SSFS HOS leaving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents are in the dark, for the most part. Still. I attended one of the listening sessions and while I understand what that means and what the format was going to be, there was no real attempt to provide any information whatsoever. Even when will we receive more information?

They said yesterday that there will be more info provided end of this week/early next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents are in the dark, for the most part. Still. I attended one of the listening sessions and while I understand what that means and what the format was going to be, there was no real attempt to provide any information whatsoever. Even when will we receive more information?

We were informed in our listening by session that, once all of the listening sessions are complete, the board will be providing written responses where appropriate, the administration will provide responses to the things they can speak to directly, and they will reopen dialogue as needed for other issues.

The previous board leaders were not actively listening to parents. It’s a good thing that they’re trying now. I hope some trust is rebuilt with their responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents are in the dark, for the most part. Still. I attended one of the listening sessions and while I understand what that means and what the format was going to be, there was no real attempt to provide any information whatsoever. Even when will we receive more information?

What information, exactly, are you hoping to hear, and what do you feel you’re in the dark about? If you had questions, the listening session was an opportunity to ask. Or email Christine directly, I’ve found her to be very open and communicative thus far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

Don’t feel like a jerk. It was never about race or gender or how he dressed or anything else. Look at the state of the school. All the board needs to do is share the financial status of the school. That he’s incompetent would be exposed to all. For those who say they came here because he made them feel safe, this school was a safe place before him and will be one after him. But during his time it was less so, with the lack on consistent discipline in the classrooms.

The lack of discipline in classrooms is INSANE! Rodney didn't want kids of color unfairly punished - no one does. With more than 50% of the student body kids of color, it was a madhouse when my DS was there year before last.

I'm sure this is a controversial thing to say, but I had often thought the same thing, that RG's decisions always seemed to center around race. No one wants ANY kid to be unfairly punished, not just those of color. but if a teacher can't do anything to maintain discipline in the class room - regardless who is misbehaving - how can a learning environment be maintained. Well turns out it can't. My kid experienced the same chaos. So different from how the classrooms were just in 2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know many, many people who ( while upset about the chaos) are thrilled Rodney is gone but it seems in the listening sessions the only people who specifically mention Rodney are disappointed he’s gone.

Well it risks sounding like a racist homophobe to say you are relieved he has left when so many people say he is the reason they came to the school, or the reason they felt safe. That isn't my or my kid's experience with Rodney, but it sure makes me feel/seem like a jerk to say that.

Don’t feel like a jerk. It was never about race or gender or how he dressed or anything else. Look at the state of the school. All the board needs to do is share the financial status of the school. That he’s incompetent would be exposed to all. For those who say they came here because he made them feel safe, this school was a safe place before him and will be one after him. But during his time it was less so, with the lack on consistent discipline in the classrooms.

The lack of discipline in classrooms is INSANE! Rodney didn't want kids of color unfairly punished - no one does. With more than 50% of the student body kids of color, it was a madhouse when my DS was there year before last.

I didn’t realize SSFS was a majority minority school…it didn’t seem that way when we looked at it in 2017. Who makes up this >50%? What’s the make up of the faculty?

[Anonymous]

Agree with all the comments that it's been impossible to criticize RG in the listening sessions without sounding like a racist. Ultimately he's old news but I hope the board knows that there are lots of us who are glad he's gone but just don't want to say.

Listening session for Upper School parents was very underwhelming. I understand the Quaker concept but I think parents want and need information. I get that they can't get into the legalities of certain things but a 'state of the school' overview would've been nice.

And only 3 members of Board apparently showed up? Bad optics. They should ALL be on every one of these even if just to telegraph that they're engaged and involved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all the comments that it's been impossible to criticize RG in the listening sessions without sounding like a racist. Ultimately he's old news but I hope the board knows that there are lots of us who are glad he's gone but just don't want to say.

Listening session for Upper School parents was very underwhelming. I understand the Quaker concept but I think parents want and need information. I get that they can't get into the legalities of certain things but a 'state of the school' overview would've been nice.

And only 3 members of Board apparently showed up? Bad optics. They should ALL be on every one of these even if just to telegraph that they're engaged and involved!

I wonder if the BOT is united or divided in the decision making process. If not united, the path to recovery is going to be even worse than it already is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents are in the dark, for the most part. Still. I attended one of the listening sessions and while I understand what that means and what the format was going to be, there was no real attempt to provide any information whatsoever. Even when will we receive more information?

We were informed in our listening by session that, once all of the listening sessions are complete, the board will be providing written responses where appropriate, the administration will provide responses to the things they can speak to directly, and they will reopen dialogue as needed for other issues.

The previous board leaders were not actively listening to parents. It’s a good thing that they’re trying now. I hope some trust is rebuilt with their responses.

“ board will be providing written responses where appropriate, the administration will provide responses to the things they can speak to directly, and they will reopen dialogue as needed for other issues.” - in other words we might not hear anything at all if it’s not “appropriate”, they “can’t speak to” or it’s deemed “not needed”.

I really have no idea how anybody is supposed to trust the school right now.

[Anonymous]

I don't see the listening sessions as a place to hash out the details of RG. He's gone, how he left, and why he left aren't for us to know. Criticism of his role and leadership is also old news at this point. I see these as an opportunity for us to say what we would like to see in the future for the school and the parts of the school that need attention now. Not everyone will have the same lens and these provide a method of collecting information and putting together a plan.

In terms of the BOT, I've never seen them as much of a governing body (regardless of who was on the board or head of school) but I guess that is the role they are trying to undertake now with mixed results it seems.

[Anonymous]

Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

What is the concern? Not saying parents complain about the school to their children or not, but I doubt kids - and certainly older ones - would be oblivious to the fact that there are problems with their school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

What is the concern? Not saying parents complain about the school to their children or not, but I doubt kids - and certainly older ones - would be oblivious to the fact that there are problems with their school.

^ this our US student was very aware of issues. I think it's important to have a conversation with your kids about their experiences - good or bad- they are in fact the ones that have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis - so I don't see how this is useful advice. Or was this more about not saying negative things about the school in general so others interested turn away? Regardless we want to make sure we understand what our kid is experience as that helps to guide our discussion making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

What is the concern? Not saying parents complain about the school to their children or not, but I doubt kids - and certainly older ones - would be oblivious to the fact that there are problems with their school.

^ this our US student was very aware of issues. I think it's important to have a conversation with your kids about their experiences - good or bad- they are in fact the ones that have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis - so I don't see how this is useful advice. Or was this more about not saying negative things about the school in general so others interested turn away? Regardless we want to make sure we understand what our kid is experience as that helps to guide our discussion making.

Absolutely agreed. We all need to make sure the kids are having a good experience or bringing concerns home and not afraid to bring them up. I would think that the parents know about problems in the first place because their kids have talked about class room behavior issues, cafeteria food problems, resource and repair problems. There is no point in acting like these didn’t happen but it’s also important to have kids be able to speak up about their negative issues (specially related to class room behavior and bullying) and ensure through constant communication that these things are improving.

I don’t think that’s “talking sh*t about the school” to be honest about the problems and challenges kids faced and that things are likely to be harder next year before they get better.

As far as scaring prospective families away, I don’t think it’s student families responsibility to tell tales about how “great ssfs is” in the hopes of trapping them into enrolling. Honesty is important and families can only tell the truth of what they know and they families decide for themselves if it’s the right fit. Students aren’t here to recruit other students by misrepresenting what has been going on here or why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

What is the concern? Not saying parents complain about the school to their children or not, but I doubt kids - and certainly older ones - would be oblivious to the fact that there are problems with their school.

^ this our US student was very aware of issues. I think it's important to have a conversation with your kids about their experiences - good or bad- they are in fact the ones that have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis - so I don't see how this is useful advice. Or was this more about not saying negative things about the school in general so others interested turn away? Regardless we want to make sure we understand what our kid is experience as that helps to guide our discussion making.

Absolutely agreed. We all need to make sure the kids are having a good experience or bringing concerns home and not afraid to bring them up. I would think that the parents know about problems in the first place because their kids have talked about class room behavior issues, cafeteria food problems, resource and repair problems. There is no point in acting like these didn’t happen but it’s also important to have kids be able to speak up about their negative issues (specially related to class room behavior and bullying) and ensure through constant communication that these things are improving.

I don’t think that’s “talking sh*t about the school” to be honest about the problems and challenges kids faced and that things are likely to be harder next year before they get better.

As far as scaring prospective families away, I don’t think it’s student families responsibility to tell tales about how “great ssfs is” in the hopes of trapping them into enrolling. Honesty is important and families can only tell the truth of what they know and they families decide for themselves if it’s the right fit. Students aren’t here to recruit other students by misrepresenting what has been going on here or why.

The comments were made to a student who is starting at the school in the fall, by someone who is a stranger to them. Not a prospective family or parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how anyone feels about the school right now, one of the parents last night did bring up something that I think would be useful to point out here - no matter how you feel, don't sh*t talk the school to the students, PARTICULARLY students you don't know.

What is the concern? Not saying parents complain about the school to their children or not, but I doubt kids - and certainly older ones - would be oblivious to the fact that there are problems with their school.

^ this our US student was very aware of issues. I think it's important to have a conversation with your kids about their experiences - good or bad- they are in fact the ones that have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis - so I don't see how this is useful advice. Or was this more about not saying negative things about the school in general so others interested turn away? Regardless we want to make sure we understand what our kid is experience as that helps to guide our discussion making.

Absolutely agreed. We all need to make sure the kids are having a good experience or bringing concerns home and not afraid to bring them up. I would think that the parents know about problems in the first place because their kids have talked about class room behavior issues, cafeteria food problems, resource and repair problems. There is no point in acting like these didn’t happen but it’s also important to have kids be able to speak up about their negative issues (specially related to class room behavior and bullying) and ensure through constant communication that these things are improving.

I don’t think that’s “talking sh*t about the school” to be honest about the problems and challenges kids faced and that things are likely to be harder next year before they get better.

As far as scaring prospective families away, I don’t think it’s student families responsibility to tell tales about how “great ssfs is” in the hopes of trapping them into enrolling. Honesty is important and families can only tell the truth of what they know and they families decide for themselves if it’s the right fit. Students aren’t here to recruit other students by misrepresenting what has been going on here or why.

The comments were made to a student who is starting at the school in the fall, by someone who is a stranger to them. Not a prospective family or parent.

Well if a stranger simply asks a student (new or old) “hey I heard xyz about your school” - whether good or bad - there isn’t any way to police that kind of exchange. And it’s up to the person asked whether they can confirm or deny the issue. School can’t control the narrative of what people want to say or how to feel. But people have no reason to mislead anyone about what they know (again good or bad).