Dear Parents and Guardians,
It seems an understatement to say that these are interesting and challenging times. The potential global and local impact of current measures is still emerging. One gets the sense from daily news, with expert commentary, that this will likely have a deep and long-lasting impact. Despite all of this I hope this email finds you and your family healthy.
Following the announcement on Friday of the extension of school closures in New York State until at least April 14, I am writing to update you on the impacts that Covid-19 closures are beginning to have on the school and the community.
Our faculty and staff, like most parents, are sheltering at home and working online when possible. Zoom meetings are, for the most part, allowing many of us to continue to meet, plan, and work together as needed. In addition to caring for their own families, lead teachers and many of the subject teachers are also preparing distance learning materials. Grades 6 – 12 have online lessons. Staying in touch with students and parents and offering as much support as possible during this time has been our priority. Who could have guessed 2 or 3 months ago that this is what would be required of us?
On reflection, I want to share how impressive it is that in so short a time, our teachers have implemented a very different approach to teaching and learning. This has required innovation in Waldorf pedagogy and the use of methods that are new to their expertise. This speaks volumes to the amazing level of ingenuity our faculty has, as well as to their commitment to their students and school community. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge this dedication and creativity, with sincere thanks to all of the faculty and staff.
We are also acutely aware and appreciative of the time and effort that you, as parents, are putting in to support your children with distance learning. We are grateful for your commitment in joining with us to support your children’s education and work through the difficulties of this current paradigm.
The significant economic impact resulting from the sudden state closure of many services and small businesses is very real. Job layoffs are affecting families in our community. We understand that this is tremendously challenging for many. If you are facing financial hardship please reach out to
Irene Davis
who is working with families to set up alternate payment arrangements.
As you may expect, financial implications of this disruption impact our school in many ways. Drop in tuition revenue, uncertainty regarding next year’s enrollment, and difficulty in achieving the Annual Fund target of $100,000 are now added to an operating budget for this year that was already stretched. Hawthorne Valley School experienced significant financial impact from the decrease in enrollment at the start of the school year, due to the repeal of religious exemption for vaccinations in NYS in June 2019. This has resulted in the school not having the fiscal reserves needed to easily negotiate the Covid-19 impact.
Our school depends on tuition as the main source of revenue to fund all operational expenses; it is the financial lifeblood of the school and enables us to pay our teachers’ salaries. Put frankly, we will not be able to pay salaries without tuition payments continuing. Therefore, we currently need to hold everyone to their tuition contract for the current school year and hope that as many of you as possible will be able to continue your regular tuition payments.
The above context has required school leadership to take immediate contingency measures in order to reduce costs in as many areas as possible, whilst keeping the distance learning program going for as long as needed. This includes planning for the remainder of the school year (assuming the school opens at some point prior to early June), as well as resourceful budgeting for next year. So far, the contingency measures agreed by the school and the HVA leadership teams include: reducing all non-essential supply purchasing, temporarily laying off all part-time hourly paid employees with two week’s severance pay, and implementing an across-the-board 15% salary reduction for all salaried employees, starting April 1
st
, for the remainder of the fiscal year. These are very difficult, but sadly necessary, decisions in light of how the current disruption is impacting the school community.
HVA and the school remain hopeful that the Federal Government’s stimulus plans might improve the school’s and individual parents’ fiscal situation in some way. Please be assured that HVA and the school are following the emerging guidance closely and taking advice on how best to access whatever is realistically available to support independent schools and not-for-profit organizations.
I am sorry to be the bearer of challenging news. The balancing act during these times is, on one hand to take the actions needed to responsibly meet this reality, and on the other hand, to carry the best interests and intentions for the whole organization/community with hope.
Thank you for your understanding and support. We will continue to keep you updated about the state of the school as best we can as the Covid-19 situation unfolds over the coming weeks and months.
With gratitude and best wishes for the gift of good health.
