, widely disseminated (even with an article in the Post). But of course it doesn't help with that very small number of families who were considering that school and who have read that article.

And I agree with the general sentiment that even though it may be legal, it doesn't seem fair that a family can be on the hook for an entire year of tuition even when they did not pay a deposit and did not attend. The contracts and their early deadlines are indeed predatory. DC private schools exist in a bubble where their services are in such high demand that they can force families into these types of financially abusive situations. It's not right.

It’s really unfortunate these kinds of really poorly informed comments floating around. It’s just not true that the school is in more jeopardy, and this situation happened a year ago. What should be the discussion is the horrible click bait reporting by this reporter who didn’t even get a quote from the school— which doesn’t even have one, not one remaining leadership including the board that was there when this decision was made. A complete sweep of everyone in charge. This is not the same school and the audacity you have to trash it with your personal opinion but no facts is a good example of why society can’t rise.

Did you read the article? It says, "The school did not respond to questions from the Post." Hard to see what any school official would say to defend what they did.

[Anonymous]

Email sent out to parents tonight from new HoS

I want to make you aware of an article in the Washington Post today that reports how Sandy Spring Friends School pursued legal action for non-payment against a preschool parent who accepted, but ultimately did not enroll, at our school.

Though financial stewardship is a priority for our school, the approach taken to resolve this matter at the time by the prior administration was misguided, and does not reflect the community values of SSFS. I have contacted the parent to apologize on behalf of the School, and to let her know that SSFS will not be seeking any tuition payments from her.

While the staff members involved in pursuing legal action in this case are no longer employed at the School, Sandy Spring Friends School is now reviewing how and why the decision to pursue this legal action was made. In the coming weeks, I will also be studying and revising admissions contract procedures and business office practices.

As I begin my new leadership of the School, I am committed to ensuring that Sandy Spring Friends School’s practices align with our founding Quaker values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email sent out to parents tonight from new HoS

I want to make you aware of an article in the Washington Post today that reports how Sandy Spring Friends School pursued legal action for non-payment against a preschool parent who accepted, but ultimately did not enroll, at our school.

Though financial stewardship is a priority for our school, the approach taken to resolve this matter at the time by the prior administration was misguided, and does not reflect the community values of SSFS. I have contacted the parent to apologize on behalf of the School, and to let her know that SSFS will not be seeking any tuition payments from her.

While the staff members involved in pursuing legal action in this case are no longer employed at the School, Sandy Spring Friends School is now reviewing how and why the decision to pursue this legal action was made. In the coming weeks, I will also be studying and revising admissions contract procedures and business office practices.

As I begin my new leadership of the School, I am committed to ensuring that Sandy Spring Friends School’s practices align with our founding Quaker values.

Well well well, The Washington Post still has a purpose, despite its political cowardice. Excellent news!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The woman profiled got incredibly unlucky. A school not in financial turmoil may have let her slide but she happened to be working with a school in trouble and who can’t afford to lose a single dollar “owed”. Legally I understand, though ethically it’s awful. Maybe this article helps her find a Good Samaritan willing to help her.

The school must have paid at least $10k in legal fees, and now the harm to its reputation is going to be much more severe. It’s likely that the school will never raise funds the way it did this year again and will close. so good job guys I guess?

As I wrote weeks ago on one of the Sandy Springs threads, that school is probably not going to survive. Schools in that predicament have a tiny chance of surviving to begin with, but with the various bad decisions made on the financial front, it shows that their administration isn't very skilled in financial matters. The bad press is probably not going to sink them further, because such news aren't, by their nature, widely disseminated (even with an article in the Post). But of course it doesn't help with that very small number of families who were considering that school and who have read that article.

And I agree with the general sentiment that even though it may be legal, it doesn't seem fair that a family can be on the hook for an entire year of tuition even when they did not pay a deposit and did not attend. The contracts and their early deadlines are indeed predatory. DC private schools exist in a bubble where their services are in such high demand that they can force families into these types of financially abusive situations. It's not right.

It’s really unfortunate these kinds of really poorly informed comments floating around. It’s just not true that the school is in more jeopardy, and this situation happened a year ago. What should be the discussion is the horrible click bait reporting by this reporter who didn’t even get a quote from the school— which doesn’t even have one, not one remaining leadership including the board that was there when this decision was made. A complete sweep of everyone in charge. This is not the same school and the audacity you have to trash it with your personal opinion but no facts is a good example of why society can’t rise.

PP you replied to. Seems you read neither the article nor my post very closely, as you're accusing us of things we did not say. Also I applaud the new HOS's decision not to seek payments from this parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email sent out to parents tonight from new HoS

I want to make you aware of an article in the Washington Post today that reports how Sandy Spring Friends School pursued legal action for non-payment against a preschool parent who accepted, but ultimately did not enroll, at our school.

Though financial stewardship is a priority for our school, the approach taken to resolve this matter at the time by the prior administration was misguided, and does not reflect the community values of SSFS. I have contacted the parent to apologize on behalf of the School, and to let her know that SSFS will not be seeking any tuition payments from her.

While the staff members involved in pursuing legal action in this case are no longer employed at the School, Sandy Spring Friends School is now reviewing how and why the decision to pursue this legal action was made. In the coming weeks, I will also be studying and revising admissions contract procedures and business office practices.

As I begin my new leadership of the School, I am committed to ensuring that Sandy Spring Friends School’s practices align with our founding Quaker values.

Thank goodness! Mom must be so relieved. I admire the new HOS for admitting this was wrong and trying to set things right. It was absolutely immoral for them to have ever gone after her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email sent out to parents tonight from new HoS

I want to make you aware of an article in the Washington Post today that reports how Sandy Spring Friends School pursued legal action for non-payment against a preschool parent who accepted, but ultimately did not enroll, at our school.

Though financial stewardship is a priority for our school, the approach taken to resolve this matter at the time by the prior administration was misguided, and does not reflect the community values of SSFS. I have contacted the parent to apologize on behalf of the School, and to let her know that SSFS will not be seeking any tuition payments from her.

While the staff members involved in pursuing legal action in this case are no longer employed at the School, Sandy Spring Friends School is now reviewing how and why the decision to pursue this legal action was made. In the coming weeks, I will also be studying and revising admissions contract procedures and business office practices.

As I begin my new leadership of the School, I am committed to ensuring that Sandy Spring Friends School’s practices align with our founding Quaker values.

Good note.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the school is a business, but this area is in economic downturn. I’m sure they can just let 26k go.

Given they were on the brink of financial collapse but not yet telling anyone that fact last Aug/Sep when all this first went down, they probably couldn’t. And maybe she’d have been better off if the school hadn’t been clawed back from closure.

Perhaps the financial collapse was in part due to terrible financial decisions like taking stones to trial trying to get blood from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email sent out to parents tonight from new HoS

I want to make you aware of an article in the Washington Post today that reports how Sandy Spring Friends School pursued legal action for non-payment against a preschool parent who accepted, but ultimately did not enroll, at our school.

Though financial stewardship is a priority for our school, the approach taken to resolve this matter at the time by the prior administration was misguided, and does not reflect the community values of SSFS. I have contacted the parent to apologize on behalf of the School, and to let her know that SSFS will not be seeking any tuition payments from her.

While the staff members involved in pursuing legal action in this case are no longer employed at the School, Sandy Spring Friends School is now reviewing how and why the decision to pursue this legal action was made. In the coming weeks, I will also be studying and revising admissions contract procedures and business office practices.

As I begin my new leadership of the School, I am committed to ensuring that Sandy Spring Friends School’s practices align with our founding Quaker values.

Very good. Now all this person needs to do is be very careful with its partner for that new fundraising operation. The arrangement stinks to high heaven. I hope you're reading this, HOS and co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the school is a business, but this area is in economic downturn. I’m sure they can just let 26k go.

Given they were on the brink of financial collapse but not yet telling anyone that fact last Aug/Sep when all this first went down, they probably couldn’t. And maybe she’d have been better off if the school hadn’t been clawed back from closure.

Perhaps the financial collapse was in part due to terrible financial decisions like taking stones to trial trying to get blood from them.

This is the story behind a lot of private schools, some of whom have operated in this area: create school, generate educational buzz, get parents to fork over money hand over fist, mismanage the money and pay themselves huge sums, ride high for a while, then flounder because of said mismanagement, get out of dodge leaving families holding the bag and start a new school elsewhere.

I hope the new admin is more honest, and also more competent. This email gives me hope.