Let’s try to figure this out. How much more does it cost to have 22 kids in a class than 20? The Rebbe/teacher gets paid the same. The mortgage is the same. The electric, gas, utilities are the same. Most of the books are from the Board of Ed or the Parents pay for, so what exactly costs more?
OK, I understand when the class gets too big and it needs to be split and another set of teachers need to be hired or another building needs to be rented. But as long as there is room in the class there is no reason to turn a child away especially if the yeshiva is working with the community and the community will work with the Yeshiva. I think that is the biggest problem today and that is why so many yeshivas are not being supported by the community. Each yeshiva is autonomous and doesn’t have to answer to anyone and in many cases there is no one to talk to when you have a problem. The answer given to most parents is they can take their child out if they are not happy. If the Rosh and administration rules the parent body and the neighborhood instead of working with the local Rabbonim and the parents for the success of the children then the community is not likely to support the school. WE had a school like that in our community. The Rabbonim complained that the 2 principals did not take any direction and did not care what the local Rabbonim had to say and only took direction from their own Rav who didn’t live in the community. Needless to say the school closed.