Yeshiva Sanity: Moriah Layoffs

Friday, April 5, 2013

Moriah Layoffs

As part of their austerity measures aimed at keeping tuition flat for this coming year, Moriah will be laying off 10 longtime faculty members.

It is an unfortunate development but frankly necessary. Enrollment is down & they can't keep the same faculty with less revenue coming in. I'm confident that these experienced professionals will find jobs at other schools.

The Jewish Week is looking to talk to students, parents or former parents to get their reactions for an upcoming article about it. Anyone who is willing to talk should contact Julie Wiener at julie.inthemix@gmail.com . The deadline for the article is Monday so please contact her right away.

Shabbat Shalom.

[UPDATE: Article has been published. Click here]

Comments (20)

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Buster · 625 weeks ago

can you say age discrimination lawsuit ..........

3 replies · active 625 weeks ago

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 625 weeks ago

Buster,

Do you honestly believe they were laid off because of their ages?

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Buster · 625 weeks ago

sure I do.... when you say 10 longtime staff members that they can't afford to pay anymore...
seems like they want the older expensive guys out in favor of younger cheaper options. perhaps the new staff may be "fresher" and more dynamic...but to let go 10 at a time seems a bit fishy....
They aren't being laid off for lack or work due to downsizing...they are being replaced by new cheap teachers

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 625 weeks ago

You can lay them off for being more expensive, nothing illegal about that. As long as they are not being discriminated against because of their age, something I really don't think Dr. Prager would do.

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GUEST 3 · 625 weeks ago

any word on Yavneh 2013-14 tuition yet?

1 reply · active 625 weeks ago

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 625 weeks ago

I heard they were keeping it flat but no official word yet.

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Hardon · 625 weeks ago

Yavneh and Noam will be flat but both instituting a security fee for 2013-2014

1 reply · active 625 weeks ago

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GUEST 3 · 625 weeks ago

Seriously!!! Another junk fee! great! I hate that. Nice of them to keep it flat but another fee just makes me upset!

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reality · 625 weeks ago

a fee added is not FLAT. it is a hidden 1 or 2% increase without telling you they are raising tuition.

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End Welfare · 624 weeks ago

I still remember the slide from the Heatid Open House where they had on one side of the slide the myriad of junk fees charged by certain schools, and on the other side was the one single all-in transparent pricing policy of Heatid.

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faq chequer · 624 weeks ago

some places where enrollment is up are also laying off people in order to keep tuition stable. Services are being cut, class sizes are increasing. Nothing to do with competition for students as populations are growing. Everything to do with the perception that tuition raises are inherently evil.

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 624 weeks ago

Letter from Moriah:

April 8, 2013
28 Nissan 5773

Dear Moriah Parents:

Unfortunately, there has been a significant degree of speculation relating to faculty and staff changes in the year ahead. Most of the information circulating is not correct - specifically relating to faculty terminations. This is an annual process that is based on many factors and the names and numbers of people who were not renewed have not been released by the school - therefore all information is based on rumors and speculation.

We are holding town hall sessions on April 23 and April 25 to review all appropriate information with the Moriah community.

In summary, Moriah has based all decisions on our mandate to strive for excellence and to provide the Moriah community with the best possible product for your tuition dollars.

Thank you.

Dr. Elliot Prager, Principal
Evan Sohn, President
Jay Goldberg, Chairman

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Concerned Parent · 624 weeks ago

[Deleted]. Their recent behavior and manner is which they have conducted themselves with these faculty members has rightfully opened them up to a barrage of emails expressing outrage and countless possible lawsuits.

They have shown their true colors and everyone should show up to the Moriah town hall sessions and hear how they present their side to the public. Then ask any one of the faculty who were affected and get their side and note the discrepancies. I would inherently trust the Rebbeim and Morots words that taught so many over the course of the years over a fly by night board and principal.

Shame on you, Moriah administration. Not shame on you for looking to save money, but shame on you for the manner in which you conducted yourselves the last 2 or 3 years to these wonderful teachers, and specifically how you dealt them their ultimatums. Disgusting and shameful.

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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Alexis · 624 weeks ago

What did they do? What are you referring to about the mannet they conducted themselves?

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 624 weeks ago

No name calling please.

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Yeshiva_Mom · 624 weeks ago

When there are a set of teachers that have given their entire lives (some decades) dedicated to a community institution such as moriah and those teachers have mostly or all sterling reviews from both administration and parents, the least moriah could have done was to treat them with the kavod and dignity to allow them to end their careers with respect and honor.

Moriahs board and administration displayed arrogance,insensitivity, irresponsibility (and imho stupidity) in the way this was carried out. Additionally, they have opened themselves up to a floodgate of criticism from parents and morale in the school among faculty has been dealt a serious blow. Not to mention any potential legal ramifications stemming from the potential discrimination suits that have been swirling around the rumor mill.

And yes, Yeshiva Dad- when probably the longest running faculty member in the school, the Basketball coach, comes off of a Championship year and is extremely well liked by parents and students, please explain how that can be understood as being fired with cause...

1 reply · active 624 weeks ago

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S.P. · 624 weeks ago

Yeshiva Mom - I dont know the details of the firings - or how or why you say that the people weren't treated with kavod and dignity. Are you saying that these people shouldn't have been fired at all? If the school has serious financial problems how do you suggest that the Board resolve them?

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Yeshiva_Dad 69p · 624 weeks ago

YM,

I didn't say it was "fired with cause". People are laid off all the time without having done anything wrong. Some times the money just isn't there to keep someone at their job. My point (in my reply to Buster) was that there is no "discrimination" issue here & I hope the teachers, coaches and administrators have the dignity not to play that card.

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Yeshiva_Mom · 624 weeks ago

Unless you are intimately familiar with discrimination laws and the particulars of this case, you are neither qualified or entitled to give an opinion on whether there is or is not an issue of discrimination.

Labor laws exist to protect employees, and in the long run, schools and organizations and is not a "card" to be played. I, for one, hope that this does not turn into a case of discrimination as that would amount to an even bigger embarrassment than it is already. However, every employee has a right to seek protection by the law as citizens of the United States. G-d bless America.

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Truth · 624 weeks ago

I respect the Moriah team for being up front about their approach. The He'atid guys haven't been transparent about their finances, and are running at a loss in order to hurt their competition. At least Tiferet realized that the model doesn't work.

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