SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew multiple families at ssfs who said they came here because other schools did not offer them the financial aid package they were getting here (a couple even told me how much they got and it was 50% “exceeding their expectations”). At the time I thought it was wonderful that ssfs was able to help families this way. Now I wonder if ssfs was handing out aid they couldn’t afford and hiking tuition of the rest of us to fund it.

This was always the case at SSFS. We were deemed to be a “full pay” family there 20 years ago watching aid being used to attract students without much vetting of finances. Meanwhile tuition kept going up and up. Many parents argued for lower tuition and less FA. It felt like a Ponzi scheme. Sounds like that never changed.

That, plus it was always painfully obvious that they were using full pay boarding students, mostly from China, to fund the school. I always thought it was an odd environment for East Asian boarding kids - not high powered in terms of academics, no impressive college outcomes, nothing that would traditionally attract Chinese families toward full-pay boarding when there are other options all around the country.

That can work. There are many middle class and upper-class Chinese willing to pay to send their kids to boarding school in the US, even to mediocre schools. It's still bragging rights to say your kid went to school in the US and that they speak fluent English. That gives them a huge leg up on the Chinese job market and marriage market. Remember the Chinese middle class is larger than the entire US population. There's plenty of demand.

SSFS boarding program never held a candle to resource-rich boarding schools of New England and elsewhere. If a Quaker boarding school is what people want, go to George School in PA. Smart to eliminate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew multiple families at ssfs who said they came here because other schools did not offer them the financial aid package they were getting here (a couple even told me how much they got and it was 50% “exceeding their expectations”). At the time I thought it was wonderful that ssfs was able to help families this way. Now I wonder if ssfs was handing out aid they couldn’t afford and hiking tuition of the rest of us to fund it.

This was always the case at SSFS. We were deemed to be a “full pay” family there 20 years ago watching aid being used to attract students without much vetting of finances. Meanwhile tuition kept going up and up. Many parents argued for lower tuition and less FA. It felt like a Ponzi scheme. Sounds like that never changed.

That, plus it was always painfully obvious that they were using full pay boarding students, mostly from China, to fund the school. I always thought it was an odd environment for East Asian boarding kids - not high powered in terms of academics, no impressive college outcomes, nothing that would traditionally attract Chinese families toward full-pay boarding when there are other options all around the country.

That can work. There are many middle class and upper-class Chinese willing to pay to send their kids to boarding school in the US, even to mediocre schools. It's still bragging rights to say your kid went to school in the US and that they speak fluent English. That gives them a huge leg up on the Chinese job market and marriage market. Remember the Chinese middle class is larger than the entire US population. There's plenty of demand.

Being that the boarding program collapsed after the pandemic would tell me that there wasn’t plenty demand for the ssfs boarding program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly happened with RG? There are a lot of vague posts pointing fingers at him. Is the issue really him, or is it that many white people support diversity only in theory—just as long as it doesn’t challenge their comfort.

It sounds like he walked into a situation that was already fraught and in decline. SSFS is lucky anyone took that on when finances were unstable.

That’s a whole other thread. Go read it. But NO. This is not a race issue. If the ppl of ssfs are one thing it NOT racist. I hate when ppl assume if we didn’t like RG it’s cause we were racist. Why can’t he just be an incompetent and enthical narcissist and that’s why students and faculty alike couldn’t stand him?

I’m pretty sure a school that bit, you can’t vouch for everyone’s character. Everyone would be appalled to be called a racist

+1. Our responsibility for breaking down systemic and intrinsic racism doesn’t end when we join a community that says diversity is a priority.

Goodness. There wasn’t systemic and intrinsic racism at ssfs! If there was why are so many ppl wanting to save it? Ssfs had far less than the usual demographic spread of racism. If there is one thing that was good about ssfs it was that.

But RG called it a white plantation (did he even know Quaker history?) found “diversity problems” only his company could fix. If you experienced racism yourself speak to that, otherwise don’t insult the ppl here that the only reason they didn’t like RG was systemic racism.

NP here.

Racism in the United States is not just an individual issue—it’s systemic, embedded in the country’s institutions, laws, and history. To claim that any space is entirely free of racism ignores this reality. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, exist in all of us, shaped by the society in which we live.

The end of legal slavery did not erase its legacy. Structural inequality persists, and its effects are still deeply felt today. Denial or defensiveness in response to these truths often signals a lack of engagement with the deeper, necessary work of reflection and education.

This conversation is not about assigning personal blame, but about encouraging awareness and responsibility. Recognizing the existence of systemic racism is a critical step toward meaningful change.

Making an assumption about my race and experience is telling. As I suspect it will change how you read this: I offer this as a white parent at a primarily white school.

Again if you experienced racism at ssfs please speak to that. Otherwise stop spewing vague DEI talking points that have nothing to do with ssfs and certainly not why ppl hated RG

To deny that race is at play is racism. And lots of posts on this thread are subtly racist. The most racial part is blaming one head of school when the fault lies with the board and several heads of school through a long period of time. That you continuing to insist one head closed the school in 4 years, the same head who led the school through a pandemic and its highest enrollment, has hints of racism. Even when RG left, 625 was a pretty high historic enrollment for SSFS. You dismiss anyone who tries to put a long term historical perspective on it as trolls or RG. Come on. Live with us in the real world and see systemic issues over a long time, not just one person.

My experience is that the school changed for the worse under Rodney’s care. He was self aggrandizing and light on substance and contributed to a loss of community. Even the people HE hired and who reported to him kept leaving.
-over and over. It really was just that he was a profoundly bad HOS in my opinion.

You can have that opinion. Others had a different experience. All fine. But to blame him, or even just the past 5 years, for the school closing is naive. Knowing what you know now, imagine what he inherited and what he was up against. That’s the Quaker. See the Light in everyone and hold multiple truths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew multiple families at ssfs who said they came here because other schools did not offer them the financial aid package they were getting here (a couple even told me how much they got and it was 50% “exceeding their expectations”). At the time I thought it was wonderful that ssfs was able to help families this way. Now I wonder if ssfs was handing out aid they couldn’t afford and hiking tuition of the rest of us to fund it.

This was always the case at SSFS. We were deemed to be a “full pay” family there 20 years ago watching aid being used to attract students without much vetting of finances. Meanwhile tuition kept going up and up. Many parents argued for lower tuition and less FA. It felt like a Ponzi scheme. Sounds like that never changed.

That, plus it was always painfully obvious that they were using full pay boarding students, mostly from China, to fund the school. I always thought it was an odd environment for East Asian boarding kids - not high powered in terms of academics, no impressive college outcomes, nothing that would traditionally attract Chinese families toward full-pay boarding when there are other options all around the country.

That can work. There are many middle class and upper-class Chinese willing to pay to send their kids to boarding school in the US, even to mediocre schools. It's still bragging rights to say your kid went to school in the US and that they speak fluent English. That gives them a huge leg up on the Chinese job market and marriage market. Remember the Chinese middle class is larger than the entire US population. There's plenty of demand.

Being that the boarding program collapsed after the pandemic would tell me that there wasn’t plenty demand for the ssfs boarding program

Did Chinese hs students coming to the US go sharply down most everywhere?

[Anonymous]

This. Ssfs would be thriving if parents were able to apply a portion of their government school taxes toward private school tuition payments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly happened with RG? There are a lot of vague posts pointing fingers at him. Is the issue really him, or is it that many white people support diversity only in theory—just as long as it doesn’t challenge their comfort.

It sounds like he walked into a situation that was already fraught and in decline. SSFS is lucky anyone took that on when finances were unstable.

That’s a whole other thread. Go read it. But NO. This is not a race issue. If the ppl of ssfs are one thing it NOT racist. I hate when ppl assume if we didn’t like RG it’s cause we were racist. Why can’t he just be an incompetent and enthical narcissist and that’s why students and faculty alike couldn’t stand him?

I’m pretty sure a school that bit, you can’t vouch for everyone’s character. Everyone would be appalled to be called a racist

+1. Our responsibility for breaking down systemic and intrinsic racism doesn’t end when we join a community that says diversity is a priority.

Goodness. There wasn’t systemic and intrinsic racism at ssfs! If there was why are so many ppl wanting to save it? Ssfs had far less than the usual demographic spread of racism. If there is one thing that was good about ssfs it was that.

But RG called it a white plantation (did he even know Quaker history?) found “diversity problems” only his company could fix. If you experienced racism yourself speak to that, otherwise don’t insult the ppl here that the only reason they didn’t like RG was systemic racism.

NP here.

Racism in the United States is not just an individual issue—it’s systemic, embedded in the country’s institutions, laws, and history. To claim that any space is entirely free of racism ignores this reality. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, exist in all of us, shaped by the society in which we live.

The end of legal slavery did not erase its legacy. Structural inequality persists, and its effects are still deeply felt today. Denial or defensiveness in response to these truths often signals a lack of engagement with the deeper, necessary work of reflection and education.

This conversation is not about assigning personal blame, but about encouraging awareness and responsibility. Recognizing the existence of systemic racism is a critical step toward meaningful change.

Making an assumption about my race and experience is telling. As I suspect it will change how you read this: I offer this as a white parent at a primarily white school.

Again if you experienced racism at ssfs please speak to that. Otherwise stop spewing vague DEI talking points that have nothing to do with ssfs and certainly not why ppl hated RG

To deny that race is at play is racism. And lots of posts on this thread are subtly racist. The most racial part is blaming one head of school when the fault lies with the board and several heads of school through a long period of time. That you continuing to insist one head closed the school in 4 years, the same head who led the school through a pandemic and its highest enrollment, has hints of racism. Even when RG left, 625 was a pretty high historic enrollment for SSFS. You dismiss anyone who tries to put a long term historical perspective on it as trolls or RG. Come on. Live with us in the real world and see systemic issues over a long time, not just one person.

My experience is that the school changed for the worse under Rodney’s care. He was self aggrandizing and light on substance and contributed to a loss of community. Even the people HE hired and who reported to him kept leaving.
-over and over. It really was just that he was a profoundly bad HOS in my opinion.

Yes - again clearly someone who was involved with the school posting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly happened with RG? There are a lot of vague posts pointing fingers at him. Is the issue really him, or is it that many white people support diversity only in theory—just as long as it doesn’t challenge their comfort.

It sounds like he walked into a situation that was already fraught and in decline. SSFS is lucky anyone took that on when finances were unstable.

That’s a whole other thread. Go read it. But NO. This is not a race issue. If the ppl of ssfs are one thing it NOT racist. I hate when ppl assume if we didn’t like RG it’s cause we were racist. Why can’t he just be an incompetent and enthical narcissist and that’s why students and faculty alike couldn’t stand him?

I’m pretty sure a school that bit, you can’t vouch for everyone’s character. Everyone would be appalled to be called a racist

+1. Our responsibility for breaking down systemic and intrinsic racism doesn’t end when we join a community that says diversity is a priority.

Goodness. There wasn’t systemic and intrinsic racism at ssfs! If there was why are so many ppl wanting to save it? Ssfs had far less than the usual demographic spread of racism. If there is one thing that was good about ssfs it was that.

But RG called it a white plantation (did he even know Quaker history?) found “diversity problems” only his company could fix. If you experienced racism yourself speak to that, otherwise don’t insult the ppl here that the only reason they didn’t like RG was systemic racism.

NP here.

Racism in the United States is not just an individual issue—it’s systemic, embedded in the country’s institutions, laws, and history. To claim that any space is entirely free of racism ignores this reality. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, exist in all of us, shaped by the society in which we live.

The end of legal slavery did not erase its legacy. Structural inequality persists, and its effects are still deeply felt today. Denial or defensiveness in response to these truths often signals a lack of engagement with the deeper, necessary work of reflection and education.

This conversation is not about assigning personal blame, but about encouraging awareness and responsibility. Recognizing the existence of systemic racism is a critical step toward meaningful change.

Making an assumption about my race and experience is telling. As I suspect it will change how you read this: I offer this as a white parent at a primarily white school.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are not connected to SSFS. SSFS does not have a problem of not addressing racism, if anything it has a naval gazing problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly happened with RG? There are a lot of vague posts pointing fingers at him. Is the issue really him, or is it that many white people support diversity only in theory—just as long as it doesn’t challenge their comfort.

It sounds like he walked into a situation that was already fraught and in decline. SSFS is lucky anyone took that on when finances were unstable.

That’s a whole other thread. Go read it. But NO. This is not a race issue. If the ppl of ssfs are one thing it NOT racist. I hate when ppl assume if we didn’t like RG it’s cause we were racist. Why can’t he just be an incompetent and enthical narcissist and that’s why students and faculty alike couldn’t stand him?

I’m pretty sure a school that bit, you can’t vouch for everyone’s character. Everyone would be appalled to be called a racist

+1. Our responsibility for breaking down systemic and intrinsic racism doesn’t end when we join a community that says diversity is a priority.

Goodness. There wasn’t systemic and intrinsic racism at ssfs! If there was why are so many ppl wanting to save it? Ssfs had far less than the usual demographic spread of racism. If there is one thing that was good about ssfs it was that.

But RG called it a white plantation (did he even know Quaker history?) found “diversity problems” only his company could fix. If you experienced racism yourself speak to that, otherwise don’t insult the ppl here that the only reason they didn’t like RG was systemic racism.

NP here.

Racism in the United States is not just an individual issue—it’s systemic, embedded in the country’s institutions, laws, and history. To claim that any space is entirely free of racism ignores this reality. Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, exist in all of us, shaped by the society in which we live.

The end of legal slavery did not erase its legacy. Structural inequality persists, and its effects are still deeply felt today. Denial or defensiveness in response to these truths often signals a lack of engagement with the deeper, necessary work of reflection and education.

This conversation is not about assigning personal blame, but about encouraging awareness and responsibility. Recognizing the existence of systemic racism is a critical step toward meaningful change.

Making an assumption about my race and experience is telling. As I suspect it will change how you read this: I offer this as a white parent at a primarily white school.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are not connected to SSFS. SSFS does not have a problem of not addressing racism, if anything it has a naval gazing problem.

Sorry I mean navel-gazing problem. It's not so much preoccupied with the Navy, as far as I know!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are members. We have signed up. There is nothing substantiated or even close.

The school only had 34 9th graders coming in. The class of 2026 has 77. There's no way to keep the school going next year. The board has had years to secure necessary $ and failed.

There is no angel investor or coalition of donors who are swooping in to save the day. Sadly.

Where did you get this number of only 34 9th graders coming in?
Is that the total of rising 8th from within + any new kids that accepted?

We are a rising 9th grade family and are looking for placement but have a reasonable public option. I'm following the Coalition updates, but if there are this few kids in 9th next year (assuming they would even consider staying if the school reopens), that would worry me a whole heck of a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think most people think its all the fault of RG but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think the exodus of families that happened (largely due to concerns about school culture) made things far worse. Even those who stayed may have been less generous with donations because of dissatisfaction with the school.

Yes, lots of things and many people contributed to this including some from long ago but it really seems that Rodney left the school worse than he found it.

And how do you explain the mass exodus of families this year since he is not there?

his sudden firing didn’t help! (I was not a fan at all and would have been thrilled if instead of announcing his sudden departure (followed by other abrupt departures) they had announced he was leaving in a year. That’s certainly not rg’s fault but that doesn’t mean he didn’t play a big role in what has happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think most people think its all the fault of RG but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think the exodus of families that happened (largely due to concerns about school culture) made things far worse. Even those who stayed may have been less generous with donations because of dissatisfaction with the school.

Yes, lots of things and many people contributed to this including some from long ago but it really seems that Rodney left the school worse than he found it.

And how do you explain the mass exodus of families this year since he is not there?

his sudden firing didn’t help! (I was not a fan at all and would have been thrilled if instead of announcing his sudden departure (followed by other abrupt departures) they had announced he was leaving in a year. That’s certainly not rg’s fault but that doesn’t mean he didn’t play a big role in what has happened.

So people hated him but left because he left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think most people think its all the fault of RG but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think the exodus of families that happened (largely due to concerns about school culture) made things far worse. Even those who stayed may have been less generous with donations because of dissatisfaction with the school.

Yes, lots of things and many people contributed to this including some from long ago but it really seems that Rodney left the school worse than he found it.

And how do you explain the mass exodus of families this year since he is not there?

his sudden firing didn’t help! (I was not a fan at all and would have been thrilled if instead of announcing his sudden departure (followed by other abrupt departures) they had announced he was leaving in a year. That’s certainly not rg’s fault but that doesn’t mean he didn’t play a big role in what has happened.

So people hated him but left because he left?

Most left before he left, but they also lost confidence in the school because of how the board handled it his departure. Both things can be true, as confusing you seem to find that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think most people think its all the fault of RG but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think the exodus of families that happened (largely due to concerns about school culture) made things far worse. Even those who stayed may have been less generous with donations because of dissatisfaction with the school.

Yes, lots of things and many people contributed to this including some from long ago but it really seems that Rodney left the school worse than he found it.

And how do you explain the mass exodus of families this year since he is not there?

his sudden firing didn’t help! (I was not a fan at all and would have been thrilled if instead of announcing his sudden departure (followed by other abrupt departures) they had announced he was leaving in a year. That’s certainly not rg’s fault but that doesn’t mean he didn’t play a big role in what has happened.

This. The choices he made during his time there had a lasting negative impact. They don't just disappear because he's gone.

It wasn't only because of him, of course, but he was a big factor.

[Anonymous]

SSFS wasn’t particularly racist. But was deathly afraid of being called racist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont think most people think its all the fault of RG but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think the exodus of families that happened (largely due to concerns about school culture) made things far worse. Even those who stayed may have been less generous with donations because of dissatisfaction with the school.

Yes, lots of things and many people contributed to this including some from long ago but it really seems that Rodney left the school worse than he found it.

And how do you explain the mass exodus of families this year since he is not there?

his sudden firing didn’t help! (I was not a fan at all and would have been thrilled if instead of announcing his sudden departure (followed by other abrupt departures) they had announced he was leaving in a year. That’s certainly not rg’s fault but that doesn’t mean he didn’t play a big role in what has happened.

So people hated him but left because he left?

Most left before he left, but they also lost confidence in the school because of how the board handled it his departure. Both things can be true, as confusing you seem to find that.

The enrollment for next year was low. That’s a big part of this. People left after this year. Why did they leave? Why is the enrollment down even more for next year? That wasn’t RG.