SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This comment thread is what happens when schools are not forthcoming with information and transparency. Let's see what Monday brings and if SSFS will even get to 275.

100%. It does not bode well that they have shared so little, one week out.

The school was NOT transparent leading up to the closure and I mean even in the years leading up to it.
Many of us (myself included) are on edge about what the final numbers will look like and how that will impact next year and thereafter.
However, we also must acknowledge that no private school gives out enrollment numbers during enrollment season. If you can set aside all that has happened just for a moment I think you can recognize that giving those numbers out during the enrollment process is not strategic for any school.
BUT, I am hopeful that because of the circumstances, the BOT WILL provide numbers tomorrow as well as layout their plans for remaining open regardless of the numbers.

I think this has been pointed out before. What schools do in a normal circumstance and what a school NEEDS to do in an unprecedented crisis cannot be the SAME.

When the school seemed to be operating business as usual were parents asking for numbers? No. But right now they can ask and they most certainly have a right to numbers, financial balance sheets and everything else they need to see before committing to this school. Not because of what other schools do or don’t do but because THIS school is in crisis mode.

All you did was confirm the OPs last point. They said that the because of the circumstances they hope the BOT will....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This comment thread is what happens when schools are not forthcoming with information and transparency. Let's see what Monday brings and if SSFS will even get to 275.

100%. It does not bode well that they have shared so little, one week out.

The school was NOT transparent leading up to the closure and I mean even in the years leading up to it.
Many of us (myself included) are on edge about what the final numbers will look like and how that will impact next year and thereafter.
However, we also must acknowledge that no private school gives out enrollment numbers during enrollment season. If you can set aside all that has happened just for a moment I think you can recognize that giving those numbers out during the enrollment process is not strategic for any school.
BUT, I am hopeful that because of the circumstances, the BOT WILL provide numbers tomorrow as well as layout their plans for remaining open regardless of the numbers.

I think this has been pointed out before. What schools do in a normal circumstance and what a school NEEDS to do in an unprecedented crisis cannot be the SAME.

When the school seemed to be operating business as usual were parents asking for numbers? No. But right now they can ask and they most certainly have a right to numbers, financial balance sheets and everything else they need to see before committing to this school. Not because of what other schools do or don’t do but because THIS school is in crisis mode.

+1. I hope the BOT realizes how important this meeting actually is to parents and won't give us glitter, unicorns and hope. They are going to have to be painfully honest with us before I'll even consider signing and putting down a deposit. Also, I hope there's good attendance. Who is present will be very telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This comment thread is what happens when schools are not forthcoming with information and transparency. Let's see what Monday brings and if SSFS will even get to 275.

100%. It does not bode well that they have shared so little, one week out.

The school was NOT transparent leading up to the closure and I mean even in the years leading up to it.
Many of us (myself included) are on edge about what the final numbers will look like and how that will impact next year and thereafter.
However, we also must acknowledge that no private school gives out enrollment numbers during enrollment season. If you can set aside all that has happened just for a moment I think you can recognize that giving those numbers out during the enrollment process is not strategic for any school.
BUT, I am hopeful that because of the circumstances, the BOT WILL provide numbers tomorrow as well as layout their plans for remaining open regardless of the numbers.

This is not a normal enrollment season.

It requires a different kind of transparency. They say they will be open—but is that regardless of enrollment? What if only US has enough to run an effective program? Where does that leave other families?

It appears that they think families trust them and will return regardless. That is a precarious position to take by a group that allowed the school to get to bad that it shut down with no notice.

[Anonymous]

Monday’s meeting better be more of a Come to Jesus variety and less pep rally.

[Anonymous]

I personally think this year, we will get the numbers, just because it’s so late in the season and the financial aid is staying the same. My guess is that there will be many people who stay that will apply out next year and it’s the 2026-2027 year that will be extremely small with much less programming.

The biggest fallacy people are telling themselves is that the fact that the community saved the school will make it appealing to new families. It will take years (3-5) of stability before a new family would pick SSFS over other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally think this year, we will get the numbers, just because it’s so late in the season and the financial aid is staying the same. My guess is that there will be many people who stay that will apply out next year and it’s the 2026-2027 year that will be extremely small with much less programming.

The biggest fallacy people are telling themselves is that the fact that the community saved the school will make it appealing to new families. It will take years (3-5) of stability before a new family would pick SSFS over other options.

I agree. I know many ppl who are coming back next year just to have the time to do a proper search in the fall because so many schools are full and their kids are getting waitlisted. But next year with enough time others will leave too. And until stability is achieved new families won’t be joining 6th/9th grades particularly

[Anonymous]

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s session. A lot of good questions are posted and how the board responds to these will say a lot. No need for this forum if they answer the questions asked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally think this year, we will get the numbers, just because it’s so late in the season and the financial aid is staying the same. My guess is that there will be many people who stay that will apply out next year and it’s the 2026-2027 year that will be extremely small with much less programming.

The biggest fallacy people are telling themselves is that the fact that the community saved the school will make it appealing to new families. It will take years (3-5) of stability before a new family would pick SSFS over other options.

Even if after a few years, people see that SSFS is financially stable, until SSFS actually rebrands itself as truly progressive (not in name only) and defines itself as something intellectually unique, it will continue to be a plan b or c school for more families than those who make it their first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think this year, we will get the numbers, just because it’s so late in the season and the financial aid is staying the same. My guess is that there will be many people who stay that will apply out next year and it’s the 2026-2027 year that will be extremely small with much less programming.

The biggest fallacy people are telling themselves is that the fact that the community saved the school will make it appealing to new families. It will take years (3-5) of stability before a new family would pick SSFS over other options.

I agree. I know many ppl who are coming back next year just to have the time to do a proper search in the fall because so many schools are full and their kids are getting waitlisted. But next year with enough time others will leave too. And until stability is achieved new families won’t be joining 6th/9th grades particularly

Yep! AND, don't think for one second that some of the teachers aren't also thinking this way. Why not come back for one year to find a position that you suits you rather than accept a position in a panic. I fear more teachers will leave after one year as well as families.

[Anonymous]

If they let in some regular people ( not rich) and charged 10k a year with a guarantee that they could have that amount guaranteed for X number of years they could get their numbers up. I would assume that’s better than 0k
I’d be ok with that to have normal class sizes and offerings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they let in some regular people ( not rich) and charged 10k a year with a guarantee that they could have that amount guaranteed for X number of years they could get their numbers up. I would assume that’s better than 0k
I’d be ok with that to have normal class sizes and offerings.

Are you for real? First of all, there are plenty of "not rich" families at SSFS. Second, you're suggesting that a school that had a near financial collapse charge just 10K a year and that a family sign on to X number of years? That wouldn't fly at ANY private school and definitely not one that gets 80% of its operating budget from tuition. A larger endowment, fundraising, and more ways besides summer camp to earn revenue from the campus are what's needed along with people who actually know how to financially manage such an institution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s session. A lot of good questions are posted and how the board responds to these will say a lot. No need for this forum if they answer the questions asked

I don't know that I'm looking forward to tonight's session but I'm more than ready to make a decision after tonight's session and be done with both DCUM and Slack regardless of which decision our family makes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think this year, we will get the numbers, just because it’s so late in the season and the financial aid is staying the same. My guess is that there will be many people who stay that will apply out next year and it’s the 2026-2027 year that will be extremely small with much less programming.

The biggest fallacy people are telling themselves is that the fact that the community saved the school will make it appealing to new families. It will take years (3-5) of stability before a new family would pick SSFS over other options.

I agree. I know many ppl who are coming back next year just to have the time to do a proper search in the fall because so many schools are full and their kids are getting waitlisted. But next year with enough time others will leave too. And until stability is achieved new families won’t be joining 6th/9th grades particularly

Yep! AND, don't think for one second that some of the teachers aren't also thinking this way. Why not come back for one year to find a position that you suits you rather than accept a position in a panic. I fear more teachers will leave after one year as well as families.

I hope they do. They need to look out for themselves cause the school clearly has not. Many of them didn’t even have an updated resume when the news broke. Taking a new job in a rush like that makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they let in some regular people ( not rich) and charged 10k a year with a guarantee that they could have that amount guaranteed for X number of years they could get their numbers up. I would assume that’s better than 0k
I’d be ok with that to have normal class sizes and offerings.

Normal class sizes and offerings depend on more than just size of the class. It depends on the amount of money they earn. Without tuition there is no guaranteed income. To pull this plan off they need to find the sugar daddy who will cover the deficit for those X number of years.

[Anonymous]

I'm more worried about recruitment. Will they even have a PreK/K class next school year? The pipeline's important too, and that could kill the school softly too.

I'm glad more people are confident for tonight, because I'm not. Public school looks better every day.