Petition for Wesleyan Academy to adjust and reduce tuition and fees according to reduction in academic services offered due to COVID-19 Emergency.
Due to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration students across Puerto Rico are facing unprecedented challenges as they continue their education remotely. Tuition and fees are calculated to include the educational classes, academic offerings, extracurricular activities and the amenities school campus offers in areas of sports, Christian education and afterschool activities. The change to virtual education has significantly reduced the services Wesleyan Academy provides while maintaining monthly tuition and also now increasing tuition and fees for the 2020-2021 school year. For example, live classes (Science, Math, Language Arts) with teachers has reduced form 7 hours a day to 3 hours a day in 5th grade. Also, other school offerings have been eliminated, like chapel service, choir, sports, science lab, library, field trips, clubs (NHS) and other extracurricular activities, although some of these could be adjusted and done virtually. Another change to consider is that by being closed, the school also is saving money in operational costs (utilities, security, staff, maintenance and insurance fees). Also, parent teacher organization meetings and conferences, that are crucial in maintaining communication between school and parents, have not been taking place. These are also possible virtually. Clearly not honoring the school’s contractual obligations.
During this unprecedented pandemic, many parents are facing financial difficulties, and are unable and unwilling to continue to pay for services that are not being provided. Specially fees that have not been modified to the changes and reality of this difficult time. Having our children at home also incurs in additional living costs, including some parents that have had to reduce working hours to be able to help with instruction. Some parents had signed the tuition and fees contract before the Pandemic started under the understanding that they would have all those services with students present in school, and so we retract in agreeing to pay the same fees for a reduced service. At this time, the school administration has responded negatively (if at all) to our individual requests and concerns. We refer to Wesleyan Academy’s organizational philosophy: “WA is committed to meet the educational needs of its students in a Christian environment that strives for academic excellence.”
Parents have collectively discussed and agreed that tuition and fees should be adjusted and reduced accordingly because the resources, facilities and services paid for are no longer available or significantly reduced amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Many universities & schools are refunding or adjusting tuition rates because they understand that online remote classes do not offer the same learning environment/ experience as on-campus. It is important that the school understands that it is now competing in curriculum and price to private homeschool offerings. In addition to being realistic with the reduction in quantity and quality of educational services, it demonstrates empathy and good business practice.
In conclusion we, the parents of Wesleyan Academy students request the following:
1. Adjust and reduce tuition and fees according to the current COVID-19 state of emergency and its duration, which includes eliminating fees for services not provided. These should be reimbursed or accredited to parents, if applicable.
2. Eliminate new fees for academic year 2020-2021.
3. Broaden virtual academic live offerings (medullar classes) that resemble in room classes. Include occasional live extracurricular activities such as, Chapel service, PE, virtual field trips and choir, clubs (NIH), for example. This does not refer to more academic load to students but a balanced curriculum, with optional educational activities.
4. Resume parent teacher organization meetings and conferences, virtually.