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Monday, 1 Adar II, 5784
  |  March 11, 2024

A Parent’s Perspective on the Covid-19 Tuition Crisis

Op-Ed: Many articles have discussed the “tuition crisis”. Yet, it all pales in comparison to the current situation we find ourselves in. As a businessman and a parent, here are my “two cent” suggestions. Full Story

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Middle classs
May 7, 2020 12:01 am

In every situation it’s the middle class that will suffer the most . Let’s call a spade a spade . Food stamps is another income For some ppl I can go in and on. But at the end I get no help because hey “ I’m rich “. So we suffer the most and the schools tell us to stop having kids ( as if I have ten ……)

Absolutely
Reply to  Middle classs
May 7, 2020 9:37 am

This is the way it usually workse and this situation is no different.any lower income earners are making as muchif not more between extended unemployment, stimulus money, etc. They also pay a heavily reduced tuition because of their income. The very well off can usually absorb the blow.

Anyone in the middle class is considered rich by the schools, IRS, and everyone else and gets his the hardest.

WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!
Reply to  Middle classs
May 16, 2020 11:36 pm

This is why (+ many others) we should Daven Demand & plead for MOSHIACH NOW!

Wow!!
May 7, 2020 12:11 am

Such a mentchlachkiet article!!!!
Such a healthy presentation of all sides.
And I run a school.
Thank you for a breath of fresh air

Sad Reality in Crown Heights
Reply to  Wow!!
May 7, 2020 9:44 am

All I have been getting from our school in CH is that they will be penalizing the parents with late fees if they don’t have their head checks in by lag baomer. This is the most disgusting way of dealing.
When the whole world is giving, there is one school in Brooklyn that is always looking to take and penalize. This has always been the same.
This is all because you have a board that was put in by force, without any elections, and this board has no children in the school, so what can you expect

To the author
May 7, 2020 12:30 am

Thank you for writing what has been on my mind for a few months now. You are not alone in feeling this way. I hope this message is heard loud and clear.

Crown Heights schools: I mean you.

YES!!
May 7, 2020 12:52 am

Please Crown heights schools listen to this. We know teachers are being paid (Hopefully in full?) but lots of parents are having hard times and you should refund 50% of tuition at least. There are tons of expenses which you don’t have now and we’re sure that you are getting PPP etc

I beg to differ
Reply to  YES!!
May 7, 2020 6:52 am

In CH 75% of the families receive vouchers to help pay there tuition. Now the schools aren’t receiving any.
That’s about $500 a month per student that the school is not getting.

Playgroups
Reply to  YES!!
May 7, 2020 7:44 am

A lot of playgroup will have no choice to close down.. parents are opting out of the program even with discounts . They don’t realize rent needs to be covered and teachers .

Well written
May 7, 2020 1:00 am

Very good points. Constructive criticism.

Two Cents Advice op-ed
May 7, 2020 1:05 am

Firstly most people are home both husband and wife with the stay at home order. Start helping your wife, it sounds like you should pitch in. Secondly it would be one thing if the chinuch was not happening, you’re getting the product but it is being disseminated in a way that we would not prefer. This is not the fault of the mosdos, this is the reality of the situation. As we know from all the commercials we’re all in this together. That means we don’t get what we want and frankly the schools don’t get what they want. I… Read more »

Busy at work
Reply to  Two Cents Advice op-ed
May 7, 2020 8:42 am

And what if the author is busy working so he could feed and shelter his family?

One sided
May 7, 2020 1:11 am

I think you make some good points, but you are only viewing this from one side. You dont know the real numbers from school side. There is a good chance they still have to pay their mortgage, bus service ( if they signed an annual contract) etc.

There are many families that thankfully have not felt a financial burden. Though they might be inconvenienced with all the kids at home their continued payment is going to cover those who are less fortunate and can’t pay anymore.
There is no right answer but don’t automatically think the schools are wrong.

I concur ...
Reply to  One sided
May 7, 2020 1:40 am

Strong and valid points. The author of the article presents one side well but doesn’t seem to have inside knowledge of the internal finances and responsibilities of the schools.

"One pays for the others shortfall"
Reply to  One sided
May 7, 2020 8:30 am

That’s all very nice when given Voluntarily. Tzedaka is not a mandated systemic redistribution of wealth. If I use any of three words relating to a non-capitlism government, this comment will not be posted. Lol.

Transparency
Reply to  One sided
May 7, 2020 8:53 am

A lot of misunderstandings could be addressed by full transparency of what the schools are taking in, what the expenses are by category, etc. where the expenses have decreased, and increased, and income by category – i.e. tuition, donations, PPP. I also think that like in the 990’s that most non-profits have to file, disclosure of how many staff, administrators, etc. are getting salary and benefits over $100,000. once parents see how little excess there is – or none and where there are shorfalls they will understand why as much schools would like to ut tuition, they can’t. Transparency will… Read more »

Re-read
Reply to  One sided
May 7, 2020 3:01 pm

The author already addressed your point, and thoroughly. As he wrote, if you have a business and deliver 3 items instead of 5, you don’t get to charge for all 5 because “I’ve got bills to pay”. At the end of the day, the schools are not currently performing bus services, lunch, security etc etc to parents. Just because they still have overhead doesn’t make it the burden of the parents to cover the costs of services that are currently not being performed.

I did re-read
Reply to  Re-read
May 7, 2020 8:48 pm

I understand that point. However, schools are not just any business. If a shoe store goes under, it’s sad for the owner and employees and their families, but the whole community doesn’t suffer. Buy your shoes elsewhere. But what happens if the yeshivas don’t have sufficient funds to operate and go out of business? Do you expect the teachers to work for free? Do you think planning and teaching on-line classes is easy? What about all the extra time on calls to students and parents. Everyone has a point. Everyone is hurting. That’s why the data is important to determine… Read more »

change direction of article
May 7, 2020 1:15 am

the last paragraphs should have been first

Lets Salute Today's Hero's
May 7, 2020 1:24 am

Very nice and Mentchliche written Op-ed. Should have begun first by saluting the hero’s of this time. A) Hatzalah and our doctors, B) The schools and their teachers. They have stepped up to the plate in an amazing way. I have boys and girls in multiple schools and Mesivta/ Yeshiva Gedolah. Tuition is a lot of money and very hard to come by. However seeing how some of the schools have mobilize (and of course some are doing it better than others) made me realize what kind of treasures we have in our Chinuch system. I am in awe of… Read more »

Who’s a hero???
Reply to  Lets Salute Today's Hero's
May 7, 2020 5:51 am

My wife keeps reminding me every time they mention salute some hero’s of some sort….that all the mothers (& fathers) who are dealing with this at home are hero’s – everyone else is great, but the greatest burden of this crisis in families with children is falling on the parents (hero by definition is an exclusionary term….basically the use of the term is a slap in the face to many and should stop being used)

Everyone’s a hero
Reply to  Who’s a hero???
May 8, 2020 12:02 am

Sure, everyone can be a hero and many parents find themselves in a difficult situation with kids at home. But I don’t think you understand what it means to work as a healthcare worker these days. I go into work every night and put my life at risk to save others. So yes, there are many that are going through a hard time and I recognize that, but those who are risking their lives to benefit others deserve to be called heroes for once in their lives.

Waiting?
Reply to  Lets Salute Today's Hero's
May 7, 2020 3:03 pm

“most are waiting to see what is going to happen” – waiting for what? We’ve been on lockdown for two months already. What are they waiting for, another two months?

Thank you for saying what's on my mind
May 7, 2020 1:58 am

Couldn’t agree more with this article. Spot on and I really hope that the Los Angeles school admin reads this.

Grateful Parent
Reply to  Thank you for saying what's on my mind
May 7, 2020 12:14 pm

You fail to mention that the schools offered an across the board break to parents the other week in an email sent to the community in addition to working with families like mine who are struggling at this time they offered to assist beyond the across the board offer to all families and have been mentchlich to us about further significant breaks. I for one am grateful, my children are continuing their education with a relatively full program via zoom and Google classroom which their Rebbe’s and Morahs are providing as well as extra curricular programs. I look forward to… Read more »

Beautiful!
Reply to  Grateful Parent
May 7, 2020 1:10 pm

Which school was this? I haven’t received any notices…

Great article
May 7, 2020 2:08 am

Thank you so much for the article it was said in a mentchliche way! All those which are complaining about this article either cause he should be helping his wife… btw I am sure he is helping his wife and I am sure he is busy with work I don’t know him personally but i know he is a business owner and with that in mind he is still busy during the day dealing with clients… trying to give his clients comfort advice Or for any other reason it’s cause ur running a school and ur just being closed minded.… Read more »

Thank you bringing this up.
May 7, 2020 2:41 am

As someone in same community as the author, I agree with much of the important points brought up here. With countless emails from the schools with regards to online classes, teacher appreciations and gifts and so on, the ‘tuition’ word was only first addressed in an email to parents on May 1. Children and parents, many of whom have been out of work and taken a very big hit, during the crises and some possibly longer as this is all still unfolding, have been home in isolation since March 13th, without ignoring schools ongoing expenses, receiving the ppp and so… Read more »

Most families got more money this month
May 7, 2020 6:16 am

The avrage family of 5 got about $4000 in extra cash. And that’s on top of your current paycheck from work or if you are not working you are on unemployment picking up unemployment plus $600 a week. The minimum would be $1000 a week per person. So even if only one parent worked it would be $6000 (if both parents have jobs or on unemployment it’s $10,000) for this month. And most household expenses are less. While school expenses did not go down. So please pay your tuition.

Happy to pay
Reply to  Most families got more money this month
May 7, 2020 11:42 am

Your argument swings both ways. Teachers should be receiving that same money, school should be getting non recourse federal loan.
I’m doing my part in this aspect, would love to know the school is too.

Good point
Reply to  Most families got more money this month
May 7, 2020 12:24 pm

But this is only theoretical. My wife and I are in the exact same position that you described. Both out of work and trying to procure unemployment since March 15. I have not received a single check from unemployment, and I cannot afford to pay the yeshiva tuition for my kids who are getting almost nothing from the school. When I finish paying rent and tuition for my kids, I won’t have cash available for food. Get food stamps, you say? We applied as soon as we both got laid off. I haven’t heard a word back from the application… Read more »

$4000 per family????? Where did you get that from
Reply to  Most families got more money this month
May 7, 2020 2:11 pm

I don’t know where you got. that number, or who received such checks… However: That would mean the school administrators & teachers as well!?!?… plus PPP or/& unemployment…. We are all struggling right now- working parents who need to be “zoom monitors” or deal with teachers complaining that your child is not “attending” classes The not working parents who are struggling to pay for basic needs… There extra burden of tuition payments is wrong. The schools need to step up to the plate in this area as well To the author: Thank you for having the frame of mind and… Read more »

Money Received

Yes each family (married filing jointly) who made under (I don’t remember the amount but it was a large amount) got $2400 for the couple and another $500 for each kid under 18 (by 20 18). I revived direct deposit of: $5900 and so have MANY MANY PEPOLE

two sides to the picture
May 7, 2020 8:09 am

Though I recognize the challenges the schools are having and appreciate that there’s still a cost to upkeep the schools by paying salaries etc. At the same time, there are many schools that have been taking advantage of parents, even before this situation.. I live in a community where we BH have a cheder, girls school and even a high school. All the school directors and higher up faculty have large, beautiful homes. Yet, sadly to say, they all “cry” that the schools have no money and demand high tuition, in fact we had kids being kicked out of school… Read more »

Absolutely.
May 7, 2020 8:22 am

You are absolutely right. If the schools aren’t calling or planning to do the rebate or at least something, it reflects a issue they always had that’s very similar to current government:
The school is for the people and when the school doesn’t work for the people, it’s cannabalizing itself. Everyone needs the school so the school feels they can do whatever they want at our expense.
OR they’re just negligent/naive.

2008 recession
May 7, 2020 8:36 am

Now that our kids are BH out of school, we remember the school that worked with us, and those that didn’t.

Full tuition?
May 7, 2020 8:45 am

As the article mentioned, if a family’s income has decreased, the school should be accommodating just as they would in more normal times, and the tuition committee should review the family’s continued ability to pay. But (assuming they are already receiving a scholarship, which is generally calculated as the family’s ability to pay) if family income has not decreased, then the family should continue paying the agreed-upon tuition. That’s what they agreed they can afford, and it is less than full tuition, so why shouldn’t they continue to pay? Why should COVID be a financial windfall to the family at… Read more »

Facts are
Reply to  Full tuition?
May 7, 2020 10:39 am

People are being paid less
Or on furlough
People that have businesses are suffering big time
Major companies have declared bankruptcy, due to the crisis. Some yungermans small-time online business could certainly be taking a hit ch”v.
Shluchim aren’t fundraising
Unemployment often times is significantly less then ones regular income
Please bchol loshon shelbakasha
DIG YOURE HEAD OUT OF YHE SAND

thank you

Simple
Reply to  Full tuition?
May 7, 2020 3:08 pm

“That’s what they agreed they can afford, and it is less than full tuition, so why shouldn’t they continue to pay?” – because the services delivered by the school have been significantly reduced; so should the tuition. If your insurance company stops covering half your policy, would you be happy to keep paying “what you agreed to”, because you can still afford it? When the deliverables change, so does the price.

CH Family
May 7, 2020 8:52 am

Very well-written article. Thank you for this. I’m interested in what it will inspire others to write.

Great Article
May 7, 2020 9:07 am

Thank you!

Yid
May 7, 2020 9:25 am

Well written article. I think a factor that should be under consideration, is what role teachers administration and boards play as members of schools. Are they running a business? Are they profiting at all from this? Definitely not of the schools that I know of. Most teachers are taking way less of a salary then they would receive had they been taking their talents to any other field. The Torah talks about paying a teacher to teach Torah as merely compensation for his time that he could have been (and has the obligation to) make money elsewhere. I see it… Read more »

right on!!
Reply to  Yid
May 7, 2020 12:03 pm

you hit the nail on the head! the school is not an entity on its own, its a shliach of the parents to teach their children Torah. If the schools collapse, the parents lose the most. The teachers are already living a life of mesrius nefesh. If parents will treat the teachers this way, “I’m not getting what I signed up for, it’s your problem” very idealistic dedicated teachers might say, If that’s the way I’m being treated, maybe I’m better going into business myself. BTW the teachers are also trying to teach while dealing with a bunch of kids… Read more »

There are also ways for schools to help parents.
May 7, 2020 10:27 am

Even if the schools can’t refund partial tuition, they can at the very least take care of the families! For example: there is a beautiful lunch program, but many families can’t get to The other End of town and wait in line to bring The lunch Daily. If the bus drivers are still being paid, the schools should put two and two together, and deliver lunches door to door daily. The food is paid for by the government. And if the bus drivers are not being paid, then we should be refunded the bus money. Or more examples of this:… Read more »

Registration fee
May 7, 2020 10:30 am

to add insult to injury, I have boys in ULY CH and girls in Beis Rivkah. They both want me to register my children for next year (understandably). But why do they need to take $200-$250 registration fee at this time? Beis rivkah TAKES the $200 fee on page one! Before you even have a chance to breath the money is out of your account!
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Just $200-$250?
Reply to  Registration fee
May 7, 2020 3:09 pm

Darchai Menachem in CH charges $600 for Registration, with an early-bird discount of $500, which already expired. Parents can negotiate or be eligible for tuition fee reduction, but registration fee is obviously not negotiable!

Community
May 7, 2020 10:45 am

Dear author, I too am a business man and parent of currently 7 tuitions. Because life will go on I’ll disagree with your statement of schools being ‘part of the community’, schools are a function of our communities needs. My words fail me, what I’m trying to say is we serve the school, much like what’s in your imagination about yeshivas in the shtettel. They don’t offer us a service, they offer us the ability to live as Jews in that location. I truly hope someone else will be able to word this kindly and better than I have. My… Read more »

About time !
May 7, 2020 10:52 am

It’s about time someone spoke up! I’ve been waiting patiently for the School to reach out and discuss the situation. Schools please reach out!!

Schools have all the same expenses
May 7, 2020 11:10 am

The amount of works the teachers and administrators had to put in to flip to Zoom, immediately. We should be thanking them. They are doing there best to keep your children that you speak of tuned in. Can you imagine teaching 3 year olds over Zoom. It is an awful situation all around. Think for a moment what expenses did the school lose, perhaps a drop of electricity. Tuition problems always boil down to the same thing. Those compensating for those that are not paying any tuition. Paying less tuition will only lead to schools getting further and further into… Read more »

The 3 year olds are not being taught
Reply to  Schools have all the same expenses
May 7, 2020 1:27 pm

I only have experience with one school, but they are NOT teaching the 3 or 4 year olds over zoom; in fact, they have completely forgotten about that age group. The teachers might send a 5-10 minute video daily to teach something. Explain to me how that warrants full tuition payment?

The question is value and relevance
May 7, 2020 11:41 am

If your just asking for money and who should pay you miss the crux of the matter. Schools have to adapt to the new scenario. Schools have to reposition themselves to teach in a new world.

Another side
May 7, 2020 11:43 am

As an administrator I am proud to show another side. The vast majority are still paying. Our tuition is reasonable and our staff has always and continues to pay staff on time. Teachers are working and our children are learning. When I have to call a parent I always show compassion and ask how everyone is. A few have asked to postpone which is fine. We will not penalize anyone. One parent demanded that we should be open but there is always one. I am sure that our principal doesn’t get sleep. The pressure must be horrible. But we will… Read more »

The question is value and relevance
May 7, 2020 12:30 pm

How are the schools adapting? Zoom classrooms are not viable. Furloughing staff is inevitable. Schools must provide value or they’re just asking for a handout.

Berel
May 7, 2020 1:21 pm

Can’t speak for schools outside of CH. In CH all the schools are in the red by a lot. We are in it together and sometimes civilization hangs on knowing when to be quiet. BH I’m getting the same income now as before the mabul in addition to the stimulus check (I can haz more checks plz?) So I’m just being quiet and continuing with tuition. I’m hoping the other side of this bargain is that the schools forgive parents who have lost income r’l. That’s the deal we should be making. Parents who can should continue and schools should… Read more »

Sruli Schochet (op-ed author) here
May 7, 2020 2:28 pm

First of all, thank you for the feedback and constructive criticism. While my wife certainly agrees that I can help out more around the house, I was sick with COVID19 for about 3-4 weeks and from when I got better, I go to work every day B”H. But you are right, I can always do more! I want to give a special compliment to Yossi Lipsker of Cheder Menachem Los Angeles, whom I spoke to at length after the article was written (I pre-sent him a copy). We spent an hour on the phone and he explained to me the… Read more »

Email school sent
Reply to  Sruli Schochet (op-ed author) here
May 8, 2020 1:34 am

My kids also go to Cheder Menachem and Bais Chaya Mushka in LA. And I am wondering why you neglected to mention the detailed email both schools sent offering a discounted rate on tuition for May and June.

I also got the letter
Reply to  Email school sent
May 8, 2020 4:33 pm

The letter was sent very recently, so it is possible the author wrote the article was written before the email went out.

Schools have been closed since March 16th. Waiting almost two months before communicating with the parents about the financial crisis is not really acceptable. And after all that, they offered a maximum of a few hundred dollars over a two months (15% off for May and June)

Letter
Reply to  I also got the letter
May 10, 2020 12:13 am

they were smart to wait to send a letter until there was more info and they got the ppp. And the letter said they will work with families who need more help. Kudos to these two schools.

A lot of words to say nothing new!
May 7, 2020 2:44 pm

Well written article but the three points are not worth the number of words in the article! Future rebates just postpones the cash flow issue. The money that the schools have lost at this point through lost fund raisers and tuition cancellations won’t come back. Therefore the cash to fund a rebate has to come from somewhere. I have read the ‘horrifically insensitive letter’ jointly put out by many non-Chabad schools in Los Angeles, that went viral. There was nothing wrong with it, you may not have liked that it was just direct and said we have to continue paying… Read more »

I think you missed the point
Reply to  A lot of words to say nothing new!
May 7, 2020 4:57 pm

Your example is way off. A snow plow contract says that when it snows they will come plow your snow. Some years it snows a lot (you gain), some years it snows a little (you loose), but it all evens out in the end. Tuition IS a service contract. And like any other service contract, if your don’t get what you contracted for, you get money back. If you hire a plumber to service 2 sinks and they only service one, do you still pay full boat? What if you hired them to service one sink, they serviced it, but… Read more »

Yup
Reply to  I think you missed the point
May 7, 2020 9:49 pm

This is true, but the only issue is that a yeshiva is not exactly a service. In truth, each of us had the mitzva of chinuch. Our children’s melamdim are our shluchim. We pay to compensate the melamed for the time he gives that he could otherwise work and earn a living. The fact is that shlichus of the melamed is considerably less nowadays, since there is nowhere near a full day of learning and the children are evening with the melamed much less as well. At the end of the day, this is the fact. The secondary expenses in… Read more »

Not exactly accurate
May 7, 2020 5:05 pm

In crown heights 80% of families pay between 40-70 % of actual tuition price, are you expecting the schools to give them more discounts? Perhaps in LA parents pay full tuition, not in CH, get the facts straight.

Right on
May 7, 2020 6:07 pm

Every time the student leaves school for a week or whatever the family should ask for refunds?

Um....
Reply to  Right on
May 7, 2020 11:24 pm

You don’t see a difference between when the school is offering the same level of service, but it is the child that is absent, versus when the school itself is now not offering the same level of service?

The School Financial Crisis
May 8, 2020 8:23 am

The elephant in the room:

Running a school’s finances is running a serious business. There is cash flow, profit and loss, budgeting etc.

EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR M U S T be trained in running a multi-million dollar business!!!

The people running schools have no MBA (Masters of Business Administration), do not attend business courses etc.

So no wonder then are running the school financial health into the ground.

Do the math
May 8, 2020 9:13 am

There are about 1,000 hours of school a year at Beis Rivkah CH, and about 25 girls per class. So if you cruch the numbers, you get:

40×1000÷25÷12 = $133.33 per girl monthly

This assumes $40/hour wage+payroll tax, which is probably more generous that they really pay. The building and food etc do add cost but should not much more than double the $133. And there are donations and government grants to lower tuition.

So why is tuition EVER so high?!? Even when the economy is good?

Lots of points
May 8, 2020 12:28 pm

The schools in my town are still providing an education curriculum that will result in the students receiving legitimate diplomas and credits. The schools did apply for PPP loans. Not all were approved yet. Some were approved just this week, so to “wait” was legitimate response at the time. I can’t imagine the IT costs, the training and supply of devices purchased and distributed, were included in the initial budget. I do agree regarding pre-schools. Here we are discounting heavily the May and June payments. Some schools are crediting towards next year. Most families received stimulus payments. Working parents have… Read more »

Thank you!
May 8, 2020 8:13 pm

Thank you for writing what so many of us have been thinking.

Whichever schools were able to get PPP (most of them), should pass on most if not all of that to the parents in the form of tuition discounts. The point of the program is to keep paying employees who aren’t able to perform their jobs as usual due to the current conditions. If it’s used to pay teachers, then why is tuition also needed?

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