SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like law of supply and demand? Lower tuition a little and fill the classrooms a lot? And get families priced out of other schools who could pay $35k

If you could successfully run a school at $35,000 tuition you would see that happening elsewhere. SSFS couldn’t successfully run a school at $45,000 tuition. The other thing is the toothpaste is out of the tube. Meaning, the trust is broken. Nobody in their right mind is going to give tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, hoping things turn out OK.

Barrie seems to be doing quite fine. Maybe SSFS should take notes. Seems they will be getting a lot of SSFS families as well.

Barrie’s facilities are atrocious.

Maybe there's some sort of mysterious correlation between low facilities spending and financial stability...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Well, because tornados are external events and are not very predictable. The decline and failure of the school is due to internal management choices and was entirely predictable. That's where your analogy breaks down.

Would people continue to live in a town where the town government makes terrible policy choices until the town goes bankrupt? And then asks for lots of donations and wants people to pay taxes to live in a town of much diminished services and quality of life? That's a better analogy.

People do that all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like law of supply and demand? Lower tuition a little and fill the classrooms a lot? And get families priced out of other schools who could pay $35k

If you could successfully run a school at $35,000 tuition you would see that happening elsewhere. SSFS couldn’t successfully run a school at $45,000 tuition. The other thing is the toothpaste is out of the tube. Meaning, the trust is broken. Nobody in their right mind is going to give tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, hoping things turn out OK.

Barrie seems to be doing quite fine. Maybe SSFS should take notes. Seems they will be getting a lot of SSFS families as well.

Barrie’s facilities are atrocious.

Maybe there's some sort of mysterious correlation between low facilities spending and financial stability...

Maybe, but roofs shouldn’t be leaking and there shouldn’t be mold in buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are you donating your white person money to help that half of Americans? SSFS hosts events every year to raise thousands for charity. They take kids on trips to build for Habitat for Humanity. Do you do these things? You're no better than anyone else. Quit with the red herrings and pointing and laughing at a grieving community.

What an odd response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad they were able to pull it out. It sends a message to graduating seniors and other students that when people band together they can make big things happen.

I hope they'll require board turnover before hiring a new director / principal with vision to take leadership. I happen to know many excellent Quaker leaders and am confident that one would love to take on this challenge.

I agree. SSFS is an incredible option for kids in this area. It had been heartwarming and inspirational to watch the community ban together and pull this off. Well done and hats off to everyone involved!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Are you donating your white person money to help that half of Americans? SSFS hosts events every year to raise thousands for charity. They take kids on trips to build for Habitat for Humanity. Do you do these things? You're no better than anyone else. Quit with the red herrings and pointing and laughing at a grieving community.

What an odd response.

What's odd (and cruel) is acting holier than thou when families are scared of losing a community and children are scared of being separated from their friends. Many posters here believe the school is a net positive in the world and for their kid. If they want to put their money toward saving it, that's none of your business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad they were able to pull it out. It sends a message to graduating seniors and other students that when people band together they can make big things happen.

I hope they'll require board turnover before hiring a new director / principal with vision to take leadership. I happen to know many excellent Quaker leaders and am confident that one would love to take on this challenge.

I agree. SSFS is an incredible option for kids in this area. It had been heartwarming and inspirational to watch the community ban together and pull this off. Well done and hats off to everyone involved!!

I don’t think this is a done deal yet. I’m rooting for them, but I think to say they have “pulled this off” is an overstatement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad they were able to pull it out. It sends a message to graduating seniors and other students that when people band together they can make big things happen.

I hope they'll require board turnover before hiring a new director / principal with vision to take leadership. I happen to know many excellent Quaker leaders and am confident that one would love to take on this challenge.

I agree. SSFS is an incredible option for kids in this area. It had been heartwarming and inspirational to watch the community ban together and pull this off. Well done and hats off to everyone involved!!

I don’t think this is a done deal yet. I’m rooting for them, but I think to say they have “pulled this off” is an overstatement.

Yes. I'm really unclear on exactly how the math works here. Massive debt, lots of infrastructure, drastically reduced enrollment and tuition income... how do they have enough to operate the school and service the debt, let alone provide a high-enough quality that the enrollment begins to rebound?

[Anonymous]

I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

+1000 You rock fellow springer!!

[Anonymous]

Do Quaker values include living within your means and being financially responsible?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

+1000 You rock fellow springer!!

That was very well said. You’re awesome and I wish you and your school the best! I actually have a 10th grader who feels the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

Beautifully said. Thank you for this reminder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

Go Beests! We are fighting for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this whole forum has completely lost sight of what really matters: the kids. I'm a rising senior at SSFS, and I've definitely done my fair share of complaining. We've all poked fun at the schools instability, and made jokes about the boards terrible decisions. But as much as I like to joke about the school, I really cannot see myself going anywhere else. SSFS has my friends, my teachers, the classes I love, and my extracurriculars. I participate in our schools Speech Team, which was tied for first place in our league this year. I'm in the schools plays and musicals, which has been such an amazing experience for me. I know a lot of posters on here are parents, but from a students perspective, keeping our school open is the most important and worthwhile endeavor the community has ever taken on. I don't want to graduate with people I don't know at a place I don't know. And I know a lot of students, especially my fellow juniors, feel the same way. I know it feels like a sinking ship, and anyone who wishes to leave is welcome to do so and totally valid in that decision, but I just wanted everyone to know that those of us who want to stay or are hoping school stays open are not delusional, or rejects who can't get into other schools. We are kids who love our community, our friends, and our teachers. This isn't fair to us. The coalition has definitely given a lot of people hope, and I sincerely hope everything works out in our favor. I am obviously actively pursuing other options just to be safe, but am optimistic that I might be able to graduate with my friends. Reading through the forum I just feel like there's a lot of misinformation about our school and our community. Some people are claiming that our "woke" agenda has closed the school, others claiming it was all a former head of schools fault, and others telling me and my fellow students we are idiots to stay, or that our school is not academically rigorous enough/a place for unintelligent people. None of this is true. We are a school based in Quaker values. Academics, sports, arts, they all matter equally to the school. SSFS isn't a perfect place, not by a long shot, but it's my school. And I really hope everyone who has been commenting negatively on students, teachers, or admin step back and think about what this closure will do to students. I hate to say this, but this isn't about you. It's about us.

👏👏👏 Even if it's not visible to the "outside world," I promise you have so many people behind you. 🦬