A group of parents have met with a member of the Bais Rivkah board Sunday to discuss plans for the school’s future, as teachers remain on strike due to back pay owed to them.
Representatives from classes of grades 1-3 met Sunday evening, and were joined by a representative from the board, a parent informed COLlive.
“The board member has asked that we give him until Tuesday for the board to work on their solution,” the parent said. “If Chas veshalom this does not occur, we the parents, commit to withholding tuition until a solution is found to the teachers’ satisfaction.”
The parents in the meeting have committed to working directly with the teachers, paying them directly so that they can teach the students each day. A financial offer has been sent to the staff, she said, and they will inform parents of their decision.
“Please stand with us, as we will only be able to accomplish anything if we stand as a united front,” the parent said. “We will let you know once we hear from the board and from the teachers and what action should follow.”
Dear Administrator,
I am speechless.
Our dear teachers (who are underpaid as it is) will never “be made whole again” after what they’ve been through. Your post illustrates a shocking disrespect toward teachers that obviously exists in your administration. No words.
When the teachers are paid the money owed, they are made whole again. They return to work. But the students cannot be made whole again for the days the school was closed. When the teachers get paid, and eventually they will, a significant amount must be DEDUCTED for each day that they damaged the students. In fact, the longer they strike, the less they are owed! We are deducting a significant amount from each teacher that is striking. Future contracts of BR teachers WILL include a clause that they are FORBIDDEN to strike, like ALL ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS! Did you… Read more »
You think that they don’t realize that there is no out cry from local rabbonim about their future! How in the world will they ever respect rabbonim when they won’t take this matter seriously. As a parent, I’ve already pulled my child out of school. I’ve given up on anything changing. I am the only one responsible for my child’s education, before it is too late.
Look around at todays generation, most don’t respect anything about our way of life and its hard to argue why when we lack proper leadership and role models.
how can school just not open what are working parents to do???? where is the out cry??? were is the people??? we need answers and we need our kids back in school……!!!!!
HELP!!!!!
What they did and are doing is illegal a court will immediately seize all bank accounts until the matter is clarified and finances revealed
Have smaller classes run out of people’s homes and shuls with 1-3 teachers who are privately paid by the parents of those students. If it seems like the administration is the issue, then cut them out of the picture.
I have 2 questions
1. If there is a strike because the teachers are not getting paid in all grades then why is it that only grades 1 to 3 are striking?
2. Why is it being blasted everywhere that the teachers are not getting paid? Why do the kids in Bais Rivkah have to know such things? Its not there fault and they shouldnt be privy to this knowledge.
Dont get me wrong i am not condemning what is being done just the way its being done
What, pray tell, do you think is the board’s agenda?
What’s the percentage of col readers that have children in BR grades 1-3?
Why are the teachers communicating with parents via col?
Similar thing happened in our towns small school, teachers were never paid on time and there was never money for supplies etc. eventually local parents formed a board and demanded an investigation, considering the school got lots of donations from wealthy parents since this was the only chabad school option. What was discovered was that school funds were being shared with another local institution, that was related to the head of the school, that only employed rebbes. They were always paid in full. The administration’s logic was that the Morah’s did not need the money as much as the rebbes.… Read more »
same parents in oholei torah, uly, bnos menachem etc. those that pay there , pay in BR and thos that dont pay there dont pay BR. so why is the other schools not in the same mess?
Thank you for ALL that you done and continue to do ! Thank you for being understanding, accepting ALL students regardless of finial concerns and lastly being affordable as possible!
Uhh, parents can feed their own children.
Each parent can open their home – I’m sure every class has at least one child with a home large enough to accommodate 24 girls in the living and dining rooms.
perhaps you folks should reach out to some of the more well run school systems within the Chabad world, yes many do exist and get some lessons from them on how to operate a school where the board does not have their own agenda, good luck
To 17 you are a brave man to admit your issues in public Obviously you were educated in a Yeshiva without any Limudei Chol, but there are many people who can and do succeed without learning Limudei Chol when young. It’s commendable that you are working to improve the future of your children but why give up on yourself and say “”it’s too late for me”. In these days of Sfirah and right before Peisach Sheini you should still recall what you learned in elementry school. It’s never too late. “Es nishdoh kain farfalen”. No go out there and do… Read more »
Why was this meeting not advertised to all parents who have kids in BR, especially the ones who have kids in the three grades that are closed right now.
Dont blame the parents. they work with blood and sweat to pay tuition. open ur eyes. why dont we ever hear such crisis in Oholei Torah or the other Chinuch Moidos. I have a son in Ohloei Torah. my girls in Bais Rivkah. the dedication, efficiency and respect and FUND RAISING (BR did u ever hear of those 2 last words???) of Oholei Torah is a total inspiration. why does not BR beg from OT to teach them how to run a moisad for heavans sake. BR is a moisad of the Rabeeyim. how sad that this is where it… Read more »
How is paying teachers a few hundred dollars on the side going to fix the financial situation in the school?????
Not only is this a temporary solution, but it will also make it impossible for the teachers to ever get their full salary that was owed to them from last year or this year!!!
Be realistic and look at the full picture!!
How could the problem be tuition if every other boy’s school has the same parent body and doesn’t have this problem? In addition, Beis Rivkah gets more govt money than most boy’s schools. The argument of tuition would be true if the administrators got paid after the teachers who are the bread and butter if the school. The only solution that can work is if all board members stay out of the administrative jobs and act as board members in a volunteer capacity. When a board member is on payroll, the temptation is too great for some people. In any… Read more »
In order to be a self sustaining community we need to start trying to find ways of supporting ourselves. I look at my own family, none of us our educated and all of us siblings live hand to mouth. I’m embarrassed to even write in public, my wife whose a BT has to handle all checks and emails. We made the choice not to perpetuate the cycle of poverty fostered in our community. We made our kids education a priority, their are other viable options in crown heights and nearby. We barely our scraping by because of tuition but this… Read more »
i am a full tuition paid up parent are you?
This seems like a very small temporary step in the right direction, more needs to be done. (a) The current administrartors need to go and pay back all the money they took and squandered for the past 20 plus years. (b) All the teachers should unite and work together to negotiate a plan for getting their back pay and future salaries. (c) All the parents should unite and pay directly to the teachers through their reps. (d) The board should resign or stop charging 12% for their “help” to the school and if they really want to help then do… Read more »
Bais Rivkah has to get it’s fundraising and finances in order. Students, parents and teachers, should not suffer because of the Board of Directors’ inefficiency.
From an aunt of a first grade student at Bais Rivkah
We just figured out that members of the “board” of Bais Rivkah are behind the teachers going on strike! They are seeking power and putting pressure to gain it. The reason they want the strike is to pressure the parents to pay more tuition. quoted from a “board meeting” we the board have to act like natzis when it comes to collecting tuition so the community should respect us as the new board. Be prepared to pay alot more tuition with the new board!
Primary Parents 1-3
By paying teachers directly, who will pay for feeding the students, bus transportation, building maintenance and security, salaries for principals? taxes? utilities?
NOT THAT SIMPLE !!!
And finally, why needs a Board???
I think you need to adjust your attitude! Agree with number 7.
Every single reader of this article knows the one and only solution is the current administrator
BS”D Makes sense withhold tuition and pay the salaries and learn in a building with no lights aircon or heat
All is good and well until the administration locks the doors and says that if you are getting paid directly, go use your own building to teach…
It is important to know that if parents were up to date with their tuition commitments, salaries would be up to date.
Parents deserve a refund for each day the school is not in session due to the strike. You shouldn’t have to pay for goods that are not received.
Keeping the funds away from the administration is the best thing for the school!
Which board?
If one board agrees who says the other board agrees to it?
Will the parents be made to pay the tuition on top of what they pay teachers directly?
Not understanding why everyone is standing quietly by about the teachers from 4-8 who have not been paid either should I be withholding my tuition checks till something is done my daughter has had a sub for the last seven weeks before pesach now the teacher can’t come back because her kids are home and how can teacher come in when they are not being paid makes no sense are they being threatened I don’t believe they come in because they LOVE the job maybe some of them but most of them not so parents from 4-8 what is being… Read more »
How about sending the girls to college which will level the ages at shidduchim thus ending the shidduch crisis and the alumnees will be able to support the school like most educational institutes oh and family’s might actually be able to support themselves…
However, if every teacher, from K-12, gets on board & strikes then you will get results. Until then, it’s going to be more of the same old promises and no results.
Surely what is going on is illegal. Maybe the teachers need to go to a competent Rav who specializes in financial issues & get his advice/psak, because this situation is impossible. I know, I went through the same thing years ago. My friend was told if she quit mid-year she would never get paid what they owed her.
They kept THAT promise!