SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

There are comments on many threads about schools who have had layoffs and are downsizing, but how is it fiscally responsible for the coalition to say “most teachers will stay” for a completely unknown enrollment?? To me, a school that adjusts staffing to the size of its student body is doing the responsible thing. SSFS couldn’t afford all its staff before this announcement!

[Anonymous]

I know there are a few current SSFS parents here as well as those who planned to start in the fall. Please see this announcement from the coalition!

"Good morning, I’m here with a message for you that I’m asking for you to consider: please do not make any decisions about leaving Sandy Spring Friends School until after Friday. We have a high degree of confidence that the answers everyone is waiting for will be on or by Friday. Hang with us. We’re almost there. Don’t give up now. We got this. You got this. Holding everyone in the Light ❤️"

I know they have been collecting questions from parents and have committed to sharing those answers on Friday. Interested to see what they say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are comments on many threads about schools who have had layoffs and are downsizing, but how is it fiscally responsible for the coalition to say “most teachers will stay” for a completely unknown enrollment?? To me, a school that adjusts staffing to the size of its student body is doing the responsible thing. SSFS couldn’t afford all its staff before this announcement!

I think the coalition must think they’ve got the money to cover the shortfall from tuition. Cause that’s a requirement for their plan to work. They have to cover it teacher salaries and financial aid - otherwise they’ll lose more students and faculty. If they aren’t prepared to fund the school at full operations without doubling that tuition or whatever how can their plan possibly work? No new families will enroll right now, and at least some will leave on top of the known low enrollment. If fin aid goes away some might not even be able to stay even if they would like to. So coalition funding has to cover all of that as their baseline plan

[Anonymous]

Email just now from BOT

April 23, 2025

Dear SSFS Community,

The Sandy Spring Friends School Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce that based on substantial and meaningful funding guarantees and support of the Coalition of Friends of the Sandy Spring Friends School, among others, a path forward for the school had been secured. The School will remain open for the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 school year. More work will be needed to ensure the long term financial stability of the school.

These past weeks have been the most difficult in our school's history. We recognize that the announcement deeply affected our beloved school community, and we profoundly regret the pain it caused. We take full responsibility for the sense that there was no other path forward at the time. We are deeply heartened by the generous and passionate responses from across the SSFS community, which reflect the deep love and care for the school, its Quaker values and mission, and the lasting impact the school has had for many. We will work hard to regain our community's trust.

We know there are many questions, and more details will be available in the very near term as our framework takes shape in the days and weeks ahead. School leadership is building a task force to answer as many questions as possible, and they will reach out to faculty, staff, and parents with the first round of communication on Monday, April 28, 2025. Until then, the Board of Trustees extends our deepest gratitude to our students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and community.

[Anonymous]

I’m so happy for the school community. Although I’m not connected to your school I really think you will find a way forward. Kudos to those who did not give up and started the coalition. There will always be naysers but good luck to the whole community and those who decide to stay.

[Anonymous]

As an alumn, I'm happy the school is finding a path forward. It baffles me however that somehow the BoT didn't think of reaching out to the community for a similar effort, and that it took the work of the Coalition to set a new path.

For the school to remain open (and be successful!) in the long term, MAJOR changes will need to take place for our community to not only survive but thrive.

[Anonymous]

April 23, 2025

Dear SSFS Community,

The Sandy Spring Friends School Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce that based on substantial and meaningful funding guarantees and support of the Coalition of Friends of the Sandy Spring Friends School, among others, a path forward for the school had been secured. The School will remain open for the 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 school year. More work will be needed to ensure the long term financial stability of the school.

These past weeks have been the most difficult in our school's history. We recognize that the announcement deeply affected our beloved school community, and we profoundly regret the pain it caused. We take full responsibility for the sense that there was no other path forward at the time. We are deeply heartened by the generous and passionate responses from across the SSFS community, which reflect the deep love and care for the school, its Quaker values and mission, and the lasting impact the school has had for many. We will work hard to regain our community's trust.

We know there are many questions, and more details will be available in the very near term as our framework takes shape in the days and weeks ahead. School leadership is building a task force to answer as many questions as possible, and they will reach out to faculty, staff, and parents with the first round of communication on Monday, April 28, 2025. Until then, the Board of Trustees extends our deepest gratitude to our students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, and community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think the coalition must think they’ve got the money to cover the shortfall from tuition. Cause that’s a requirement for their plan to work. They have to cover it teacher salaries and financial aid - otherwise they’ll lose more students and faculty. If they aren’t prepared to fund the school at full operations without doubling that tuition or whatever how can their plan possibly work? No new families will enroll right now, and at least some will leave on top of the known low enrollment. If fin aid goes away some might not even be able to stay even if they would like to. So coalition funding has to cover all of that as their baseline plan

This is the hardest thing to deal with after this type of situation. It can take a decade to recover to the point they were a month ago. Trust is the most valuable currency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silver Oaks cooperative school is an option. We are happy with our current school. It offer K through 8th grade.

+1. We have a kid there and have been mostly happy. It has its pros and cons. Pros are kind teachers (the 4th grade teacher is magic!). Cons are facilities, which are limited. No sports and it’s very small. But the kids are nice and our kid is working ahead of grade level and thriving. Not sure how it is for middle.

[Anonymous]

This story could be made into a movie. A little girl lives in the faculty apartment in the dorm at SSFS. Some 30 years later she leads the fight to keep her beloved school open. Congratulations Dr. Jackson on your efforts to save SSFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This story could be made into a movie. A little girl lives in the faculty apartment in the dorm at SSFS. Some 30 years later she leads the fight to keep her beloved school open. Congratulations Dr. Jackson on your efforts to save SSFS.

100%

[Anonymous]

Who was just sitting around with 15M?

[Anonymous]

If you know, you know. And clearly, you don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those in K-8, you should reach out to the Sheridans, Lowells, Norwoods, St. Pats, etc. to see whether they might have openings.

Add Oneness family school in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who was just sitting around with 15M?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1270512.page