Pause, Consult, Respect: FIS Parents Demand a Voice in School Decisions
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Pause, Consult, Respect: FIS Parents Demand a Voice in School Decisions

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We, the undersigned parents and guardians of students enrolled at Flipper International School, write to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent announcement of a new two and three-year school fee structure. We believe that this decision was made without adequate transparency, consultation, or consideration of the legitimate concerns raised by the parent community.

While the proposed structure appears to promote long-term planning and harmonization, it lacks the clarity, safeguards, and accountability required to support such claims. The clause stating that fees for students from Kindergarten to Grade 10 in all categories may change by the end of the second year is particularly alarming. This effectively allows additional fee increases beyond those already outlined, beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. Such a provision undermines financial stability for families and casts doubt on the credibility of the proposed structure.

Moreover, the letter from the school outlines broad commitments to improving quality - such as professional development, facility upgrades, and integration of learning technologies - but fails to provide specific, measurable outcomes. These general statements do not offer sufficient justification for the significant fee increases and give the impression of ambition without concrete delivery plans backed by Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant and Timebound (SMART) goals.

Most troubling is the lack of transparency in how this decision was made. There is no evidence that the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was formally consulted or that the strong concerns voiced by many parents during the most recent parent meeting were taken into account. This omission suggests a unilateral decision-making process, which contradicts the principles of shared responsibility and open communication that we expect from an institution like our beloved Flipper International School.

In light of these concerns, we respectfully call on the school’s leadership to:

  1. Clarify the decision-making process, including whether the PTA formally endorsed the new fee structure;
  2. Engage in open dialogue with parents and guardians before implementing any further changes;
  3. Provide a detailed justification for the fee increases, including specific investments, timelines, and expected improvements in educational quality;
  4. Ensure transparency and predictability by establishing a clear Fee Policy safeguarding arbitrary adjustments to fees;
  5. Recommit to inclusive decision-making, ensuring future policies reflect genuine consultation with the parent community;
  6. Suspend the ongoing re-registration process until the matter is resolved through transparent and inclusive engagement, and promptly communicate this suspension to all parents.

We believe that parents are essential stakeholders, not passive recipients of school policy. We urge the school’s management to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and partnership by reconsidering the current approach and actively engaging with the parent body before proceeding further.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned and /or very Concerned(worried) FIS Parents

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