Very great points. Let's not forget the extras we pay for ballet/soccer/jump bunch, etc. The lunch also seems expensive with respect to the amount the kid eats...it's about as expensive as my lunch. Actually, it's more expensive than my lunch of leftovers or soup. Also the fundraiser for the school where everybody is nudged to give.
Times are hard for a great many of us. A little justification on the cost increases would be appreciated. I also understand that the school gives scholarships. I have no idea how much that impacts my costs. Aren't there enough resources out there that we should not need to shoulder this extra burden? I'm not being all tea party here, but aren't there enough resources from Head Start, the County, perhaps churches and such?
Anonymous wrote:I would really like to understand why the tuition is so expensive. New rates took effect this month and we are feeling the pinch. I think many of us would like a better understanding of why rates continue to increase faster then inflation. What is it that is driving these costs so high year after year? Rent, health insurance, certifications, utilities, all of the above? Why are we then expected to give an extra $350 a year as a bonus to the school? When my child moves up in the classrooms do I end up paying more each time?
This isn’t an angry ranting, but hopefully the beginning of a serious discussion. Maybe if the general parent population understood, we may be able to pull intellectual resources to try to find ways to keep costs down. This seems to be a tight secret and the only information we receive is “teachers only make X amount an hour”. As far as I know, only the board understands the reasons for this. Although I have no issues with the board members themselves and I think they are all lovely fantastic parents and people who dedicate alot of mostly unappreciated time, I do wonder if they have the right background or qualifications when it comes to the fiscal health of the school. Are there board members who are financially savy or members who are in the commercial real estate market? Is there someone who is great at contracts and negotiating?