SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coming week will be very consequential for the school. Eager to hear updates from those directly involved in efforts to save it. Less interested in all the off topic bickering on culture war issues.

To those still concerned about the SSFS leaders with certain initials who failed (and possibly defrauded) the school: I’m convinced their story will be told. If SSFS goes under presumably there will be many debts owed, land/property to be sold, and lots of lawyers and stakeholders involved in carving up assets. If it moves forward under a new BoT and $15 million in donor cash (much of which is coming from an anonymous angel investor) the board will need to ensure it’s appropriated strategically and ethically. In my opinion, that requires a detailed audit/report of the past ten years, to better understand the factors that got us here from an accounting and personnel standpoint. I think it would help the community to heal, plus SSFS may have grounds to pursue legal action and compensation from certain individuals.

To be thorough, look further back than 10 years. Leadership and board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think skeptical practical logical questioners is more what I’d call these ppl.

This is not multiple people. It’s one person who posts every day, several times a day, lauding their own objectivity and delivering variations of the same message: move on, give up, any “ppl” who might wish to stay are delusional. They do not appear to be an actual community member. Engage at your own peril.

Poster, people have asked you to stop, multiple times, especially after you took to attacking and insulting children, and you truly seem unable to. I hope you are able to find peace.

I agree it’s the same person. The same person with all the negativity in previous SSFS threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems at least unlikely that only one person has posted about the risks of staying here?

Risk is different than negativity. You can share risk without being negative in tone. It’s the same one person. Trust me. They just won’t go away.

[Anonymous]

I would like to keep DC at SSFS if such a thing turns out to be possible but I just don't know if that would be too big a risk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to keep DC at SSFS if such a thing turns out to be possible but I just don't know if that would be too big a risk

I think it comes down to assessing worst case - school may shut down in the middle of a school year (next or after) giving you less warning then you have now. But if you find yourself okay with the alternatives if you have to pivot like that, there isn’t any other particular risk I think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems at least unlikely that only one person has posted about the risks of staying here?

+1. I posted once previously. I think it’s valid to wonder how the school can possibly attract new students after this and ask questions about finances. I can see current families light like to stay but I can’t see any new families signing up which makes it hard to see a path forward.

[Anonymous]

Some families have a negative experience at a school and aren’t introspective enough to consider that maybe it wasn’t a good match, maybe it didn’t serve your child’s best interest to rush to “defend” said child instead of asking questions and really listening about teacher, other community member concerns. Maybe every other student at a school that didn’t work out was not an evil bully? And then they might be tempted to use this forum to maliciously attacking such former schools. Which while not perfect — none are — might be a decent option for someone else’s child.

[Anonymous]

*attack

[Anonymous]

As a newly admitted middle school family, I tend to agree with this poster. If the school does manage to stay open next year, we will need to go elsewhere. And new enrollments are likely to continue to decline. I imagine it is a very different feeling for current families. We just don't feel comfortable taking on a huge financial risk with so many unknowns and so much instability for the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coalition just announced that they’ve raised $15 million, every penny needed to keep the school open for the next three years. Sweeping governance changes will be required in order to receive the money.

I know current parents are wary and tired and skeptical - I am one, I get it - and I think if you want to take your child elsewhere you will go with all of our blessing and understanding. But I must say in this moment in time, this political environment, I am inspired by a group of people fiercely standing up for something they love. Cracked my cranky cynical heart right open and let in a little light. Regardless what eventually happens.

Agreed. I’m a current parent and my child was already applying out before the school announced the closure. SSFS has been a special place and while we will no longer have children there, I’ve signed on to be a part of the coalition because it’s an institution worth saving.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t call me a hater but if the schools problems are due to record drop in enrollment not just something completely out of the schools control - doesn’t that mean more than one person has a real problem with this school? I agree maybe a poster can use better language but the concerns must be valid?

[Anonymous]

As an outsider, I wish you all much success in saving your school. In addition to the immediate cash, you need a great leader, with a new vision who will take bold and decisive steps to put the school on better footing. You need a completely new board of trustees and rules of governance, including 990s. The current board needs to hang their heads in shame. Your biggest challenge is convincing prospective families that this isn’t going to happen again. This sort of reminds me of the bailout of the American auto industry. The cash was the lifeline but came with serious strings attached to reform the industry, so it wouldn’t be a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

I think what people who are “just being realistic” are missing is that for those of us at SSFS - many of us, anyway - it isn’t just a school. We actually believe what we say - that it is a community. And we don’t walk away from community when it falls on hard times. We don’t cut our losses and walk away. When the tornado comes through town, do you shrug and move on because the town leadership screwed up and didn’t have the right infrastructure? Some might, sure. But we applaud those towns when they care for each other, take stock, and rebuild better. We’ve just had a tornado comes through our small, flawed, wonderful town and destroy it. We chose SSFS because it teaches you to not walk away from hurt, to not despair but to roll up your sleeves. So, no, we can’t just be “realistic” and shrug and walk away. We have to try, even if we fail.

I don’t mean this at all to criticize families who can’t stay through the uncertainty. There are lots of circumstances that would make that impossible, or unwise. That’s fine! Just keep holding us in the light, and we will do the same for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think what people who are “just being realistic” are missing is that for those of us at SSFS - many of us, anyway - it isn’t just a school. We actually believe what we say - that it is a community. And we don’t walk away from community when it falls on hard times. We don’t cut our losses and walk away. When the tornado comes through town, do you shrug and move on because the town leadership screwed up and didn’t have the right infrastructure? Some might, sure. But we applaud those towns when they care for each other, take stock, and rebuild better. We’ve just had a tornado comes through our small, flawed, wonderful town and destroy it. We chose SSFS because it teaches you to not walk away from hurt, to not despair but to roll up your sleeves. So, no, we can’t just be “realistic” and shrug and walk away. We have to try, even if we fail.

I don’t mean this at all to criticize families who can’t stay through the uncertainty. There are lots of circumstances that would make that impossible, or unwise. That’s fine! Just keep holding us in the light, and we will do the same for you.

The only issue is that a tornado is an act of god. The school actually has been lying to families for a while, doesn’t seem very community minded. Prudence would suggest you should look out for your interests, it’s what they did. Sorry if that sounds like a hater but just cautioning you and everyone - do your research thoroughly that’s all. Trust and verify.

[Anonymous]

Your kids are resilient. And if they aren’t, they’ll need to build some for the rest of their lives. Consider this an instance where they still have you as support to get through a tough time. And don’t mistake parental desire to hold onto a community for your kids’ best interests.