Let's be specific for the sake of being fair: The reference to the Calendar on p.10 of the 2008-09 Handbook, ONLY describes the Monthly Calendar that lists activities and theme for the calendar month, with NOTHING about closings. There is no reference in the Handbook whatsoever to that Annual Calendar, that separate handout that includes the closings, which makes it unfair to parents who are told that the Handbook contains everything regarding Barn Yard's policies. A Fact: Page 41 does in fact refer to the BY's closing policy. But it only states that parents are responsible for paying one annual tuition cost regardless of the days the BarnYard is closed. So much for clearly stating its closing policy and Calendar in the Handbook. The real matter is it's not the weeks closed that's the problem. It's the weeks closed that is not clearly communicated to parents before they enroll and are locked in. Sure we could sign saying that we agree to the closing policy, ie: we are willing to pay when the BY's closed, which is absolutely fine and normal. But again, the problem is that the Handbook's policy is not the full policy and yet you are told that the Handbook contains everything regarding policies, so you sign a year's contract and believe that you understand the policy and you end up having to scramble to find coverage for all those weeks and half-days closed. We do not want teachers to work more and have less vacation time. Not at all. We just want to be fully aware of the closing policy, not just as it pertains to payment, for the sake of planning the care of our children. No one is asking that BY lists the exact dates in the Handbook. AT THE VERY LEAST, BY should state that they are closed for a week or more during winter break and for another week before the school year begins in September, and that exact dates depend on the calendar year. Families need to know that before they enroll - it would be quite unfair otherwise. Parents are disappointed, not vindictive.
Pros: Teachers are awesome
Cons: Lack of clarity in important policies
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