 Tuition increase raises parent concern April 30, 2002
The recently announced tuition increase for the 2002-2003 academic year is raising concern among several parents, since it will raise this year’s tuition by nine percent in the Lower School and by 13 percent in the Upper School, one year after the Upper School tuition was raised by eleven percent. President of the Board of Directors Amy Goott said that the main focus of the tuition increase is to narrow the gap between the salaries of JDS and Montgomery County Public and other independent schools. “We need to increase salaries in order to recruit and to be in competition for the best teachers, because it is what makes the school excellent,” she said. Several parents disagree with the tuition increase, and feel that it is excessive. “I think the increase was unreasonable in comparison to other years,” said parent Marion Triner. “I understand that some of the increase is for teachers’ salaries, but I did not get the message that the increase is primarily for teachers,” she said. Director of Upper School Admissions Robin Shapiro thinks that although some parents may be upset they understand that the tuition increase was a necessity. “Obviously they are not thrilled and may have been surprised by the amount,” said Shapiro. Families leaving JDS have not listed the recent tuition increases as their main reason for leaving, according to Shapiro. In order to help some families pay for the increased tuition, more money is being provided in next year’s budget for financial aid. This year’s budget for financial aid was about $2.6 million, but this number has been increased to $2.8 million for the next year, said Chief Operating Officer Susan Brinn Siegel. According to Siegel, the percentage of families on financial aid for the current year is about 22 percent, but the percentage ranges each year from 20 to 25 percent . Head of School Jonathan Cannon said, “financial aid is an integral part of the mission of the school, and we are aware that with the increase in tuition there can be an increase in the number of families who need financial aid.” According to Siegel, the school has an endowment of approximately $4.8 million, of which 79 percent is designated for financial aid. However, only the earnings on the endowment can be spent. According to Principal Rabbi Reuven Greenvald, tuition for next year will be $11,550 for the Lower School, $14,600 for grades seven through eleven and $7,300 for twelfth grade. This is a $950 increase per student, for the Lower School, and a $1,680 increase per student, for grades nine to eleven, from the 2000-2001 year. Tuition accounts for 86 percent of the school’s budget, with an additional 4 percent from fundraising, 3.5 percent from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the rest from other sources, said Siegel. “Currently, we are in the process of actively exploring other ways to increase development as this will help reduce the level of tuition that is required to support certain projects,” said Cannon. “We want the widest population of parents to send their children to JDS by offering an outstanding education with excellent teachers while maintaining a realistic level of tuition.” |
