Update:
The principals of Grades 4-8 have informed that students will have school from 9 – 12 pm.
Teachers will then join an emergency meeting about the school’s financial situation.
There has been no word from the pre 1a or headstart divisions on status of school for Thursday.
———
Following a strike by Bais Rivkah Primary School ahead of Pesach vacation, the new school board has met with them and explained that they have been unable to fulfill their commitment.
The teachers have sent COLlive the following message to parents:
Dear Parents,
We hope you all had an enjoyable Yom tov.
We have met with the new board. They made it clear to us that they stand behind their commitment to Bais Rivkah and would like to move ahead with paying the teachers the money owed.
The board had also explained to us that the current administration is not allowing them to fulfill their commitment.
Unfortunately, we the teachers are forced to suspend school until this is resolved.
Signed,
The Primary Teachers
Grades 1-3
Sorry, but what u said does not make sense to me bc a teacher gets paid the same salary if shse has 7 kids in her class or 25. So even if she has 15 kids in her class that parents pay little tuition it won.t make a diff in paying the teacher. Aderaba, more kids at least a little more money towards the salary. So the answer is To FUNDRAISE WHICH I DOUBT THEY DO like all other schools, dinners, auctions….
How about every person who posts a comment on COL should be charged $5 before, and that way we kill 2 birds with one stone: we’ll be fundraising for BR teachers, AND ppl will finally think before writting comments…………
Why should the staff of grades 4-8 get to join in the benefits? It seems to only be the teachers of 1st-3rd grade putting their jobs at risk, reaching out to the public and taking a stand. Is this what they’re trying to teach our children– Lay low and wait for someone else to do the dirty work for you?
This is crazy that only 1-3 is striking!!! Are teachers in other departments secretly getting paid? Aren’t we one school who should stike together…..
If the school is in such dire straits – and has been for so many years, than how was the administrator able to amass such a large portfolio of houses and properties?
To add insult to injury, why we’re all his grandchildren allowed to attend school tuition free?
On who’s back?
I believe the current administration is much more compeltnat Than you think. Only to their own benefit.
Number 76 sounds great in theory, but the Board are trustees and trustees are those fiscally responsible for the school. Let’s stop the poetic smoke and mirrors and hold the Board accountable. It’s time to mature and grow up.
All teachers should get behind this strike so real change can happen for the Good!
Thank you for your refreshing attitude and understanding that the silence is not because of a lack of respect but precisely because of respect for the Mosad and the parties involved. In general, as proven over and over on this thread, those that know don’t talk and those that talk don’t know. Radio silence is very frustrating, but generally the only respectable way to go. Es vet zain gut, IYH!
Rabbi shemtov is the only reason the school still exists we all need to thank him for all his hard work
I hear their point on the auction. They may feel that the amount of energy they spend on an auction can bring in twice as much if they solicit money directly. However, if the PTA does the auction and the Hanhala isn’t involved I would agree with you. It’s your time not theirs. They should be happy to receive the extra funds as little as it is. Also, ‘taking money from head start funds’ is a pretty silly comment to say. My honest opinion is whoever you spoke to you wasn’t interested in working with you and was trying to… Read more »
As a teacher, I don’t want to strike. I do want to get paid, I do need to get paid. BUT, strike against a Mosad that the Fridiker Rebbe established???? How could I do that? For that same reason, I want to teach here, and continue to teach here, despite the difficult circumstance under which we have been working — since last year. I believe that teaching in Bais Rivka is a source of Brocha for me and my family that I do not want to forego, or make light of. And for that same reason, I have the utmost… Read more »
I Personally told the administration that I would run an auction for them. I was told, and I quote, “it’s small change for us, after all the expenses of an auction, you can only make around $70,000, so it’s not worth it for us. I can take that money from head start funds”
This is exactly what I was told. So please don’t preach about doing our part to help. Help is not wanted. Every year I fill out all those volunteer papers, and I have NEVER once been called (aside from PTA to be a class mother)
tuition costs on you then don’t complain if they can’t keep the doors open two times a year for indefinite periods. Except the facts! The school, like everything else can’t run on air. If you do pay tuition, try to find a way to help those who can’t. And those who can’t should possibly try to fund raise at least for their own child’s tuition. This has been done successfully at other schools for many years why not BR? Let them either come into the school in and use a room designated for parents to make calls for donations from… Read more »
School Board member, I find the current situation appalling. The school I serve on as board member enforces a minimum tuition policy, has a school executive director hired by the Board of directors to raise funds and the Board members do their best to assist with their individual contributions and arranging school fundraisers. BR administration and Board of directors need some mediation to break the impasse. Chabad has several successful out of town school administrators who should be hired as mediators such as Rabbi Rosenfeld from Pittsburgh, Rabbi Shur from Toronto, Rabbi Wolfe from Chicago as well as some others.… Read more »
I agree with those who are saying this isn’t the way to go.. parents have the right to be upset, but don’t blame anyone till you help yourself. We are definitely questioning this and its leading to lack of respect for our school. BR has at least 1,200 girls’ education in their hands .. They are the next generation!! Who will teach them that what is going on is wrong, if parents are just full of anger and posting comments on col.. parents need to be working TOGETHER with the school to see how this can be fixed.. don’t we… Read more »
If the other teachers are not getting paid from the other grades they should stand together with the teachers that are striking and show there support, unless they are getting paid
I support the board and admin for everything they have done and continue to do for CH . For being understanding and affordable!
they can then build a new and better school.
I don’t send my kids to Beis Rivkah, and I feel for all you parents that do, but it is easy to blame the school… Beis Rivkah accept every single child regardless of tuition. In addition, most children do not pay $10,000 or even $8,000 which is the amount that each child cost the school. There are two main issues. (1) 95% of the parents do not pay enough to cover their child’s tuition (even parents who pay a lot still aren’t paying the cost of their child’s tuition (2) the fundraising isn’t enough to cover the shortfall. It is… Read more »
someone told me but im not 100 percent sure, wait till you get an official email about it
For all those telling us to stop complaining and help:
If we knew exactly what the problem was, we’d be happy to. You may have noticed that we donated to their matching campaign, even though we don’t go to school there.
But if there is no transparency, we can’t help. Do you want us to mop floors? If you want us to help with the finances, you need to let us see what’s going on. Do you need an extra $50k per month? A one time donation of $2 million? Cheaper janitors? An energy audit? What will solve the problem?
You as a Beis Rivkah student need to go to school my daughter like you needs to do a school project which she does not want to do and she hopes for school cancelation but I told her you had 3 weeks of vaction so don’t ask for more you are going to school
then high school needs to strike as well, otherwise there wont be any babysitter, what should the moms do
Why is it a board’s job to pay teachers? Does the board also post the electric bill, or the copier rental?
plzzzzzzzzzzz cancel school at once!!!!!! it would be a major help
and everything is possibly only lashon hora, then report this to the government officials ( dept. of education etc.) and demand an audit. Then there will be no doubts, questions or pashut lashon hora. We will be privy to the facts and then know how to proceed. There’s too much guessing at present.
You should also close tomorrow! Especially since out of towners won’t be there!
I stand by what I wrote! I will defend BR until the end! I don’t know of a single family in all the years I’ve lived here who told me that their child isn’t accepted or can’t continue with BR due to financial circumstances!
The New Board is all smoke and mirrors. Either they should fundraise like all Boards or resign immediately They need to stop the blame game. It’s time to hold the Board accountable.
That the Administration have many personal properties? One in particular owns massive amounts of real estate, including PARKING LOTS! Every child and grandchild has a house (probably bought outright.) Do some digging under their names, everything is public record. Then ask HOW they live so well. And now my grandchildren are home and my children have to figure out what to do about work. I can’t help, I live in another state. Remember that this will all happen again after Tishrei. It has been happening for years, Tishrei & Pesach. The teachers as a whole have to refuse to go… Read more »
there is for sure no school for grades 4-8???
All Yeshivas must be supported by the government just like the public schools are. Jews pay as much taxes as any other race/nationality and yet Yeshivas are not free for our kids. Whereas the taxes that we do pay do support and provide free education for all the other kids. Here might be a clear resolution for this problem.
I agree with comment 43, instead of foolish people criticizing, they should get involved and try to help! Some very ignorant comments.
Yes they truly ARE savvy business men.
HOWEVER, the old administration is a step ahead of them.
The true isue now is that the new board just found out that they are legally NOT an official board.
The old administration pulled a fast curvball at them.
The only way for them to get there money back. (yes at 12.3%) will be to foreclose the property that was ment for the schools expansion.
At the end of the day, the sad fact is that the students just got doubly screwed ……….
As far as I know, he brings in more than $2 million per year. Aside for the building, he brought in over $50 Million dollars to Beis Rivkah since he was appointed by Rabbi Hodakov to run the school.
hi all may we stop speculating and spreading un needed hate and lashon hora we dont know what is going exactly. all we know is the teachers are NOT getting paid and that is it all this other stuff is pure lashon hora the board did NOt issue a statement the administration did NOT issue a statement rabbi shemtov did NOT issue a statment so all we can do is call them all and ask them to issue one the public has a right to know but not to be here on line and hear ll this lashon hora going… Read more »
Time to send kids out of ch to school, there are other options out there.
“BR has been the most generous in accepting EVERONE regardless of finincial ability! They were generous and understanding of YOUR situation, giving parents the benefits of the doubt can’t you in turn do the same for them?” Yes, they’ve been generous. They’ve been generous and understanding on the teachers’ cheshban. Generous and understand and accepting to everyone but their employees, while the teachers bear the burden of Beis Rivkah’s so called”generosity.” Do you call that generous? I, too, could be generous when it’s not my own resources I’m disbursing. “Generosity” and “mercy” based on someone else’s cheshban is just the… Read more »
You are paying tuition to educate your kids. if the current school is not capable of doing so, find someone else who is. Who says BR has to be the only game in town?
You should also close tomorrow! Especially since out of towners won’t be there!
It seems from the continuos comments over the years no one ever knows what’s actually going on at the school. More parents need to take up an active role in the school. I have zero stake in the school other than the fact that my family has taught there and Some friends/family attend school there. Over the years I’ve heard nothing but complaints, social media bashing of teachers or administration but no action on anyone’s part. It’s easy to complain and get angry. It’s another thing to offer to help. Help the school, volunteer in any which way now it… Read more »
Why don’t the parents of all grades protest in front of school and demand answers. Most people I’ve heard say there’s not much that can be done and this is the status quo but that doesn’t help the teachers or the kids.
Or speak with your wallets and change schools, home school etc. only drastic measures will change this situation.
stop apologizing and defending the board. if they are so smart and savvy as you say why did they not put some safeguards in place when the original $1 MIL was raised. And if they “fronted” their own $2 MIL then they are bigger fools than we are to trust the OLD admin with that kind of money. It’s poshut, they should have put those two Administrators on unpaid leave for a few months and then you can clearly see where the black hole of disappearing money is. (or is it possible that the board wants the school to fail… Read more »
Why?
When Rabbbonim are impotent the the Kahal looks lie CH
The Rebbe wanted Rabbonim supported Rabbonim
The Rabbonim not only fail the Kahal they fail the Rebbe
as a grandparent of a B.R. student, the school can pay her teacher or they can forget ever receiving another penny from me!
lets just not forget that he drops over 2 million dollars each year on the school, as he has done for the last 25+ year. hatzlacha rabba rabbi shemtov
GRADES 4-8 ALSO STRIKING
there are 800-900 parents in BR and only a hand full are involved, everyone else just yells and screams, roll up your sleeves get involved, give up hundreds of hrs for the school and then we will have a school that we deserve.
There are two sides to every story she’s right!
this is all so tragic and sad. Not only is this a dysfunctional school but it seems a significant part of our community is also. This has been going on for so long, with no resolution in sight. Surely if there are capable people here they should have stepped forward and become involved by now? Nothing is really secret with this anymore, it’s public knowledge actually.
Yes exactly, the new board is comprised of smart and savvy businessmen, that’s why they where chosen, and they know what will happen to any money that they donate, it will fall into the big black hole hole that is the current administration . it’s also important to point out that while you sit here on collive, they have donated countless hours and effort since they where appointed, they just know better than to throw money away. That is the same reason why they didn’t put any effort into fundraising, they want to be able to make sure that the… Read more »
Let’s see..we have a administration who’s taking Harvard degreees salaries and year after year the school is running dysfunctional and a new board who are only giving their time and money with no pay… so who should we blame ??
It’s time to start naming the people who have been underperforming for years. The admin must step down. If they refuse call for a financial audit…. there will likely be prison time for stealing federal funds……
It’s also times for the arms behind the scenes to come to light. Step down or face the audit.
Let’s see if CH finally is able to do what is nessesary. Otherwise the problem will just continue and we as a community will deteriorate without the will to act.
“Silence is like admitting”
The teachers should be paid, period. The Rabbonim can’t do anything any more than Hatzolah can do something about this. I highly doubt that the board is “discouraging” donations and some of the other nonsense on this thread. There was a policy not to print comments on the other threads. Seems like it was a wise one.
I want to go back to work.
I’m not sure what interest rate the board may or may not be charging. Nor do I think do you.
However I am sure that the new board fronted over $2.000.000 TWO MILLION dollars.
Without having any say or control over how the money is being used, the new board has zero control as of now.
Once they do you can be sure change will happen.
Based on the emanating information what your saying makes the most sense! I would venture the “administration does not let us pay the teachers” reasoning is either because the administration is refusing to take more high interest loans or is equally guilty in not paying these loans (Which should have never been taken) back in the first place. Either way if this is the case both the administration and the board should be investigated for fraud and step down immediately! If they refuse to do so then further legal action should be persuade until our children can go back to… Read more »
If these allegations are true how come SOMEONE lay or Rabbinic does not come out publicly and decry this abuse of power mostly for personal gain
Heter Iska?
This gets worse and worse and all big wigs say nothing
Speak about Moshiach
Speak about the Rebbe
Is it not a disgrace?
No one really cares truthfully
Yechi is empty without action
I also want to put money at 12.3% secured by real estate
Who do I have to contact ?
The school is disfinctional clearly. There are 2 issues:
1) the administration. Taking their huge salaries before paying staff.
2) as a result of this disfunction many parents aren’t paying any tuition at all and as a result of that the school is lacking funds.
If the old admin had an ounce of integrity they would step down immediately.
Where did the million dollars go?
Other graders are not either getting paid. Grade 1-3 were just all in it together to go on strike
Do you know that:
A. The new “board” didn’t donate one dime to the school?
B. That they lent 1 million dollars at 12.3% per year?
C. That they already put a lien on the other properties (which were donated for expansion), and come years end they will foreclose on these properties for their interest?
D. That they have badmouthed the current administration aND encouraged parents not to pay or donate money?
there is data missing
before the new board makes vague allegations,
does anyone know that none of them have actually donated any money,
but they made loans to the school secured by buildings at 12 percent a year,
how nice
So if evidently the “problem” is the ADMINISTRATORS – then they must step down.
It’s about time they hire new administrators
How are teachers for other grades getting paid (assuming that they are). If they are not, why dont they join with their fellow teachers?
BR has been the most generous in accepting EVERONE regardless of finincial ability! They were generous and understanding of YOUR situation, giving parents the benefits of the doubt can’t you in turn do the same for them?
The bottom line is that the teachers need to be paid. Unfortunately, the administration does not seem to be transparent. If they were transparent, and showed income, expenses etc.. we could understand the source of the problem. But them bottom line is that the teachers must be paid. They have to put food on the table, pay rent, pay for childcare etc.. regardless of the underlying factors. If the school is not financially viable, then something must be done.
the administration has the a strong support from the parents who don’t pay tuition 😉
It isn’t fair for people to formulate and opinion based on a very vague letter published.
Why is this only grades 1-3? Are teachers from other grades being paid on time?
The letter is vague, seems like. “Half story”
every single family should go to the school with their kids and demand an explanation!! The parents should band together and strike!
time to open new schools , the community is too large and the school too big to cope with the amount of students and faculty . more schools with less students , teachers and over heads is the way forward !
this current problem is never going to be resolved long term!
ALL teachers should strike, not just grades 1-3. Doesn’t this affect every division, or is the HS getting paid? I’m not a BR teacher or a teacher anywhere but you can be very sure if I wasn’t getting paid and was basically lied to, I wouldn’t be working. The Hanhala (every week a new bunch of incompetent men) blame everyone especially the old regime. It reminds me of Obama blaming Bush for every crisis after 8 years! Dear teachers, my family is affected by the strike – and I don’t care! The only way to end this farce is to… Read more »
What good is the Board if they can’t remove the old fat cats out of the picture? The “current administration” should be removed immediately and investigated for improper use of the moisad money.
Please don’t post half story’s ! Are you saying the administration is stopping you from paying the teachers? I don’t believe that!!!
How is this not pure gezeilah?
S”A is clear about paying workers
What are the Rabonei HaShechuna doing about this
It is not comprehensible how the Administration believes it has the right to stop teachers’ wages being paid
Is this the Shechuna of which we are so proud?
What will the askonim the Vaad Rabbonim Chabad HaOlami
Just plain Shechuna dwellers do about this?
To what level have we sunk?
All the teachers should stand United! The rebbe would be furious that this is going on!!! Teachers MUST be paid on time !!! All teachers should strike for once and for all and let change in the school begin!!!
It’s time for some real action for Starters the so. Allergies board seems useless The Rabbonim need to step in & remove the ones who are causing this constant issue how .Any years has this been going on It’s time for someone or a group to stand up & say enough. Teachers are human beings have families & have to be paid. If the administrator s won’t do what they should remove them by force whetherthru Bais c n or if need be the courts education is far too Important that we who stand in the way are nothing much… Read more »
The average person can’t do much. But you can call the school. Call 718-735-0400, the financial offfice and demand answers. Every person call every couple of hours. Call and press for every extension