Reply to A warning about St. Columba's Nursery School

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[quote=Anonymous]Hi, I just want to warn other families about St. Columba's enrollment contract. I took a $17,000 hit and I'm hoping to save another family from the same. I can't even imagine where I'd be if I enrolled two children or opted for the more expensive full-day program.

Here's the situation: I asked to withdraw my 2-year-old a few weeks before school started as we were moving to the West Coast on short notice. I asked if I could be released from the contract if someone took her seat. Kate told me there was no one on the waitlist but if anything changed, she would let me know as soon as possible. She also told me she would take it to the Board of Governors to discuss.

They came back over a month later and said sorry but they decided not to release me, which I understood as I believed there was a vacant seat they couldn't fill. What I did not understand, however, was their refusal to make any attempt to fill that seat... until I dug further. I asked if they were advertising the spot. They said they were not. I asked if I could advertise. They said no, I should not.

This confused me as I had seen Kate advertise available spots on the neighborhood Listserv, and I have seen parents advertise on behalf of the school as well. I asked how they could fill the spot if no one knew it was available.

I was repeatedly told, "the contractual obligation is not related to filling vacant seats" which I initially took to mean that they were not contractually obligated to try to fill an empty seat. I thought they wanted that spot filled so I was baffled by that whole exchange.

It took a turn when they clarified: "Even if a space is filled following a withdrawal, families are still bound to the terms of the contract." This should tell you everything you need to know about the people there, and what their priorities are. It never even crossed my mind that they would use this opportunity to double-dip tuition. They are coming after me and my family even if they have already put another student in that available seat - which I strongly suspect they have.

While I know St. Columba's shouldn't be out any money due to my breach of contract, I also don't think it's right to charge two families for one spot. To pay for a year's worth of childcare for a seat that another kid sits in doesn't feel morally right to me.

I anticipated taking a financial hit. What I did not anticipate was such a lack of compassion from the administration at St. Columba's, or that they would see my family circumstances as a windfall rather than an opportunity to show grace. I recommend anyone think twice about signing a contract with them. I am out $17,000 for a child that spent a grand total of 0 days in the classroom.[/quote]

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