Great interview, a lot to learn! I liked the question about parents' finances being investigated by the tuition committee.... This is something that's definitely needs to be changed. Thank you for another excellent topic!
This was another great interview, but there is a lot to say about this topic and I will try to be brief. I think we all understand the reasons private Jewish education is high and Rabbi Glass gave some very great ideas on how schools can lower tuition, raise funds and and save overall costs. However, the biggest problem is that when someone applies for financial assistance from a school, it is belittling, demeaning and not meschluch at all. Honestly, in most cases tuition committees do not work with the parents and still put impossible burdens on them.
I also feel we need transparency (to a certain degree) from our schools. I shud get a list from the school I send to of the budget needs and average costs that go along with it to show me where my tuition is going. It's not about trust, it's about this transparency might be the impetus to finding solutions and making sure money isn't going to unnecessary places or to expensive programs that maybe the parent body can vote on. At the end of the day we are the customer and sadly it's not looked at like that at all. It's pay ur tuition and we don't want ur financial input/advice. This is a fabulous interview. He has some good ideas and so much experience and knowledge.
Biggest problem is we are paying for both the public schools through real estate taxes and separately for the yeshivas. Also, no matter what $ is brought in through foundations, I doubt tuitions will be lowered.
If some people are subsidizing others, why can’t that be a separate charge which is a donation. This way at least there is a tax break versus the current situation you are paying full tuition post tax!
Biggest problem is that the foundations/federations will not give any money to yeshivas that are not transparent. By transparent I mean they dont take the church exemption and publish their 990 and can produce audited financials. What percentage of yeshivas can do this? Most likely only the ones that do receive federation and/or foundation money.
The tuition at my local yeshiva is around $18,000 for a 1st grader. That makes it nearly impossible for a middle class family to pay full tuition for multiple children.
@2:30 Not totally accurate. A cheder here in EY costs over a hundred dollars/mo. But yeshiva ketana and gedola are generally much more. And girls "maslulim" (lit. tracks) for actually making a parnasa? A lot more than that. it depends which track. But yes it's still a LOT less than in the States!
Norfolk vA. We have 3 schools here. Yeshiva high school for boys jewish day school small girl's high school and a hebrew academy style school at the JCC. We make it work. B H❤❤
