SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. Even if they can raise enough money to stay open for the next several years, what is the incentive for families and faculty to stay? If I am a teacher there, I'm not going to allow myself to potentially be left high and dry again. I have bills to pay. I would be out of there so fast.

I understand the impulse to try to save the school, but it seems like the trust has been broken at this point.

I am a teacher at the school and I would 100% stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a coalition of parents and students want to keep the school going, wouldn’t the best thing be to let the campus go? Let the property be sold and restart somewhere cheaper and smaller with a smaller student body and staff. Maybe just do k-3 to start, or just do high school. Rebuild over 10-20 years on firmer ground.

I have had this thought too about the land.

I think the land is a big part of the character of the school.

+1

[Anonymous]

It’s terribly unkind to be giving false hope to students, families, and staff who are grieving.

Please stop pretending there SSFS has been saved.

[Anonymous]

If any of this is real, get in touch with local media and get facts out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, though. SSFS will still have a much smaller student body than is needed to support its infrastructure, until it rebuilds enrollment. It was already on a downward enrollment trend and this episode will make it worse. It can lay off staff, but can't offload buildings easily. And it will likely need to offer more generous financial aid to attract students, because its brand is damaged. And we're headed into a recession or at least a tough economic time, so less people are willing or able to pay for private school at all. This is a really, really serious situation and it's very unclear to me that $15 million even comes close to covering the gap. Because the gap is worse now than it was when that figure was estimated.

I disagree. This campaign may prove to be the best recruitment tool for SSFS possible. These Coalition alums and parents have given up their sleep and their spring breaks to build community for a cause they really believe in. In a world full of box-checkers and cookie-cutters, they have shown exactly what makes the SSFS community unique. Might not be every parent's cup of tea, but I know that I hope my kids turn out to be every bit as resilient, resourceful, ethical, doggedly determined, and fiercely loyal.

This! Outsiders will never get it. This school has decades of history and the history runs deep. The alumns are not to be played with. If and when they pull it off, major changes will be made for the better.

My children (alums) are involved in the coalition and I couldn't be more proud of them. This is what Sandy Spring gave them and they are letting it speak. Yes, a long road. But I think it will stay open as the 1980s-2000s version. That school was off the radar screen of lots of folks who are regular commenters on this forum. Kids went to colleges that fit them with no preceived notion of what fit meant. Smaller, quirkier, happier with thriving children and parents and teachers pulling in one director. And I put my money where my mouth is.

[Anonymous]

It’s been a busy week but they’re working on it, pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a current or former family so I’m not joining your “database”. We looked into SSFS a few years ago and ultimately found another private school community for our children. The SSFS situation reminds me that there may be tough times ahead for many independent schools, including ours, if the BOTs aren’t paying close attention to their endowments and financial bottom line.

It does seem unbelievable that suddenly SSFS has a magical angel investor and thousands of dollars in pledges. Until I see this reality outside of an anonymous board in a major local publication, I would urge affected families to continue to look at other options for their children.

That you haven't been a part of the community explains why you find it unbelievable. Just sayin'

[Anonymous]

For those who are minimizing the $15M in pledges, this was accomplished in less than 100 hours with sights now set on the endowment.

SSFS isn’t just another private school. The Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship are engrained into the daily experience of the students. The kids participate in a weekly Quaker “meeting”- sitting in quiet reflection on how to make the world a better and more just place. Our kids- and our world- need a lot more of all of these values right now.

As a current family, we’ve been touring other schools this week and while all have been lovely, none have come close to the magic of SSFS.

We’re determined to keep the doors open and keep shining our light. I hope you join us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, though. SSFS will still have a much smaller student body than is needed to support its infrastructure, until it rebuilds enrollment. It was already on a downward enrollment trend and this episode will make it worse. It can lay off staff, but can't offload buildings easily. And it will likely need to offer more generous financial aid to attract students, because its brand is damaged. And we're headed into a recession or at least a tough economic time, so less people are willing or able to pay for private school at all. This is a really, really serious situation and it's very unclear to me that $15 million even comes close to covering the gap. Because the gap is worse now than it was when that figure was estimated.

I disagree. This campaign may prove to be the best recruitment tool for SSFS possible. These Coalition alums and parents have given up their sleep and their spring breaks to build community for a cause they really believe in. In a world full of box-checkers and cookie-cutters, they have shown exactly what makes the SSFS community unique. Might not be every parent's cup of tea, but I know that I hope my kids turn out to be every bit as resilient, resourceful, ethical, doggedly determined, and fiercely loyal.

This! Outsiders will never get it. This school has decades of history and the history runs deep. The alumns are not to be played with. If and when they pull it off, major changes will be made for the better.

100% This place has a spirit and heart that I've never seen anywhere else. If and when we pull this off we will be left with the strongest of the strong to start the next chapter. And I am here for it.

Every school community feels that their school is the most special place in the history of special.

I wish SSFS the best, and hope all of these pledges save your school, but the wider community is skeptical. I agree that families and staff should continue to look at other options until proven otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, though. SSFS will still have a much smaller student body than is needed to support its infrastructure, until it rebuilds enrollment. It was already on a downward enrollment trend and this episode will make it worse. It can lay off staff, but can't offload buildings easily. And it will likely need to offer more generous financial aid to attract students, because its brand is damaged. And we're headed into a recession or at least a tough economic time, so less people are willing or able to pay for private school at all. This is a really, really serious situation and it's very unclear to me that $15 million even comes close to covering the gap. Because the gap is worse now than it was when that figure was estimated.

I disagree. This campaign may prove to be the best recruitment tool for SSFS possible. These Coalition alums and parents have given up their sleep and their spring breaks to build community for a cause they really believe in. In a world full of box-checkers and cookie-cutters, they have shown exactly what makes the SSFS community unique. Might not be every parent's cup of tea, but I know that I hope my kids turn out to be every bit as resilient, resourceful, ethical, doggedly determined, and fiercely loyal.

This! Outsiders will never get it. This school has decades of history and the history runs deep. The alumns are not to be played with. If and when they pull it off, major changes will be made for the better.

100% This place has a spirit and heart that I've never seen anywhere else. If and when we pull this off we will be left with the strongest of the strong to start the next chapter. And I am here for it.

Every school community feels that their school is the most special place in the history of special.

I wish SSFS the best, and hope all of these pledges save your school, but the wider community is skeptical. I agree that families and staff should continue to look at other options until proven otherwise.

I think you make a good point about current families and staff. If the coalition is successful, sandy spring may be a "small" school in the short run and longer fun. And maybe not one that current parents see as a fit or a situation where a current teacher can afford to work. If the school is saved from closing, I think it will be a work of at least a decade to get things stablized and it doubt it would not be the size that it currently is. Perhaps even only a HS or MS/HS.

[Anonymous]

Everyone relax. This is very real. If you’re part of the community you know more details. If not you don’t and important information won’t be shared here. And for all of you debbie downers that like to give advice, stop because yes all families are still applying and touring schools and yes teachers are still job searching. So everyone just relax and let your own lives speak.

[Anonymous]

Why not compel Board to notify community that this effort is real? Why not notify the local media covering the closure that a very real effort underway?

Otherwise, the teachers and staff and students will be gone....

[Anonymous]

They have been reaching out to local news and are in negotiations with the board. I am very excited about the prospect of some official word from the school but I also understand they’re working as fast as they can. Absolutely no is suggesting current families, teachers, staff shouldn’t be looking and making arrangements in the meantime!

[Anonymous]

Inspiring effort! This was Calverton a few years ago. Overbuilt, over-borrowed, US enrollment dropped, brink of closure. Too much land for its needs. Board and a few donors gave rescue funds and refinanced.

If there’s land to spare, be strategic, creative, and bold. Find a partner organization who can help put it to use with the school.

Next head will need a business skillset to tackle this, plus have the chops to build a board from ground zero.

[Anonymous]

Tl;dr: Believe the anonymous message boards and not common sense.

Be smart everyone and make sure you explore other options before SSFS lets you down again.

Having said that, good luck to SSFS and their community.