Parents, supporters work to give birth to new Jewish day school for benefit of entire community

If a group of parents, alumni and supporters have their way — with community support — a new yet unnamed Jewish day school will be born out of the ashes of the 30- year-old, soon-to-close Pinellas County Jewish Day School.

With the assistance of the Jewish Federation of Pinellas & Pasco Counties, a community rally is now scheduled for Monday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom in Clearwater for proponents to discuss not only the possibilities that exist, but why the existence of a Jewish day school is important for the entire community (see Rabbinically Speaking column below).

Current Jewish Day School parents Janice LeVine, who is also a PCJDS teacher, and Dr. Jose Prieto are co-chairing the effort.

Among the many issues that have to be decided quickly are:

• what kind of Jewish day school: another Solomon Schechter school (affiliated with the Conservative Movement but open to students from other streams of Judaism), an independent Jewish community school open to all Jews, and linked to no particular stream of Judaism, or an independent community school with some ties to Solomon Schechter schools?

LeVine said the school committee is trying to be as inclusive as possible, to the point that all Pinellas and Pasco Jewish families — Orthodox to Reform — would feel comfortable sending their children to the school.

• A location for the school — such as a synagogue or temple to reduce costs.

LeVine said Temple B’nai Israel in Clearwater has offered its site, asking only that the school cover any additional costs caused by the school being there.

The site is not that far from the PCJDS campus on Highland Avenue. According to PCJDS officials, the future of that property is under study.

• Funding for the new school to make it viable, but at the same time affordable for all.

About 100 concerned parents got together almost immediately after the Pinellas County Jewish Day School board of directors officially announced the school would close at the end of the school year.

PCJDS is, for the remainder of the school year, a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation. That does not automatically transfer to a new Jewish school.

“The Federation is working with us and has promised what assistance it can,” LeVine said.

“We are trying to help in any way we can,” said Bonnie Friedman, Federation executive director. “In theory the Federation is 100 percent behind the new school. But, we have to see a solid business plan and firm commitments before we can consider beneficiary agency status, or any allocation.”

The PCJDS had already borrowed $50,000 from the Federation against the new year’s allocation. When the PCJDS ceases to be a beneficary agency, $23,000 of what would have been its allocation will remain unencumbered and the board has indicated that money will go to Jewish education, in some manner, she said.

Other private schools or a new Jewish school?

After the possibility of PCJDS closing became known, LeVine said about half the parents pulled their children out for a day or more to “shadow” at other private schools, trying to prepare for next year.

“But they’re not Jewish (schools),” LeVine said, noting the only exception is the Hillel School in Tampa where some PCJDS parents are already looking to send their children. “They offer a fraction of what (a Jewish day school) can offer” — an outstanding general education, extensive Jewish training and a program steeped in Jewish ruach (spirit).

“If there is no Jewish school here, what is left for them? A few hours of Sunday School or after school religious school at individual temples and synagogues?” LeVine said.

With time running out for parents to decide where their children will attend school next year, the new parents/community committee is moving at all possible speed.

All those attending the meeting signed up for tasks to aid in forming the school.

“Teachers have even come up and said even if they can’t work at the new school, they want to volunteer where they can,” LeVine said. “If everyone could experience what the teachers and students do every day at our school, they would understand why this is so important. We all love our school.”

Admittedly some of the parents working for the new school are doing so while keeping their options open, preparing in case the school does not become reality.

“For some of us, there is no ‘Option B,’ there has to be a Jewish school,” LeVine said.

Ironically, the announcement came after the PCJDS board thought the successful emergency campaign, a nearly completed $1 million campaign to cover costs above tuitions, and adoption of a new business plan had paved the way for the school to catch up on debts and ensure the school’s operation next year.

But then only about 85 families filed for re-enrollment by the deadline and 63 percent of them indicated they would need scholarship assistance to some degree. The board had predicated plans for having about 140 students, the same number as this year, and 50 percent — the same percentage as this year — needing assistance.

Not only were financial issues raised, board members felt the lack of re-enrollment reflected parents had lost confidence in PCJDS and its future.

Letters from members of the PCJDS.doc
  

For more information on the plans for the new school or the rally, email LeVine at hatikvah18@gmail.com.