Community Magazine July 2014

86 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE PROJECT EDUCATION TAKES ON TUITIONAFFORDABILITY SARINA ROFFÉ Project Education, a new nonprofit in the community, has been studying the issue of tuition affordability for the past three years.With nearly 100 percent of the children in our community attending yeshivot, the issue of its affordability for growing middle class families has been front and center in recent years. T he affordability of yeshiva education is one of the most discussed social challenges in Jewishcommunities nationwide and around the world. The increasing cost of tuition at Jewish day schools and the recession have created a grave crisis, as tuition costs have outstripped the ability of many families to pay. Trapped byTuition Our community is committed to assuring that every child receives a yeshiva education, regardless of the parents’ ability to pay. Adecade ago, roughly one-fourth of all community children received some sort of tuition assistance. When the economy tanked a few years ago, that number rose to 48 percent. Today, nearly one out of every two children in the community receives tuition assistance in some form. With tuition in the $20,000 range, a family with four children in school will have an $80,000 tuition bill. Even with a family income of $150,000 annually, after taxes, rent/mortgage and utilities, this family will have a hard time making ends meet. And thus the high cost of tuition is causing many families a great deal of financial hardship. Parents feel trapped. They do not feel they have a choice. In a community where Jewish values are so deeply embedded, public school is not an option, and many parents feel humiliated by the tuition assistance process, which is very strict. The schools feel an obligation to make sure every child stays in yeshiva, and they are thus trying to ensure that assistance is provided to all who need, while at the same time maintaining a sound financial policy. This difficult challenge has made the process of applying for assistance very unpleasant for many parents. TheTuitionTithe Project Education took on this issue and analyzed many ways to address it. Leading the charge is Albert Laboz, President, along with Hymie Mamiye, Joe Shamie, Elliot Horowitz, Jack Dweck, Morris Tabush, Ricky Novick, Ricky Cohen, Dr. Bob Husney, Jack Ezon, Eli Greenberg, Michael Hidary, Ralph Tawil, Morris Tabush, Sam Haddad, Michael Wahba and Daniel Harari. Every idea was discussed and researched. The group attended conferences and studied national data andmodels in other communities. They joined forces with the OU-Teach NYSAdvocacy Center. Since tuition assistance is driving up the overall cost of running our schools, Project Education is asking everyone to give ma’aser – a minimum contribution of 10 percent of one’s income. Those who can afford to donate more are strongly encouraged to do so. Why? Because the future of our community begins with our children and their education, and they should be our top priority. The GlueThat Holds UsTogether Our community values keeping its children near and dear. We want them to marry and remain in the community, and to have the benefit of extended family in their lives. Most of all, we want to infuse our children and grandchildren with our Sephardic values, the same mores we received from our parents and grandparents. Study after study has shown that a Jewish education is the key to our children’s leading fulfilling lives in which they can successfully provide for their families and give back to the community. Our children are our future and education is their future. Those involved in our community’s schools are helping to make a positive difference. They take pride in their activism and support, and know that our children benefit as a result. And we should all feel proud of the schools and the aspirations the teachers have for their students, and the new programs they are introducing. There are many successful alumni accomplishing great things. Our community boasts doctors, lawyers, teachers, architects, engineers, social workers, interior decorators, caterers, and a multitude of very successful professionals. Progress is happening every day, and this success is to the credit of our outstanding schools. Yeshivas are the glue that holds our community together. They teach our children, impart our Sephardic values and religion, Aggressively supporting Jewish education is the single most important thing we can do as a community.