It’s been a few weeks since our last petition update, and we want to mark where things stand before Chris Ice and the Board release their promised responses. First: because tutors stayed united and our voices were heard, current signed agreements have been honored for the remainder of this school year. Our tutors can continue to carry out their duties while being fairly compensated as they have so far this school year without families needing to worry about a decline in the quality of their children's education.
Second: RCA leadership has now stated that at‑home pay will be eliminated next year and replaced with a small stipend as was done in years prior to this one. That announcement makes the Board’s upcoming “answers” even more important, because it affects re‑enrollment decisions and the stability of centers across the country.
We must begin tightening our grip as we move into Spring. We are not giving up. My promise to you is to continue posting updates as we learn more: next likely being a thoughtful response to whatever the Board publishes. So please stay tuned.
In the meantime, I have been receiving a new wave of questions from tutors and staff. I now share them publicly so the Board understands what people are still asking and can provide honest and transparent answers. Here are the new inquiries we expect for the board to answer:
- How long have the Board and Mr. Ice known about the financial problems, and why are staff only learning about them now? Is this related to why there have been four executive directors/presidents in less than two years? Who is accountable for decisions that led here?
- Why were only staff notified and not families? When will families be informed? Re‑enrollment packets are coming due. Is it fair that non‑staff families may be re‑enrolling without knowing the true financial picture?
- Is any part of the deficit related to legal costs or litigation, including the Beckman matter? If so, how much has been spent and how much is projected going forward?
- What happened to the proceeds from the Atlanta building sale? How were those funds allocated (restricted vs. unrestricted), and what were they used for?
- Why is there no Atlanta location anymore? Will other centers have to close? Is RCA at risk of closing, and when will staff and families be told clearly if closures are on the table?
- What is the compensation for Mr. Ice and the executive team, and what measurable pay reductions have been made? If the organization is in financial distress, why does RCA maintain the current size of the National Leadership Team (NLT)? Why does the President require an executive assistant, and why does RCA maintain an “Office of the President,” while claiming it cannot sustain tutor compensation?
- Do members of the Board and executive leadership have enrolled children? Do they understand RCA’s identity as experienced by families and tutors? Many have perceived mission drift and an identity crisis over the last two years. What is the plan to correct that?
- Why is expansion being considered if RCA cannot support existing centers and staff? Who attends expansion visits, what do those trips cost, what does it truly cost to start a center, and why open centers that cannot support themselves?
- Was the financial picture so urgent that major decisions had to be pushed over break? If so, what is being done differently now to ensure RCA continues to exist? Will staff be paid properly for the work being done now, and will expectations match compensation?
- Next year, will all staff be moved to stipends? Many staff already donate classroom supplies and give extra time. Many do not even clock every hour they work. How will RCA prevent unpaid labor from becoming normalized under a stipend model?
As we head into the Board’s release of answers, we also want to leave everyone with one final point to ponder: if RCA has not laid out a sustainable plan that protects families and fairly compensates the staff doing the work, should local communities begin organizing contingency plans among themselves for next year? Should we be prudently preparing so families and tutors are not forced into chaos at the last minute?
Path forward: Stay calm, stay professional, stay united. Do not let anyone tell you this is “over.” We are simply moving into the next chapter. When the Board publishes its answers, we will review them closely, compare them to what has been communicated previously, and respond accordingly. If you have additional questions you want included in our unified list, email me at jamesbakercharles@gmail.com so we can keep concerns organized and consistent.
We’ve already proven unity works. Now we’re going to use it to demand what should have existed from the beginning: transparency, accountability, and a sustainable model that respects the people educating our children.
God Bless,
Charles Baker
Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis!