Open Letter to the Leadership of the New School of Lancaster

We have a long history at The New School and our daughter went from her Toddler year through the end of eighth grade. Our son also thrived at The New School for four years. The New School was a warm, inclusive loving community for our entire family. Board meetings were open and inviting, as they should be. The current Top down "leadership" is not in the spirit of Montessori and is troubling to hear about. Often when matters reach this level of distress in an organization, the head of the organization is called upon to resign, not dig their heels in further. Teachers should feel free to sign the petition without concern that they may lose their jobs. Open communication is vital, especially at The New School. It is heartbreaking to see destructive policies and even more so to know the children will suffer because of it.

As a former longtime parent and Board member, I am truly concerned by these developments. Term limits, open board meetings and true transparency are essential to a healthy organization.. Best of luck to the parents and this petition. I hope the school survives.

I have been honored to speak at the New School about protecting the Amazon rainforest and environmental activism. My nieces and nephew went there and I am very concerned about this issue. Please take the time to consult outside third parties to help resolve things. This will only benefit everyone involved. Thanks.

As a grandparent, I have known NSOL for over ten years as a wonderful place due to the talent and dedication of those involved. Am very concerned watching the degradation of the school due to the mass exodus of talent over the last year. The new administrative leadership is clearly the cause and the board has not cared to address the situation. The administration response clearly underscores this lack of caring by not respecting the community request to meet by June 24th, and by not addressing any of the specific concerns raised. The response is palliative and off-putting. The many community comments and the request for a meeting in June, require AT A MINIMUM, a good faith showing by administration and board to meet as requested by June 24th, address all issues raised, and progress collaboratively to save the school.

I know that change can be difficult, and at the same time it needs to be done in a manner that maintains trust in the school administration and board. To date, this has been damaged. I truly believe it is a good thing to create consistent quality across the school, and therefore support the training and pursuit of accreditation. At the same time, the culture of the New School, which is an invaluable asset of the school, needs to be preserved. Honestly addressing concerns, getting out accurate and full information, and owning the missteps taken that have led to harming the sense of community and trust needs to happen so that we can heal and move forward. I believe the requests in this petition begin the lay the foundation for that.

Although I am not a member of the New School community, I have witnessed vicariously the unique and creative spirit, the welcoming staff, and the commitment to excellent education that values the thoughts and input of the students and community. I am signing in support of this thoughtful letter as it clearly speaks from the heart with an intention of keeping this wonderful school strong, unique, and true to its roots. May you all thrive together!

My daughter attended the New School in it's first years of existence. I loved the communication, involvement, and voice, our family was given, in every aspect of her education. They may have chosen a different course then I would have, to solve a problem, but I had a voice, and it was heard. My daughter benefited, from our involvement as a family. She received an excellent education. Please keep your families involved, by listening to and respecting their opinion.

Over the twelve years that my spouse and I sent our children to NSOL, we left twice to work overseas. After each year abroad we came back, realizing how special the NSOL education opportunity was, adjusting to our children's progress and helping them catch up where they had fallen behind. The community-oriented approach that included parents at all levels of ES and MS was central to learning; something one does not find easily elsewhere. Finally, the fulcrum that ensured it would all happen was the group of amazing teachers. By weakening that fulcrum, the new administration of NSOL is lowering the quality of its educational offering. It is no longer a special place to remember and support.

We have been with the school for 10 years. We look forward to open collaboration and communication.

As a member of the board of the New School’s earliest years, I feel strongly that the concerns addressed in this petition need to be examined in public forum.

I previously went to the New School and chose to leave because of changes in the administration and staff. I was part of the group of students who helped to choose the new principal and found that I didn't agree with how she wanted to change the school. She is too focused on profit and not the experience of students.

I am very concerned about the lack of clear communication with parents on large issues, such as the playground renovations. We had no idea when we signed up for Sparrows that there would be no equipment and uncovered dirt for our daughter to play in for as much as 3 hours a day for a quarter of the year. The administration doesn't seem interested in talking with parents or teachers about this potential health issue and doesn't want to address the issue. This is why our child isn't attending summer camp at the school. I am concerned that the school seems have no method of addressing parent and teacher concerns, and is leaving itself open huge potential problems. When we came to the school 3 years ago, we felt encouraged to get involved and wanted to help involve other families. However, gradually we have felt discouraged about a lack of openness and engagement of the whole community in meaningful ways in favor of a closed group of leaders. The concept of no public meetings and no term limits is very concerning.

As a proud New School alumna, I was incredibly sad to learn about the departure of all of these amazing teachers, all of whom prepared me wonderfully for high school. I am very thankful for this education but am very worried that younger children attending the New School will not be able to benefit from this same experience.

I write as a scholar of political and institutional organization but more importantly as the parent of children who attended the NSoL between 2005 and 2018. Closed Board meetings are a clear indication of an organization turning in on itself. Such a move represents the betrayal of healthy, open relations among a Board, the administration, and the community; in this case, the lack of transparency also represents the abandonment of Montessori values. It is incumbent upon the Board to demonstrate to the community that it respects the perspectives and experiences of valued teachers who have devoted their careers to the NSoL. My children had the great fortune to benefit from extraordinarily gifted individuals who taught not because they were well paid (certainly not!), but because they were devoted to educating children in the spirit of creative self-directed inquiry. I can only hope that children younger than my own might enjoy the same opportunity.

Grandmother of 2 NSoL children, mother of 2 Ruffing Montessori children, and Montessori preprimary and elementary directness for 40 years

It saddens me that so many teachers who shaped my education will not be able to do the same for others who are younger. I am very thankful for the time that I got to spend at the New School with amazing teachers and staff.

It is time to move forward in the spirit of complete openness and trust with a “public” meeting herein described. To do otherwise is contrary to mission and professional ethics.

As a grandparent of students who have greatly benefited from their experiences at The New School, I share the concerns stated in the above letter.

I am a grandparent of three students at the school (the Brogan children; one just graduated) and have been so impressed with the caring and superior teachers at the school. It is very concerning to see that so many of them have resigned over the recent year.

I write as the parent of children who attended the NSoL beginning in 2005 through 2018 and as a scholar of political and institutional organization. That a crisis on this scale was permitted to develop begs the question of the role of the Board. The elimination of public Board meetings and disregard on the part of the Board for valued teachers' concerns betray Montessori and democratic norms and ideals. We have appreciated our children's extraordinary NSoL education more each year. Their teachers, from the Toddler through Middle School levels, worked not for money (that is clear!), but for the love of teaching. Our children received the best education available in Lancaster. That that will no longer be available to those who follow them marks a tremendous loss, both on the individual and the collective level. It is imperative that the Board take up its responsibility, a responsibility that goes well beyond rubber stamping administrative decisions. With gratitude to the parents who are leading the effort to save the New School of Lancaster ...