To :Robert Deden - President, Board of Trustees
Sherry Herron - Head Of School
Dear administrators,
We understand those are unprecedented times and that communities have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting school closures. As parents we first want to recognize the school's efforts to transition to remote learning and commend the remarkable work done by our teachers to capture our kids' attention during our daily thirty minutes of circle time. We also do appreciate the goal of the school to retain its staff during those difficult time.
However, we do not feel it is appropriate for the school to expect full tuition to be paid for the months of April and May as enrollment agreements have not been honored.
Unfortunately thirty minutes of daily circle time does not correspond to half-day or full-day classes. As such, we ask the school to review its tuition policy for the early childhood classes for the month of April and May based on the instruction effectively given. Options such as lowered tuition for those months, or full tuition with credits to be applied for the 2020-21 school year are options to be considered, as considered by other schools and recommended by the Independent School Management Association
We are confident the school will understand our position as parents, as it strives to uphold its reputation as a fair learning community.
Updates
May 12, 2020
The feedback I keep getting is that the silence from the leadership team is taking a heavy toll on our families. I am spending my evenings drafting follow up emails because the current tuition policy ignores the reality of the instruction our children are receiving. This is exhausting work but I am not walking away from it yet.
25 Comments
If grants associated to COVID-19 are on the way to support the school, I believe it could relief parents as well, since school has received full tuition. Mostly helping parents on early childhood whose children depend 100% on their parents, and parents are overloaded with work and in my case with half the income. If everything has remained the same I understand, but even a 10-20% means a difference for most.
I support opening a dialog between administration and parents. I do not think tuition assistance should come at the cost of the teachers and staff. I don’t know what the solution is, but if the school receives outside assistance in the form of grants or loans, there should be serious consideration to providing tuition reduction/credits.
I want to make sure the teachers know how much they are valued and that tuition talks are not a reflection on their commitment to our kids. There is room for discussion about the way in which classes have been constructed for early childhood; and I'm sure the administration and staff will reflect on the success and failures of this experience. My opinion will be influenced by whether or not the school receives outside grants/assistance. If SOTW is a recipient they need to reevaluate the tuition schedule and costs for April and May.
We want to support the good teachers and school itself but it should justify to parents and kids as well. School should get help from PPP program and other similar programs in order to retain teachers and other employees. It would be nice if school can consider charging for what services they have been providing, one hour online instead of six. Why could they not have more extended hours or atleast split the sessions to smaller group so kids can atleast get chance to speak to their teachers whom they have been so attached too already. My daughter misses her teacher and friends, administration should have kept that in consideration as well when scheduling.
As I understand, if there’re grants that will help the school in this crisis, due to a reduction on tuition, is only fair parents can be helped too. Also to consider the difference between a highschool student able to follow online classes and toddlers not following anything, only what parents are capable to do during their working hours, and in my case with salary reduction for the same and more months. Withdrawal is not an option, when is believed the education still to receive will surpass the crisis.
I support the petition. My views are the same as Soledad's above, and in the spirit of opening a constructive dialogue on the issue. Thank you.
We support this petition.
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To :Robert Deden - President, Board of Trustees
Sherry Herron - Head Of School
Dear administrators,
We understand those are unprecedented times and that communities have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting school closures. As parents we first want to recognize the school's efforts to transition to remote learning and commend the remarkable work done by our teachers to capture our kids' attention during our daily thirty minutes of circle time. We also do appreciate the goal of the school to retain its staff during those difficult time.
However, we do not feel it is appropriate for the school to expect full tuition to be paid for the months of April and May as enrollment agreements have not been honored.
Unfortunately thirty minutes of daily circle time does not correspond to half-day or full-day classes. As such, we ask the school to review its tuition policy for the early childhood classes for the month of April and May based on the instruction effectively given. Options such as lowered tuition for those months, or full tuition with credits to be applied for the 2020-21 school year are options to be considered, as considered by other schools and recommended by the Independent School Management Association
We are confident the school will understand our position as parents, as it strives to uphold its reputation as a fair learning community.
Updates
May 12, 2020
The feedback I keep getting is that the silence from the leadership team is taking a heavy toll on our families. I am spending my evenings drafting follow up emails because the current tuition policy ignores the reality of the instruction our children are receiving. This is exhausting work but I am not walking away from it yet.
25 Comments
I fully support staff retention at SOTW, but hope that overhead reduction and possible grants can supplement the school’s financials so that families can also save on tuition during the reduction in school activities for early childhood. Families are experiencing hardship as well. My signature indicates my support for dialogue, not necessarily a given solution. I hope everyone is well.
If grants associated to COVID-19 are on the way to support the school, I believe it could relief parents as well, since school has received full tuition. Mostly helping parents on early childhood whose children depend 100% on their parents, and parents are overloaded with work and in my case with half the income. If everything has remained the same I understand, but even a 10-20% means a difference for most.
I support opening a dialog between administration and parents. I do not think tuition assistance should come at the cost of the teachers and staff. I don’t know what the solution is, but if the school receives outside assistance in the form of grants or loans, there should be serious consideration to providing tuition reduction/credits.
I want to make sure the teachers know how much they are valued and that tuition talks are not a reflection on their commitment to our kids. There is room for discussion about the way in which classes have been constructed for early childhood; and I'm sure the administration and staff will reflect on the success and failures of this experience. My opinion will be influenced by whether or not the school receives outside grants/assistance. If SOTW is a recipient they need to reevaluate the tuition schedule and costs for April and May.
We want to support the good teachers and school itself but it should justify to parents and kids as well. School should get help from PPP program and other similar programs in order to retain teachers and other employees. It would be nice if school can consider charging for what services they have been providing, one hour online instead of six. Why could they not have more extended hours or atleast split the sessions to smaller group so kids can atleast get chance to speak to their teachers whom they have been so attached too already. My daughter misses her teacher and friends, administration should have kept that in consideration as well when scheduling.
As I understand, if there’re grants that will help the school in this crisis, due to a reduction on tuition, is only fair parents can be helped too. Also to consider the difference between a highschool student able to follow online classes and toddlers not following anything, only what parents are capable to do during their working hours, and in my case with salary reduction for the same and more months. Withdrawal is not an option, when is believed the education still to receive will surpass the crisis.
I support the petition. My views are the same as Soledad's above, and in the spirit of opening a constructive dialogue on the issue. Thank you.
We support this petition.
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I fully support staff retention at SOTW, but hope that overhead reduction and possible grants can supplement the school’s financials so that families can also save on tuition during the reduction in school activities for early childhood. Families are experiencing hardship as well. My signature indicates my support for dialogue, not necessarily a given solution. I hope everyone is well.