Bnos Penina, a girls school in Lakewood, has informed parents that it will no longer be able to operate in its current location after Wednesday, February 18, and instructed families not to send students beginning Thursday, February 19.
According to the letter, administrators said the school has struggled to remain financially viable after parents’ commitments to provide additional support and maintain current tuition payments were not fully met.
“Had tuition obligations been maintained as agreed, we would not be in this position today,” the administration wrote.
The administration said the challenges were compounded by prolonged periods of sub-freezing temperatures earlier this winter, which increased operating and maintenance costs.
The school also disclosed that its landlord had notified administrators that the building would no longer be available for use after this week, leaving the school without a location to continue classes.
Despite efforts over recent months to secure funding and explore alternative solutions, the administration said it was unable to find a sustainable path forward.
“After much effort, many conversations, and every possible attempt to find a sustainable path forward, we have reached the painful conclusion that we will not be able to continue,” the letter stated.
School leaders said the decision followed consultation with Torah authorities and was made after extensive deliberation.
“It is our sincere hope that our wonderful and loyal parents will step forward in a meaningful and immediate way to make continuation possible,” the administration wrote.
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10 Responses
That’s surprising. I thought Lakewood has enough money floating around compared to any other community. Just look at the high end shopping malls.
Let us see what Adirei Hatorah will do with their millions…
Can we please stop with the sarcasm. Bnos Penina is an amazing school that until recently accepted everyone. This caused it to have a smaller parent body than most schools thus causing it to struggle financially. Even if you pumped money into the school it would be hard to survive unless it would grow with more students.
I meant the cause of Bnos Peninas problem was that it accepted everybody. That is why many people refused to send their children instead fought to get their children into other schools.
The Israeli institutions collected tens of millions from us Americans. Are there no money left to help this struggling school.
Maybe if people stopped making hachnasas Sefer torah 80 grand campaigns every time someone dies there would be more money for the actual learning of the Torah instead of just writing it. Almost always the shul that’s getting it didn’t need another one. So how much can it do for soul
To the editor.
This post is breeding grounds for Loshon hara on the entire town of Lakewood. I wouldn’t want that gehenoim. I’d filter comments very carefully if I were you.
How about every mother of a girl in school forgoes buying a new sheital this year (between $5-10,000) and gives the money to the school instead? Also forgoing Pesach in hotels, vacations in Florida and even – horror of horrors – summer camp? Also, I forgot, Seminary in Eretz Yisrael.
The nasty/sarcastic comments are a problem; but they are also a symptom of a bigger problem. Many people in the community feel that they are voiceless and powerless. When you stifle people and shame them into silence then the anger comes out in less than desireable ways.
Could we please shut off the comments for this article? They are completely irrelevant to the actual topic.