SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

I think I can finally explain what bother's me about what some are referring to as toxic positivity. If this sudden rally cry to save the school had been the result of the school falling apart because of some natural disaster (e.g. wildfire or leveled by a tornado) then I'd be right there with the hope and cheering on to "rebuild". But we are "saving" the school from a human-made disaster and one that we all need to take ownership of at least for not paying better attention. And so at times all this cheering on and promise of a "renaissance" seems disingenuous when you consider why we're even in this position. Something about this situation is just still not right. This was such a colossal failure and so blatantly disrespectful to all families and teachers. I'm really worried that we are forgetting what happened too quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know emotions are running high, but policing others thought processes is not helpful.

I already made our family's decision but I personally know a few families who are on DCUM reading along while they struggle with theirs. Those of you who want to control the narrative aren't helping matters. You may be pushing more people away. And you need all of them. One of them pays full tuition too.

The subtle - and at times not so subtle - digs at families on financial aid as if they matter less or are more a problem than full pay families is very telling. It’s been happening on this thread a few times, and it is not a good look or good feel.

I'm the OP of the 'emotions running high' comment, and I hear you. Our family is a financial aid family ourselves. For the sake of money in hand though, SSFS would probably prefers that full tuition families come back.

And it brings up another thought: If aid families decide not to return, will SSFS offer it to another family?

I don’t think fin aid families are “less then”. Besides everyone can apply for aid and have no reason to turn down what they get. But the school unfortunately was giving aid they couldn’t afford. Families couldn’t know that any more than full paying families knew the school was on the brink of ruin. Everyone was lied to.

However unfortunately I think the school has to put a business hat on in order to recover. While honoring aid always given before the chaos makes sense confining to hand out the same kind of aid by essentially burdening donors to cover the resulting deficit doesn’t seem fair to me. I think the school needs to give out what they afford. If auction or fundraising specifically for fin aid is given out that’s fine but the other aid that comes out of angel donors or anyone else whose generous funding should go toward repairs and other operational costs should not be used for fin aid. School has to do what they afford. Not create a magical place by living above their means.

[Anonymous]

I just think that $15 million plus pledges plus tuition isn't going to be enough. Because pledges often don't come through-- isn't that part of how the school got in a hole? Because tuition may decline as people disenroll over the summer, and because I think SY 26-27's enrollment might be even lower. Because current families might keep paying full freight for a much diminished experience but new families certainly won't, so the proportion of the students on FA will increase.

And in addition to all that, you can't really buy yourself a school, even with lots of money. No students, no school, angel donor notwithstanding. And when the enrollment gets so low that the academics and athletics are seriously compromised-- and I think that point has already been reached-- then the school is even less appealing. It becomes a specialized school for students who really need a small setting. But those students can be very costly to serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the school needs to give out what they afford. If auction or fundraising specifically for fin aid is given out that’s fine but the other aid that comes out of angel donors or anyone else whose generous funding should go toward repairs and other operational costs should not be used for fin aid. School has to do what they afford. Not create a magical place by living above their means.

Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford? I've seen these phrases thrown around on this forum occasionally - "living within your means" "spending money they don't have" etc. with no evidence. The coalition has been clear that the $15m pledge is meant to stabilize the school, deal with the immediate debt, and keep things running for the next three or so years. When did they say pledges or angel donations will be going to financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the school needs to give out what they afford. If auction or fundraising specifically for fin aid is given out that’s fine but the other aid that comes out of angel donors or anyone else whose generous funding should go toward repairs and other operational costs should not be used for fin aid. School has to do what they afford. Not create a magical place by living above their means.

Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford? I've seen these phrases thrown around on this forum occasionally - "living within your means" "spending money they don't have" etc. with no evidence. The coalition has been clear that the $15m pledge is meant to stabilize the school, deal with the immediate debt, and keep things running for the next three or so years. When did they say pledges or angel donations will be going to financial aid?

Having debt that they can't pay is literally the definition of spending money they don't have.

If tuition isn't enough to cover costs, then it has come come from donations. Because where else could it come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know emotions are running high, but policing others thought processes is not helpful.

I already made our family's decision but I personally know a few families who are on DCUM reading along while they struggle with theirs. Those of you who want to control the narrative aren't helping matters. You may be pushing more people away. And you need all of them. One of them pays full tuition too.

I'm way more put off by the Pollyannas than the Cassandras. It's going to be so much harder to save SSFS if people refuse to see the problems accurately.

100% agree with this.

FWIW, I think you're making a lot of unfair assumptions about people who are deciding to stay. Not everyone who has decided to stay is a "Pollyanna". We arent actually dumb. And many of us are lawyers and financial advisors and auditors and the like and yes we see the problems clearly and yes we want the answers and yes we also want to stay. That's okay right? You get to make your choice and we get to make ours. Calling us names or making us seem clueless is not fair. If you are unsatisfied with the answers you have been given and do not trust in the process then don't send your kid back. It's as easy as that. Ultimately my hope is that everyone lands where they should, the dust can settle, and those that stay can help rebuild. One of my favorite stories about Sandy Spring is that when they first decided to create the school the high schoolers physically built the first building, brick by brick. This will be a similar process.

The high school building that is half-empty and that you couldn't afford in the first place? Awesome.

Yes it's fine if you want to stay. Go for it. I just don't see how the math works out.

They’re talking about the original not the new $14 million well gold luxury unit.

However the romanticizing of the current crisis “we will build it back brick by brick” is why we are leaving. That doesn’t show us that we have logical practical thinkers studying the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having debt that they can't pay is literally the definition of spending money they don't have.

If tuition isn't enough to cover costs, then it has come come from donations. Because where else could it come from?

We know they accrued debt many years ago but PP was talking about the idea that they would forgo operating costs, etc. in favor of using that money for more financial aid. Which there is no evidence of anywhere.

Yes, it is coming from donations. $15m of donations that is backed in case some don't pay. And the Board said that amount will cover "operating losses, debt service, repayment of a loan maturing in the near term, and needed major maintenance projects." It's fair to ask about after 2027–2028, but all these questions about the near future have been answered before. I feel like a broken record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having debt that they can't pay is literally the definition of spending money they don't have.

If tuition isn't enough to cover costs, then it has come come from donations. Because where else could it come from?

We know they accrued debt many years ago but PP was talking about the idea that they would forgo operating costs, etc. in favor of using that money for more financial aid. Which there is no evidence of anywhere.

Yes, it is coming from donations. $15m of donations that is backed in case some don't pay. And the Board said that amount will cover "operating losses, debt service, repayment of a loan maturing in the near term, and needed major maintenance projects." It's fair to ask about after 2027–2028, but all these questions about the near future have been answered before. I feel like a broken record.

What is the estimate of operating losses? Has the loan been renegotiated yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the estimate of operating losses? Has the loan been renegotiated yet?

There is a debt restructuring team working on it. Last I heard they were "very confident" it would be done, but that was a few weeks ago. I'm not on that team but the people to ask would be the #legal-matters channel on Slack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the school needs to give out what they afford. If auction or fundraising specifically for fin aid is given out that’s fine but the other aid that comes out of angel donors or anyone else whose generous funding should go toward repairs and other operational costs should not be used for fin aid. School has to do what they afford. Not create a magical place by living above their means.

Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford? I've seen these phrases thrown around on this forum occasionally - "living within your means" "spending money they don't have" etc. with no evidence. The coalition has been clear that the $15m pledge is meant to stabilize the school, deal with the immediate debt, and keep things running for the next three or so years. When did they say pledges or angel donations will be going to financial aid?

“Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford?”

Umm…. The school going out of business due to huge debt? According to math, if no fin aid was given out the last few years and 100% of the students paid full tuition, then the deficit would have at least been lower. That’s just straight up math. While I’m not saying that should have happened, if the school is $20 million in debt clearly they couldn’t afford to give tuition off to 40% (or whatever they’ve brag about) of the students, some that I know got 20K off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm…. The school going out of business due to huge debt? According to math, if no fin aid was given out the last few years and 100% of the students paid full tuition, then the deficit would have at least been lower. That’s just straight up math. While I’m not saying that should have happened, if the school is $20 million in debt clearly they couldn’t afford to give tuition off to 40% (or whatever they’ve brag about) of the students, some that I know got 20K off.

We all know funds were mismanaged over the past ~20 years that led here. Are you suggesting they should have not given financial aid and run a school at half capacity only for those who could afford it? Isn't a tiny student body what everyone is so worried about at this very moment?

When the Board said the school needed $14 to 16 million to stay open for 3 years, I'm sure they factored financial aid into that number. If you're such a math expert then you should offer your services to the Coalition. Everyone here claims they don't want the school to fail, so why not share your wisdom about "the math" on Slack for all to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I can finally explain what bother's me about what some are referring to as toxic positivity. If this sudden rally cry to save the school had been the result of the school falling apart because of some natural disaster (e.g. wildfire or leveled by a tornado) then I'd be right there with the hope and cheering on to "rebuild". But we are "saving" the school from a human-made disaster and one that we all need to take ownership of at least for not paying better attention. And so at times all this cheering on and promise of a "renaissance" seems disingenuous when you consider why we're even in this position. Something about this situation is just still not right. This was such a colossal failure and so blatantly disrespectful to all families and teachers. I'm really worried that we are forgetting what happened too quickly.

No one is forgetting and many of us are working behind the scenes in our free time to address this - now and in the future. If you are interested in helping out, please raise your hand. There is nothing "toxic" about families who want to stay and help things work. If you need to or want to leave, that is your valid choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the school needs to give out what they afford. If auction or fundraising specifically for fin aid is given out that’s fine but the other aid that comes out of angel donors or anyone else whose generous funding should go toward repairs and other operational costs should not be used for fin aid. School has to do what they afford. Not create a magical place by living above their means.

Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford? I've seen these phrases thrown around on this forum occasionally - "living within your means" "spending money they don't have" etc. with no evidence. The coalition has been clear that the $15m pledge is meant to stabilize the school, deal with the immediate debt, and keep things running for the next three or so years. When did they say pledges or angel donations will be going to financial aid?

“Where have you seen evidence that the school is giving away money they can't afford?”

Umm…. The school going out of business due to huge debt? According to math, if no fin aid was given out the last few years and 100% of the students paid full tuition, then the deficit would have at least been lower. That’s just straight up math. While I’m not saying that should have happened, if the school is $20 million in debt clearly they couldn’t afford to give tuition off to 40% (or whatever they’ve brag about) of the students, some that I know got 20K off.

This is so misguided. Are you even part of the community? Did you tune into the meeting last night? The "pot" so to speak for financial aid doesn't come from tuition dollars. It comes from fund-raising such as the auction. You could argue all sorts of things shouldn't have been "paid" for while the school was in debt. Nobody comes to SSFS for free. Everyone contributes some amount of tuition. If no financial aid was given out then enrollment would be down and that has a ripple effect in other ways that eventually translates into a loss of money as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I can finally explain what bother's me about what some are referring to as toxic positivity. If this sudden rally cry to save the school had been the result of the school falling apart because of some natural disaster (e.g. wildfire or leveled by a tornado) then I'd be right there with the hope and cheering on to "rebuild". But we are "saving" the school from a human-made disaster and one that we all need to take ownership of at least for not paying better attention. And so at times all this cheering on and promise of a "renaissance" seems disingenuous when you consider why we're even in this position. Something about this situation is just still not right. This was such a colossal failure and so blatantly disrespectful to all families and teachers. I'm really worried that we are forgetting what happened too quickly.

No one is forgetting and many of us are working behind the scenes in our free time to address this - now and in the future. If you are interested in helping out, please raise your hand. There is nothing "toxic" about families who want to stay and help things work. If you need to or want to leave, that is your valid choice.

You assume that just because I'm posting on here means I haven't "raised my hand". I have and do. That doesn't negate my fears. And it doesn't make anything about this experience feel normal to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm…. The school going out of business due to huge debt? According to math, if no fin aid was given out the last few years and 100% of the students paid full tuition, then the deficit would have at least been lower. That’s just straight up math. While I’m not saying that should have happened, if the school is $20 million in debt clearly they couldn’t afford to give tuition off to 40% (or whatever they’ve brag about) of the students, some that I know got 20K off.

We all know funds were mismanaged over the past ~20 years that led here. Are you suggesting they should have not given financial aid and run a school at half capacity only for those who could afford it? Isn't a tiny student body what everyone is so worried about at this very moment?

When the Board said the school needed $14 to 16 million to stay open for 3 years, I'm sure they factored financial aid into that number. If you're such a math expert then you should offer your services to the Coalition. Everyone here claims they don't want the school to fail, so why not share your wisdom about "the math" on Slack for all to see.

I literally said “ While I’m not saying that should have happened,”

Cause no I don’t think they should have gone with 0 fin aid. But did they give more than they could afford? Absolutely.