Economic Realities and The Need for Action.

Tomorrow night, the Kadima Board of Trustees will be holding an incredibly exciting and critical meeting regarding its Community Tuition Partnership. It is important for all parents to attend this meeting.

It is well established that economic downturns--especially bad ones like the present one--affect Jewish Day Schools. Way back in 2003 during the last recession--which was nothing like the present one in terms of severity--a study was done by the Avi Chai Foundation concerning the affect of the economic downturn on Jewish Day Schools. The study concluded that:

"It is quite clear that for most day schools, the current economic downturn has had
a pronounced adverse impact, affecting them in a variety of ways: enrollment,
tuition arrearages, scholarship applications, fundraising, and staffing capabilities.
It has also affected the families of day school students, among whom there are
clearly a number who are experiencing stress. Moreover, many of the consequences
of the situation are still unfolding. There is reason to believe that there may
be an even greater negative impact in the school year that has just opened on
school finances and enrollment. "

The Kadima Board of Trustees recognizes this reality. And the Board stands ready to try to do something about it. Tomorrow's meeting will be the first step in this plan. It is important that all members of the Kadima community attend this meeting.