Home › Forums › Yeshiva / School / College / Education Issues › Is Bais Yaakov BP before closing?
- This topic has 67 replies, 29 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by jewish source.
-
AuthorPosts
-
February 7, 2011 1:16 pm at 1:16 pm #594832mom24Member
Rabbi Shapiro has left Bais Yaakov, rumors say the teacher’s salaries are going to be cut in half. dose that mean Bais Yaakov is coming to an end?
February 7, 2011 2:59 pm at 2:59 pm #737656OfcourseMemberI think that as long as Rabbi Ehrenreich is there, they’ll survive. He’s been there since the 1950’s bli ayin hora. He is Bais Yaakov!
Did Rabbi Shapiro leave to go to another school?
February 7, 2011 3:41 pm at 3:41 pm #737657aries2756ParticipantAlthough it is NOT my alma-mater I can’t imagine the neighborhood/community allowing it to close. it is an institution not just a school. It is a huge part of BP history, it would be a true bizayon of the graduates of the school who number in the thousands and probably tens of thousands will stand by and allow it to close. That is truly a sad commentary on today’s society.
February 7, 2011 3:46 pm at 3:46 pm #737658Why Do I Even BotherMemberHe left due to the new Board that was brought in last year making it impossible to work there. The teachers salaries probably will be cut in half along with many of them let go. This how a Board who knows nothing about running a school is “saving the school”.
Being that he was one of the last people putting in all his effort to actually get the teachers paid on time and keep the school running, I would say good luck to BYBP now.
I heard that many parents will be pulling their kids next year because of this Board.
Much Hatzlocha to Rabbi Shapiro. Any institution would be lucky to have him bring his 40+ years of experience there.
February 7, 2011 3:54 pm at 3:54 pm #737659eclipseMemberStrong taynos on their handling of crucial family matters,not surprised running into problems of their own.
February 7, 2011 3:56 pm at 3:56 pm #737660PosterMemberI heard they already got a replacement for him…
February 7, 2011 4:12 pm at 4:12 pm #737661always hereParticipantI am forever grateful to BYBPHS for accepting my youngest daughter when all the other high schools wouldn’t because she was not a ‘top’ student. <B’s weren’t acceptable?!?!> (her elementary school’s HS had closed down.) she flourished there academically, thanks to the Ichud program.. altho’ she felt veryy stigmatized to be in it.
and yes, I try to “put my money where my mouth is.” hakoras hatov.
February 7, 2011 4:12 pm at 4:12 pm #737662OfcourseMemberOn the topic of a changing Boro Park, how long will Boro Park need a Bais Yaakov thats that big?
Will Boro Park have any Litvish chldren in 20 years?
The young Litvish crowd left to Flatbush or Lakewood. The Kensington Litvish and the BP quasi-Chassidish crowd will not be able to fill up a big Bais Yaakov. Who are we kidding?
February 7, 2011 4:34 pm at 4:34 pm #737663bptParticipant” how long will Boro Park need a Bais Yaakov thats that big? “
Excellent point. What will likley happen is the strong arm of chassidus will step up to the plate, shower the place with fresh $ and fresh ideas, and the school wil go forward.
The “existing” BYOB girls (and staff) will either conform to the “new” rules of the game, or move on.
I should know. I was faced with the same choice, and chose to play be the new rules of the BP game. Those of us who would not, moved on.
Don’t have to like it.. you just have to accept it.
$ and clout talks, and all else walks.
February 7, 2011 4:51 pm at 4:51 pm #737664nishtdayngesheftParticipantAlwaysHere,
Your’s is a very moving story, however this story is not about BYBPHS. The two schools are unrelated.
February 7, 2011 4:52 pm at 4:52 pm #737665always hereParticipantoh, ok– thank you! (maybe it should be removed, Mod?)
February 7, 2011 4:59 pm at 4:59 pm #737666Why I BotherMemberThe school has been struck a huge blow by the resignation of the beloved Rabbi Shapiro. The school is now under the control of a vicious young inexperienced board that is running the school into the ground. The school has been run effectively for 40+ years with Rabbi Shapiro and Rabbi Ehrenreich at the helm. The new board led by the infamous R. Wolf is determined to destroy the school and strip it of its former glory. Teachers that have taught there for years have been insulted and degraded by the new vicious board. The only concern of this new board is money, money and the Chinuch of our daughters goes out the window.
February 7, 2011 5:00 pm at 5:00 pm #737667PosterMemberbpt, I think it has nothing to do with $$$. BP is becoming more and more chasidish, due to the litvish crowd moving to lkwd, monsey etc. Each Chasidus has its own school. Bobov, Bais Brocha etc. For those that are chasidish but dont belong to a specific chasidus, you have Bais Sura, Tomer Devora, Gan Yisroel. A communal school like BYBP now belongs in Lakewood. (just like it started in Williamsburg, but lost its place there so moved to BP, the BP era for a BY type school is just about over…)
February 7, 2011 5:02 pm at 5:02 pm #737668OfcourseMemberYes, bpt, every day (Im Litvish) I wonder what Im doing in BP. There are about 5 Litvish Minyanim in the whole (formerly Litvish) BP, and they are shrinking daily. I cant see BP reversing and becoming more Litvish. Aint happening.
February 7, 2011 5:03 pm at 5:03 pm #737669Why I BotherMemberNow that Rabbi Shapiro is not at the helm of the school, I am taking my daughters out for next year. I do not trust the chinuch of my daughters with a group of young and inexperienced people.
February 7, 2011 5:05 pm at 5:05 pm #737670Sing SongMemberI was totally shocked by this news! If I am correct, I think Rabbi Shapiro has been running BYBP for about 30 years. I am sure that he shows the same care and devotion with each parent and child as he does with my kids that are there now.
It was always a pleasure dealing with him and he is definitely irreplaceable.
My wife and I have already begun looking into other schools to send our children to next year. If a school can manage to lose its most valuable asset, that is not the place for my children.
Shame on the Board of BYBP and anyone else who was involved with causing him to make this decision to leave.
February 7, 2011 5:06 pm at 5:06 pm #737671Why I BotherMemberMOM 24
I truly believe this is the end of our beloved BYBP.
do you know any good schools I can send my daughters for next year?
February 7, 2011 5:12 pm at 5:12 pm #737672gavra_at_workParticipantBoruch Hashem he probably saw the handwriting on the wall.
Slashing salaries in half is probably required to pay bills. One of the Chassidish schools should take it over.
February 7, 2011 5:23 pm at 5:23 pm #737673OfcourseMemberSing Song, “Shame on the Board of BYBP and anyone else who was involved with causing him to make this decision to leave”.
By and large, the wealthy former BYBP parents are no more! They were replaced by the middle income, if that, Kensington Litvish and quasi-Chassidish. In over 30 years R’ Shapiro had some wage increases, so if it was a matter of holding on to multiple teachers a year (so that class size wouldnt be outrgeously high), and letting him go, thats what was decided. It’s the MONEY, honey!
Would you want your child in a class of 50+ kids? Can you help pay his salary? If someone would have stepped forward and offered to pay, he’d have stayed.
February 7, 2011 5:32 pm at 5:32 pm #737674eclipseMemberBais Yaakov Of The Lower East Side is the best school I know of.Worth the commute.
February 7, 2011 5:34 pm at 5:34 pm #737675commonsenseParticipantto all you knockers who are pulling your kids out of bybp, where are you putting them?! It’s hard to get into many of the other schools. Bybp still has 6 classes of approx. 30 kids in a grade with a full preschool feeding into the elementary school ba”h. Bybp is a community school with a mandate to accept all frum girls. Instead of rushing to pull your kids out why don’t you find out how to help. Maybe if parents would work on raising money as opposed to complaining about every penny the school requests things would be different.
February 7, 2011 5:48 pm at 5:48 pm #737676mom24MemberWhy I Bother
I have the same question, there are not to many good schools out there in Brooklyn, that have a real good chinuch with real good families. I think the solution is to move to Lakewood, they have alot of good schools with good families. on the other thought there are so many politics there, I don’t know if I want that either. bottom line there is no perfect solution
February 7, 2011 5:50 pm at 5:50 pm #737677athleteParticipantThe teachers of the school encouraged a new inexperienced board to look into financial difficulties. Their inexperience has led them to begin the downfall of the best run school in Brooklyn. Rabbi Shapiro’s leaving is just the beginning of their mistakes. He knew how to run a school. Now these same teachers will probably see their salaries cut and many will not have jobs. Good Luck to the new board.
February 7, 2011 5:51 pm at 5:51 pm #737678Why I BotherMemberIn reply to Of Course,
Assuming you are somehow involved, How about the calculation of the many gains the school would have benefited by having someone as experienced as Rabbi Shapiro is running the school. Did you ever take into the consideration the many vouchers and scholarships he singlehandedly attained for the schools benefit. Did you even consider the knowledge he posses of the in and out of the school and understanding of parents and their troubles. Was it your genius idea to refuse a grant of millions of dollars attained by the hard work of Rabbi Shapiro that would have bailed the school out of financial distress. I guess as long as your chutzpahdig and inexperienced mouth along with R. Wolf has a say in the school matters, BYBP is a disaster waiting to happen.
February 7, 2011 5:59 pm at 5:59 pm #737679Worried ParentMemberWhy are sitting on the side and allowing this to happen to our BYBP.
Why cant we all as parents of daughters in BYBP beg Rabbi Shapiro to come back and return the school to normalcy. Why do we have to let our school be run by young know-nothing individuals. I would not want to be in Rabbi Ehrenreichs shoes right now, there probably working behind his back to have him replaced as we speak!!!!!
MODERATORS NOTE: Our question is, why you AND your husband feel the need to sign up with multiple usernames to prove your points?
February 7, 2011 5:59 pm at 5:59 pm #737680Sing SongMemberCommon Sense, do you see anywhere here people complaining about BYBP asking for money?? I think you are missing the boat on this post. You say that we should “find out how to help”. You cant help a ship that just caused its captain to jump overboard.
Besides for being that great and caring person we all know Rabbi Shapiro is, he was also personally responsible for bringing in millions of dollars in programs and donations. Just the voucher program alone which he brought to the school has brought in over 30-40 million dollars over the years.
And to Of Course, seriously??
February 7, 2011 6:05 pm at 6:05 pm #737681OfcourseMemberWhy I Bother, Im out of the school for a while and have zero connection, but if you can find 10 people who are willing to share the cost of his salary, you think he wouldnt happily come back? He loved his job.
If “parents in the know” like yourself, knew what was in store for the school if he leaves, why didnt they brainstorm and pay his salary? Why cry over spilled milk? Raise the funds!
February 7, 2011 6:06 pm at 6:06 pm #737682Why I BotherMemberI could not agree more. I beg for BYBP parents to call the offices of the school and urge them to remove Reuven Wolf from the school. Urge them to return the school to its glorious past and not allow a few individuals who want their names in the newspapers to ruin our beloved school.
MODERATORS NOTE: If you want to have a conversation with your wife, feel free to do it in person, not here using multiple user names.
February 7, 2011 6:12 pm at 6:12 pm #737683CAZMemberAll the people in BP complain about the tuition. Do they know what it is like in the rest of the world? Full tuition is less than $5k in BYBP. And most are not paying close.
If full tuition in my schools were $5k, I would be very happy; but it is not a sustainable amount.
BYBP built a new building at the height of the boom. Economy hits, the demographics change in BP, and it is even harder to collect money during the recession.
I do not envy the person who is given the job to try to right this ship.
It is not easy to take over without any form of transition between the old captain and the new captain.
February 7, 2011 6:12 pm at 6:12 pm #737684gavra_at_workParticipantTo those who want the school to run the way they want:
As I have said before, if you show them the money, they will follow. Feel bad that you don’t have it, not that those who actually pay the bills do what thye think is best.
February 7, 2011 6:34 pm at 6:34 pm #737685musicoutletMemberAs long as mechanchim will not have a say on the chinuch in any school then schools will go down the drain. No plumber in the world will be able to fix this big pipe that just burst.
Many people at Bais Yakov had their salaries slashed and some were fired but the one person that is the focus in any conversation from the many people who left,forced out,retired,fired, or resigned is Rabbi Shapiro. The reason why everyone is so focused on Rabbi Shapiro is because he is loved and any parent of the bais yakov knows that he stood up for parents and teachers and always did the right thing for the school.
Rabbi Shapiro is the scape goat for the schools problem and does the board really eblieve they would keep this quiet and nobody would know that Rabbi Shapiro was forced out?
The chutzpah for the board to embarass Rabbi Shapiro and the parent body is not forgiveable. Wether we agree with the decision or not is it right for the board to do this in middle of the year?
Did the board ask a shailoh to any of our esteemd gedolim in eretz yisroel? the answer is no. There are a few board members and i only spoke to one and that one person admitted to me the decision was made amongst themselves.
How about bais yakov cutting the waste and a cut for some salaries but to slash everything in half does not make sense. if someones salary is 500,000 a year and it’s cut 50% nobody would argue about it. What do people think most of the people effected are making a year already?
A teacher told me her salary was cut from 10,000 a year to 5,000 a year. How does anyone expect our kids to learn with teachers that are not paid,not experienced and the morale is terrible? Can someone explain the logic with what these board members are doing?
I was also told by this board member that next year some classes will have 40 to 45 kids in a class. I hope this was a joke but if this is what bais yakov will do to the parent body I would rather have my kids in the nearest public school then put up with this garbage.
Just to let everyone know, Rabbi Shapiro was the only administrator in New York City that pushed to accept kids that no other yeshiva wanted and not because there was anything wrong with these kids. The bottom line is Rabbi Shapiro SAVED OUR kids while other jerks create kids at risk. We are losing a mentch and a great honest and full of integrity type of person.
Shame on the board. Shame on all of you.
If the board thinks this issue will just go away let me warn you that the truth will come out and your not going to like it. We won’t farshmutz anyone but we will put the facts out and your not going to like it because it will be the TRUTH.
February 7, 2011 6:35 pm at 6:35 pm #737686mom 88MemberI am Shocked!!!
I went to BYBP today to pick my daughters up early from school, and as usual I pass by R
Shapiros office to say hi. He has been so wonderful to me and my daughters. As I passed by his office I noticed the door closed and locked, so I asked one of the secretaries where is Rabbi Shapiro? and I received the saddest news Iv
e heard in a while that Rabbi Shapiro chose to resign. I was crestfallen, who can possibly replace such an individual? I am going to miss stopping by his office to say hello and thank him for all he has done for my family.February 7, 2011 6:40 pm at 6:40 pm #737687SJSinNYCMemberIs Rabbi Shapiro being paid chodesh l’shana?
If Rabbi Shapiro is so beloved, why aren’t parents doing more to pay more in tuition, rather than rely on scholarships?
February 7, 2011 6:43 pm at 6:43 pm #737688Why I BotherMemberDear Moderator,
I am deeply offended and insulted by your comments. I have no relation to any other username. I would like an apology and for future considerations pleases keep your comments off the thread and address me privately.
Are you giving us permission to post both of your email addresses…same ip….same last name…and the rest of the evidence…? Perhaps you should save yourself ahead of the bizyonos
February 7, 2011 6:45 pm at 6:45 pm #737689OfcourseMemberI have zero connection to Wolf, but do you think that he has something against Rabbi Shapiro or is looking to be on everyone’s hit list? How would all those here deal with the ONE problem the school has- NO MONEY? Its NOT Wolf and its NOT Shapiro. Which business can survive with NO MONEY? By the way this was predicted years ago and now aggravated by a bad economy. A handful of millionaires cant hold up a Goliath of a school.
Read my lips:
N O~~~~M O N E Y !!!
February 7, 2011 6:47 pm at 6:47 pm #737690gavra_at_workParticipantWIB:
It is their forum, their rules, as much as I don’t like some of their decisions.
Mom88: How much do you pay in tuition for your daughter?
February 7, 2011 6:48 pm at 6:48 pm #737691John DoeMemberHey!!!! Anyone remember this mailbag on YWN not too long ago?! http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=70046
February 7, 2011 6:49 pm at 6:49 pm #737692gavra_at_workParticipantDid the board ask a shailoh to any of our esteemd gedolim in eretz yisroel?
Like R’ Chaim really knows about & cares about the politics of a school in Chutz. If you have an agenda….
Put your money where your mouth is!
February 7, 2011 6:54 pm at 6:54 pm #737693bptParticipant” every day I wonder what Im doing in BP. “
OfCourse –
I don’t know your particular circumstances, but in my case, I am still here because despite all the drawbacks and compromises and changes I and my family needed to make, it was done because there were enough reasons to stay.
Still, there’s a greater than 98% chance that we’ll be in Lakwood before the decade is over (unless Yerusholayim is 1st) and the big bldg on 14th ave? May still have the BY name on it, but managament, staff and students will be a whole ‘nother story.
Funny thing is, the bldg on 15th ave is already occupied by one of the chassidishe powerhouses as a weekend rental, so they are closer to takeover than many realize.
And for those who forgot history, Williamsburg (yes, that williamsburg) was at one point non-chassidish.
The demographics changed and the shift in power was not far behind.
And as far as “consulting the gedolim” most likely the new board did. They just consulted different gedolim than you and I consult.
Either way, its their wallet, so they get to speak loudest.
February 7, 2011 6:56 pm at 6:56 pm #737694nishtdayngesheftParticipantSJSinNYC,
I do not understand what your two comments have to do with each other.
Do you think he should or should not receive chodesh l’shana?
BYBP is a community school and took that responsibility seriously, they would accept students even when there was no way of getting paid.
I would suspect that the overwhelming majority of those receiving scholarships cannot pay more and this is the school that accepted upon itself the responsibility to make sure that all children recieve a proper education.
I am not saying it was not first choice school for many, but the school also accepted those students that were not first choice for other schools for reasons including finances.
I dont get the feeling that R Shapiro’s issue was primarily his getting paid. Much more that he felt that there he could not remain and follow the directives of the Board.
February 7, 2011 7:01 pm at 7:01 pm #737695Why Do I Even BotherMemberSJSinNYC – I spoke with a Board Member who was pretty embarrassed to even be associated with this Board right now. He told me that most of the Board had no idea that this was going down. It was basically this Wolf character (whom I don’t know, but really would not want to be in his shoes now or after 120) and one or two other board members. They felt that they could do a better job managing the school with one of their friends sitting in the Administrators seat instead of someone who actually knew what was doing and might not agree with everything they say.
I’m appalled.
February 7, 2011 7:03 pm at 7:03 pm #737696OfcourseMembernisht, Oy. What might be the “directives of the Board”?
February 7, 2011 7:07 pm at 7:07 pm #737697mogoldParticipantto Why I Bother
I was shocked and hurt when I read you vile public attack on Reb R. Wolf. Reb R. wolf is one of the biggest balei chesed in BP, who spends most of his waking hours helping yidden.
No I am not in his employ, I am also not a litvisher sticking up for him.
I am a Chasidishe Yingerman who is familier with some of R. Wolf’s gevaldige chesed projects.
I am Moicha against this brazen smear campaign that you attemted to start, but fortunatly the CR members didnt fall for it.
Also after seeing the MOD comments , we all know how seriosly to take your comments.
February 7, 2011 7:08 pm at 7:08 pm #737698Worried ParentMemberBy having an experienced person at the helm of a school during difficult times can offer the possibility of the school surviving the storm. Now as Rabbi Shapiro left the school, the school is now run by an inexperienced board during difficult times, when there should be stability and experience to lead the way.
February 7, 2011 7:10 pm at 7:10 pm #737699OfcourseMemberbpt, my reasons to stay were mostly my parents a”h, who are no longer alive. Now it’s convenience (near subways and shopping) and economics (the income producing house), oh, and the variety of banks on every block. I love the smell of money. Hee hee.
February 7, 2011 7:17 pm at 7:17 pm #737700Worried ParentMemberIn response to bpt,
“Either way, its their wallet, so they get to speak loudest.”
Can I ask you a question, did any of these new board members support the school financially? Did you hear any of the big names give money in the past to support the school? Was there any substantial contribution from Reuven Wolf possibly justifying his meddling into school business? Do you hear any of the names on the buildings who actually did contribute to the school say anything? I am so distressed by whats happening to our school.
February 7, 2011 7:17 pm at 7:17 pm #737701nishtdayngesheftParticipantOfcourse,
To quote you “I love the smell of money. Hee hee.” This seems to clearly explain your position throughout the comments.
February 7, 2011 7:20 pm at 7:20 pm #737702Tell It StraightMemberMogold – I dont know this man, but if he is responsible for this, he certainly has some answering to do. As everyone has said, this is a community school. He is the Chairman of the Board. So answer the community.
I am sure he can be a big baal chesed. I would also assume that he has loads of money. Sometimes businessmen overstep their bounds into the chinuch world.
I did hear that he is a big part of a Torah U’mesorah Job Placement program. I’m beginning to see how some of these job opening are created…..
February 7, 2011 7:20 pm at 7:20 pm #737703gavra_at_workParticipantWhy Do I Even Bother
Again:
To those who want the school to run the way they want:
As I have said before, if you show them the money, they will follow. Feel bad that you don’t have it, not that those who actually pay the bills do what thye think is best.
February 7, 2011 7:23 pm at 7:23 pm #737704SJSinNYCMemberMy two questions were seperate. They were just two questions.
As to parents paying as much as they can – I find that highly suspect. A huge percentage of parents have cleaning help. Let them get rid of the help and use that money for additional tuition. I’m sure plenty of them have jewelry to sell off that they can give towards more tuition. There are cheaper apartments a little further off that they can move to. They can start eating more lentils. Its rare that a family has no way to reduce expenses to give more towards tuition.
People don’t want to make choices that are fiscally responsible and therefore don’t. Unless a child won’t be in Yeshiva if the parents are asked for more money, they shouldn’t be given carte blanche scholarships. Its ok to make families tighten their belts a little more.
-
AuthorPosts
- The topic ‘Is Bais Yaakov BP before closing?’ is closed to new replies.