By Sruli Schochet – Los Angeles
A man once fell on hard times and in desperation, asked his friend for a loan, which he was willing to pay interest on. His friend was happy to oblige and when he funded the loan, he handed the man the money, along with a bag of pebbles.
“Thank you for the loan,” said the man, “but what are the pebbles for?”
“I know,” said the lender, “that after a few months of payments, you will start to get frustrated with me, even thinking that I took advantage of your difficult situation. It will get so bad that we will stop speaking and eventually you will want to throw things at me. I would much rather you throw these small pebbles at me, than some larger rocks you may find.”
It is no secret that tuition, in general, is a point of contention between schools and parents. There is a reason much ink has been spilled, in many an article, discussing the “tuition crisis”. Yet, it all pales in comparison to the current situation we find ourselves in, where for 30% of our school year, our children are not getting the level of education and certainly not the educational environment, we are used to or expect. This is not anyone’s fault, as we live in unprecedented times. However, the way the schools and parent handle this matter, may very well have ramifications for years to come.
Between yeshiva, elementary school and pre-school, I am currently dealing with five separate institutions for my children. This gives me the ability to observe how different schools are responding to the current situation of Covid-19. I have also spoken with many parents from other schools, as well as read a lot of what is put out there by said schools (including the horrifically insensitive letter jointly put out by many non-Chabad schools here in Los Angeles, that went viral). I would like to humbly offer a parent’s perspective and then follow that up, with my “two-cents” suggestions in the end.
To illustrate the point, allow me to paint a picture of what is going on in my house, which I am sure many can relate to. My wife, who would normally be dropping the kids off at school and then go about her errands, now spends her days logging three elementary school children in and out of zoom classes. She then needs to supervise the school work they should be doing between said zoom classes. Trying to get the other two preschoolers at home to sit in front of their zoom “classes” is harder than herding cats. All the while, she is trying to entertain and toilet train two-year-old twin boys, who are super excited that all their siblings are home with them and do their best to let them know, by disrupting them during their classes.
How are the schools responding to all this? Are they calling parent to offer tuition breaks? Are they rebating some of the ancillary expenses that no longer exist? Generally speaking, I am seeing various arguments being put forth by the school as to why they continue to charge the full amount of agreed upon tuition:
1) We still need to pay our teachers.
2) In general, we try to keep our tuition affordable, despite our high costs and therefore need the continued cash flow to stay afloat.
3) We are a non-profit and depend on donations. We cannot do fundraisers, and fundraising funds have dried up.
Allow me to address these from a layman’s perspective. I will address point 1 and 2 together as they are really two parts of one whole.
First: A school’s largest expenses are salaries and mortgage / building upkeep. There are many programs going on now, which hopefully all schools applied to (and if not, that is pure negligence), such as PPP, which will cover most of the salaries for two months. Some received the money already and some will be getting it soon, when round two of the CARE bill funds. There are also EIDL, mortgage deferment programs by the banks, not to mention that all the ancillary expenses (security, utilities, transportation, etc.) have just gone away during the shutdown.
I want to give special kudos to my kids preschool, who has already informed all the parents that all the PPP money they receive will be used to reduce tuition for the next two months. However, they are the only ones to say anything of the sort. Others have indicated they are not even returning the monthly security or bus fee, despite the fact that neither of those items are being utilized or paid for.
I fully acknowledge that there are unfortunately many parents that, due to the current economic situation, have called the schools and said they can no longer pay tuition as they need to put food on their table and cannot do both. The schools have graciously agreed to stop the payments for now, as they would any time someone falls on hard times.
However, even if all those government programs were not available, what I take umbrage with, is the assumption that the burden automatically shifts to the parents, to continue to pay the same tuition payments as before, despite the drastic change in educational circumstances.
As a businessman, I do not live in a bubble and fully understand the need to pay employees and the importance of cash flow. Any institution, profit or non-profit, that does not keep a watchful eye on this, will not be around for very long.
However, I also know, that if my customer ordered five items and I only deliver three of them, I do not have the luxury of telling them: “Listen, I know you didn’t fully get what you ordered, but I still need you to pay me for all five items. I have employees I need to pay and a consistent overhead that needs to be covered.” Needless to say, such a request would be illogical, and some might even say, unethical.
Which leads me to the second point:
There is no question that fundraising has taking a huge hit. The school dinners, Chinese auctions (we should probably rename that now!) and a myriad of other fundraising events that occur during the year, have all fallen to the wayside. It may take the schools years to recover from these loss of funds.
However, are not the attendees of these fundraisers mostly made up of parents from the student body? Are these not the people you want to keep most happy so that when fundraiser restart, those former attendees don’t have a sour taste in their mouth about how they were treated during a difficult time? I can easily see a parent thinking: You want me to pay $1000 to be a trustee at your dinner, when just last year you charged me excess tuition without an acknowledgment or a ‘thank you’?
While that may be an immature or incorrect thought process for a parent to have, we are all human and want to be treated with dignity. Nobody likes to feel that they were taken advantage of. I am no marketing guru, but the way things are being handled now, seems like it will have other financial ramifications in the long run.
Which leads me to my “two cents” suggestions. There are alternate options that may work. There are more than one way to skin a cat. (Parenthetically, when I was laying in bed sick, my fevered brain thought: What a weird expression! What psycho, novice serial-killer is skinning cats and why is that part of our vernacular? But I was too sick to google it.)
1) Future Rebates: Taking the important need for cash flow into consideration, schools can ask parents to continue to pay the regular rate they are paying for the next two months, but next year, when G-d willing the schools reopen, they will give a tuition break to help recover some of that. This does not need to be dollar for dollar and being that it is spread out over the whole year, the school is still getting their much needed cash flow.
By way of example, if for May and June I am paying the school $6000 ($3000/month) and next year my annual bill is $30,000, they can reduce next year’s tuition bill to $27,000. Which means that next year, instead of receiving $3000 a month, they will get $2700 a month. This allows the school to continue to have a steady cash flow, with only a slight reduction and the parents feels that they recouped some money.
2) Tax Receipts: I spoke with my accountant and I recommend you speak with yours. Normally, one cannot get a tax receipt for money paid to a non-profit, if said non-profit did a service for you. That money cannot count as a donation. However, with the way the service is being reduced now, there is no question that the schools can issue tax receipts towards the over payment part of your tuition. What exactly that amount is, will need to be determined by the professionals. But it will certainly alleviate pressure on tax paying parents and not cost the schools a dime.
3) Communication: To date, not a single one of the five educational institutions I deal with, have initiated a phone call to me, to discuss my financial situation, how tuition is going and even to acknowledge the crisis at hand. The emails and whatsapp, for the most part, either ignore the subject, or worse, ‘politely’ tell the parents: tough luck.
To me, that is the biggest travesty. We ALL want our schools to succeed. Unlike a business, where as a customer, I couldn’t care less one way or another, when it comes to our educational institutions it is different. They are the cornerstone of our community and we all fervently wish for them to flourish. But that is the key word: community. It is a two way street and even if a school cannot or will not rebate any tuition or follow any of the suggestions out there, at least have the decency to pick up a phone and call EVERY family in the student body and check in on them. The long-term goodwill that will garnish, is way more valuable then all the funds you can hope to squeeze out of the government.
This article has certainly gone on a lot longer than expected. But hey, we are in lockdown and what else do we have to do? If there are others that have alternate or better recommendations, I highly recommend that you reach out to your school and have a conversation with them. Or better yet, post it in the comments, so that we can all benefit.
I do want to end with this important point. Despite all the above, I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude, first and foremost to the teachers. I know you find yourself in an unusual situation. Your hard work as well as the efforts you are exerting during these trying times to make the best of it, does not go unnoticed. It is very much appreciated, beyond words.
To the boards of the many schools, I want to also acknowledge and commend you on your hard work. Let’s be real: if it wasn’t for your constant self-sacrifice, we wouldn’t have a school to complain about in the first place! You are selfless and caring individuals, who put the communities’ needs before your own. Hashem should and will reward you many times over, as we say every Shabbos in davening, about those that are oiskim b’tzorchei tzibbur. I hope you can view this article as a friendly critique, primarily focused on generating a solution. Sometimes people are so caught up in the crisis, they don’t get a chance to take a step back for a fresh perspective. That is what farbrengens (and COLlive) is for.
The main thing is that we implore Hashem to not just get rid of this pandemic crisis, but to speedily usher in the time when it will truly be bola hamoves l’netzach, with the coming of Moshiach speedily, Amen!
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 ……)
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.
This is why (+ many others) we should Daven Demand & plead for MOSHIACH NOW!
Such a mentchlachkiet article!!!!
Such a healthy presentation of all sides.
And I run a school.
Thank you for a breath of fresh air
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
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.
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
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.
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 .
Very good points. Constructive criticism.
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 »
And what if the author is busy working so he could feed and shelter his family?
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.
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.
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.
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 »
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 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 »
the last paragraphs should have been first
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 »
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)
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.
“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?
Couldn’t agree more with this article. Spot on and I really hope that the Los Angeles school admin reads this.
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 »
Which school was this? I haven’t received any notices…
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 »
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 »
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.
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.
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 »
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 »
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
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 »
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.
Now that our kids are BH out of school, we remember the school that worked with us, and those that didn’t.
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 »
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
“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.
Very well-written article. Thank you for this. I’m interested in what it will inspire others to write.
Thank you!
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 »
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 »
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 »
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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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!
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 »
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!!
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 »
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?
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.
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 »
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.
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 »
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 »
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.
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)
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.
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.
Every time the student leaves school for a week or whatever the family should ask for refunds?
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 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.
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?
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 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?