
Dear Matzav Inbox,
I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to present an idea to you regarding a subject that is deeply important to almost everyone in our community. With great respect, I would like to share this concept with the tzibbur and sincerely welcome your feedback.
As we are in the season of farhers for bochurim and navigating the process of high school acceptances, the current system of admissions into our chadorim, Bais Yaakovs, and mesivtos is a tangible reality for almost all of us. It is a process that, while essential, often brings stress and heartache to families across Lakewood.
In response, I would like to introduce the idea of opening a community elementary school that would include a boys’ and girls’ division. The level of chinuch would be comparable to other private schools in Lakewood, with the primary distinction being that this would be a true community school, available to all students in the Lakewood area, regardless of background or circumstances. The school would offer a solid Frum Chinuch to any family seeking it for their children.
The schools would be managed by an executive board, and, importantly, the assets and buildings of the schools would belong to the community itself. This ensures that, even in the distant future—should the schools close in fifty years—the buildings and resources would not become privately owned but would instead transfer to a community moisad. The assets would perpetually serve the tzibbur, ensuring that this effort remains for the benefit of the broader community.
The Challenge of Stigma
One major concern that arises with this concept is the stigma that may be associated with attending a community school. While some families are “accepted” into well-known private schools, others may hesitate to send their children to a community school, fearing it will be perceived as a “lesser” option.
This stigma is real and could prevent many parents from even considering the community school as a viable option, even if it offers excellent chinuch. It’s not enough to build a school that is open to everyone—the community must also view it as a respected and desirable choice for their children.
A New Counterintuitive Idea
A few weeks ago, we heard a school administrator proudly explain how he raised his tuition from $8,000 to $11,000 per year to cover his expenses. At first glance, this approach seemed counterintuitive—raising tuition in an already challenging climate—but it worked for him and enabled his school to meet its budgetary needs.
I would like to propose a different counterintuitive idea to address the stigma: a tuition-free community school.
By removing tuition as a barrier, this school would eliminate the financial strain on families and create a powerful incentive for parents to send their children, even though it is a community school. With no tuition requirements, the stigma of a community-based school is minimized, and families are incentivized to view it as a respected and appealing choice for their children.
The budget for this school would be covered through a combination of voluntary contributions, government grants, and community support. This approach positions the school as an attractive and inclusive option, based on its merit, inclusivity, and high standards of education, rather than on financial necessity.
Recapping the Vision
This school would be unique in two fundamental ways:
1. It would be a community school: Open to all families in the Lakewood area, with governance and assets fully owned by the tzibbur to ensure long-term sustainability and benefit.
2. It would be tuition-free: By eliminating tuition requirements, the school would incentivize families to send their children, creating an inclusive and attractive option for all, while maintaining a high standard of chinuch.
By combining these two concepts—a community school and a tuition-free model—we have the opportunity to address both the educational and financial challenges facing our community. Every Jewish child in the Lakewood area deserves access to Frum Chinuch without stigma or financial hardship, and this model could be a transformative solution.
Your Feedback Is Essential
This is an idea that has the potential to serve a tremendous need in our community, but I recognize that it is not without challenges. I am bringing this proposal to you, the residents of Lakewood, because your feedback, insights, and questions are invaluable to shaping this initiative.
May Hashem give us the strength and wisdom to be mechanech and raise the next generation of klal Yisroel. Together, we can ensure that every Jewish child in the Lakewood area has the opportunity for a strong and proud Yiddishe education.
Respectfully,
Shaya Bassman
Lakewood ,N.J.
To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email [email protected]
DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.
The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.
{Matzav.com}
I love the idea. u need serious cash to start a project. If u don’t it’s impossible. If it does work out schools will be forced to lower rates. Just like the grocery did after bingo opened.and the wedding halls after takana plans ty
They should adopt the public school system.
The budget for this school would be covered through a combination of voluntary contributions, government grants, and community support.
How is this school getting voluntary contributions, government grants, and community support that allows them not to charge tuition? What funding source would they have that privately owned schools don’t?
Torah Vodaas is from the very few Yeshivas in America that is community owned. In a general sense followed a similar template to what is being proposed here for many decades. They always charged tuition but they were more lenient than most Yeshivas were. In their days of super tuition leniency they also almost went bankrupt and closed down. On two different occasions
The idea is inviting, but sadly not realistic. I do not believe that there is a stigma proof idea anything remotely similar to this. It’s a nice fantasy. I would need to be convinced that the powers in the community would endorse this with the enthusiasm needed to make it into reality. I’m sure there would be scramble to get into a tuition free yeshiva. But I also cannot believe it would ever open.
A nice fantasy life is a pleasure to behold.
How about the salaries for faculty and staff? Will that be real money, or do we imagine rebbeiim and teachers working for free? Will some families exert pressure to prevent other kids from being admitted to the classes where their kids will go? “If you take that kid, I cannot send you mine.”
Who will do the fundraising? Will the donors get special treatment? Will the yeshiva offer a smaller teacher:student ratio so that the education can truly be of quality? What about providing ancillary services such as social workers and counselors?
To me, this sounds like a fantasy. It’s not the first one. All others failed to approach reality. Sorry, but I can share your fantasy, but not your optimism.
As long as there is a need for someone to fundraise, there is inherent personal interest to ease their fundraising burden. If the mosad has a guaranteed income such as a trust fund, or other self generating income potential, it may work. if a gevir is willing to support it it may also work, but again he is susceptible to interests. It too may run out of space and the fittest will survive. But financial independence may work, if the charter is binding with clear guidelines.
How about if we ask Mr Safra for $25 million to start things off?
This was tried already by a master Mechanech Rabbi Shalom Storch. You can research what happened there to know if it is possible.
You can dream and fantasize all you want.
There are various different level of hashkafa and tznius thus necessitating more schools which cater to the needs/wishes of the different types of people. How could a one-size-fits-all actually work? Further, there are different levels of scholarship: this sounds like the one-room-schoolhouse of yore! Can that really work?
The world wide web of the internet is a good place to start.
Its a great idea in theory and is unlikely to succeed, but if you are passionate about it, then go ahead and do it.
Maybe you can actually pull it off. Maybe you can’t. We won’t know unless you try it.
1. You need many schools one isn’t enough.
2. Great idea if you can fund it
There was a restaurant the allowed to pay what you deemed fair went bankrupt.
My father’s idea from awhile ago:
Tuition should be like a mortgage. If someone can’t afford it, then they pay smaller amount over many years, including after their child(ren) have left the school. This ensure a school has proper funds, in a fair and manageable way from everyone and that there is constant flow of incoming funds, even from former parent body being off the school cost.
Nice idea. But this is counterintuitive:
“With no tuition requirements, the stigma of a community-based school is minimized,”
It’s quite possible the opposite is true.
As I once posted, expenses for most Yeshivas is much less than what is assumed.
If there isn’t an administrator who is making close to a million dollars annually (either in actual salary or including benefits), that’s all that money saved.
If someone walks into the office of a Yeshiva administrator and it resembles the office of a CEO of a fortune 500 company, they know right away about this administrators compensation package.
Food is provided by the Government, and so are books in many jurisdictions.
The cost of running lights is negligible.
The main costs are teachers salaries (which doesn’t seem to be anyone’s main concern), heating, building (either rent or tuition), and of course insurance.
There could be a nominal amount charged for tuition (2000 dollars annually), and all these expenses can be covered as long as there is a class of 25-30 kids, of course with minimal outside fundraising.
Are delusional or just plain evil?
I apologize for the blunt truth, but you have no clue what you are talking about. I don’t even know where to start with school budget 101 (I actually run a school, get around 10% of your admin salary, and still struggle).
Let’s assume you are right, and we will even be more generous. Open a school charging a flat rate of $3,000 per student; you will be guaranteed 30 students per class for 9 classes of K-8. With your novel idea I am sure a few wealthy gvirim will put up $400k (that’s an additional 50% beyond tuition, if you need to raise as much as tuition it isn’t minimal). You will now have $1.2 million to run a K-8 school. Try it. With the leftover money, I have a bridge to sell you…
I think what might be easier is if we redefine the word community. What I always thought might work(small chance but maybe) is model ourselves after the chassidim and build a true community. Not a city where responsibility means zero but rather a community where everyone has responsibility. People to the leadership as much as the leadership has to the people. Good luck finding a true leader willing and enough people to follow(I would love to sign up don’t get me wrong). Self contained community with boys and girls schools all ages, shuls, Mikva, simcha hall, stores, all by community for community under 1 Rov. Just having 1 entity as a standalone is where many of the issues start. Side note everyone please if you haven’t yet please make yourself a Rov mishna in perek avos pretty important
Nice.But antithetical to the purpose & a lowering of this location
Are we so far gone
The real problem has more to do with people having children BH but no real job to support their education.
It is so nice that we have gvirim like Mr. Bassman to fund such a project! Ashrecha! Let me know when the money has been deposited