Update on school drama

[boiler717]

This is going to be long so I didn’t want put it in the old thread.
So, my last update was that we had a meeting (last Thursday) and they agreed to work with us and our doctors. They verbally agreed to several medical accommodations they had been resisting. There were some aspects where we interpreted the note differently, and I said at our appt in a few days I would get a clarifying, updated note, but they agreed to follow our interpretation of it. They also agreed to postpone our decision on reenrollment until the end of the month while we see how things are working.
Over the weekend, they cashed our February tuition check and we also were in charge of the $200 snack purchase for the school.
Monday, I receive an email that they are not honoring the request for medical accommodations. They said if this doesn’t work, my kid could attend half-day. They also say our reenrollment decision is due that week.
I write back asking if they are refusing any clarifying notes. I also ask for permission to come to the school ourselves for us to provide accommodation. They said their answer is final and they are mindful of “the respect DS deserves.”
So, we withdrew. I asked for unused tuition and our deposit back. They say no and ask us to honor the 30-day notice for withdraw, which I guess means we owe them even more money because of the short month.
My son started at the sports academy yesterday and had a great first day!

[ECB]

What the ever loving fuck??? They agreed, took your $$$, then changed their mind?!?

Now, most places do require notice and you have to pay for the time, so i won’t judge them on that. But HOW they did this??? Sneaky.

And I’d tell them to take my last check as final payment. Don’t OFFER them money. If they really want to push for it, let THEM push. Don’t offer.

[boiler717]

Feb 7, 2020 7:13:45 GMT -5 ECB said:

What the ever loving fuck??? They agreed, took your $$$, then changed their mind?!?

Now, most places do require notice and you have to pay for the time, so i won’t judge them on that. But HOW they did this??? Sneaky.

And I’d tell them to take my last check as final payment. Don’t OFFER them money. If they really want to push for it, let THEM push. Don’t offer.

I can’t imagine having to pay for notice when you aren’t allowing a kid for medical reasons though! Plus the deposit? The deposit is refundable for completing the full 3-year Montessori cycle.

[ECB]

Feb 7, 2020 7:17:30 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Feb 7, 2020 7:13:45 GMT -5 ECB said:

What the ever loving fuck??? They agreed, took your $$$, then changed their mind?!?

Now, most places do require notice and you have to pay for the time, so i won’t judge them on that. But HOW they did this??? Sneaky.

And I’d tell them to take my last check as final payment. Don’t OFFER them money. If they really want to push for it, let THEM push. Don’t offer.

I can’t imagine having to pay for notice when you aren’t allowing a kid for medical reasons though! Plus the deposit? The deposit is refundable for completing the full 3-year Montessori cycle.

personally i agree with you, but if there is a signed contract, you may have no recourse. If there isn’t a contract - then push back.

I think they are such assholes.

[joy]

What parts of the note were being “interpreted differently?”

Also, did they offer any sound reasons for why the accommodations you were asking for were beyond their capabilities?

[minniemouse]

Omg. I would not give them another cent.

[scm1011]

Wow, unbelievable. I would not give them another cent either.
I'm glad your DS had a great first day at the new school. I hope this ends up being a much better situation for your family.

[dcn]

I am kind of speechless. Wow. I wouldn’t give them any more money if you avoid it.

I hope your son LOVES his new school!

[boiler717]

Feb 7, 2020 7:53:49 GMT -5 joy said:

What parts of the note were being “interpreted differently?”

Also, did they offer any sound reasons for why the accommodations you were asking for were beyond their capabilities?

They declined to offer any reason for why they changed their mind. They felt like an adult asking a 4-year old to do something was sufficient and didn’t have a duty to make sure it happened.

[kdubs923]

Whatttttt! This is crazy! They were super sneaky and knew exactly what they were doing. What assholes.

I wouldn't offer another cent. Yes, they could pursue the remainder of the tuition due to a contract that you've signed. But I'd think if you are able to show they're unable to medically accommodate the needs of your child, you would be able to fight it. And the amount it would cost wouldn't be worth it to them. I'd guess they won't pursue it. Definitely don't offer.

I'm so glad he had a great first day at the sports academy! I hope he continues to thrive there!

[icedcoffee]

WTF?!? I would not give them another cent and I'd demand back the remainder of the tuition for the month and the deposit since they are unable to make a medical accommodation. I would put this on blast to other people. My kid doesn't need any medical accommodations, but I still wouldn't send him to these assholes. HELL NO. Honestly, I rarely say burn it down, but I'd burn it down here.

Glad he likes the new school!

[icedcoffee]

I'm so mad and this doesn't affect me at all! LOL

[raangoli]

Feb 7, 2020 8:41:23 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Feb 7, 2020 7:53:49 GMT -5 joy said:

What parts of the note were being “interpreted differently?”

Also, did they offer any sound reasons for why the accommodations you were asking for were beyond their capabilities?

They declined to offer any reason for why they changed their mind. They felt like an adult asking a 4-year old to do something was sufficient and didn’t have a duty to make sure it happened.

Whut?? That’s bonkers. I get that it is a Montessori but still. This is a medical need.

In a way it’s good that you found this out now rather than dragging on for a few more weeks. I’m sorry for all the stress it must have caused. I agree that you do not owe them any additional monies.

[joy]

Feb 7, 2020 8:41:23 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Feb 7, 2020 7:53:49 GMT -5 joy said:

What parts of the note were being “interpreted differently?”

Also, did they offer any sound reasons for why the accommodations you were asking for were beyond their capabilities?

They declined to offer any reason for why they changed their mind. They felt like an adult asking a 4-year old to do something was sufficient and didn’t have a duty to make sure it happened.

Huh.

That’s something.

[kdubs923]

Feb 7, 2020 8:50:10 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

WTF?!? I would not give them another cent and I'd demand back the remainder of the tuition for the month and the deposit since they are unable to make a medical accommodation. I would put this on blast to other people. My kid doesn't need any medical accommodations, but I still wouldn't send him to these assholes. HELL NO. Honestly, I rarely say burn it down, but I'd burn it down here.

Glad he likes the new school!

Seriously. It would not be an exaggeration to blast them on social media, saying they were intentionally harmful to your son's health. That they could not ensure that he would be safe for the hours that he was in their care.

Seriously. Blow them up (with words, lol)

ETA: I didn't reply to your original post, but I'm so damn angry now on your behalf!

[ECB]

Feb 7, 2020 8:44:59 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Whatttttt! This is crazy! They were super sneaky and knew exactly what they were doing. What assholes.

I wouldn't offer another cent. Yes, they could pursue the remainder of the tuition due to a contract that you've signed. But I'd think if you are able to show they're unable to medically accommodate the needs of your child, you would be able to fight it. And the amount it would cost wouldn't be worth it to them. I'd guess they won't pursue it. Definitely don't offer.

I'm so glad he had a great first day at the sports academy! I hope he continues to thrive there!

This actually makes me think of the ADA. A company has to provide REASONABLE accommodations to employees with disabilities.  It can actually be very hard, especially for large companies, to prove that an accommodation is unreasonable. 

I realize this is a different issue, but i feel like if they pushed for the remainder of the money, I'd actually consult w/ a lawyer and find out if any kind of precedent may exist in this kind is situation.  Your'e asking for a VERY reasonable accommodation for your child's medical needs that truly costs this school NOTHING.  And they refuse to meet it?  With no true explanation?  

Im kind of with icedcoffee here.  I'm really mad for you!!!  This is such bullshit.  

[redheadbaker]

What. The. Fuck???

[ECB]

And yes, I think I would blow them up on social media. Make it known that they won't meet your child's REASONABLE medical needs.

[sloan]

Glad he likes the new school! I think pulling him was the right decision, even if they’d still agreed I wouldn’t be confident in their execution of a plan after all that nonsense.

Also, it doesn’t seem to me they are unable to make the medical accommodation as much as they are unwilling to (I would understand a disclaimer about implementation potentially not being perfect for CYA reasons, but not that an adult can’t remind a kid for something that serious). Given that they agreed and then walked back AFTER cashing your check this has swarmy written all over it, and I would be burn it down angry. They deserve not another cent, and no less than filing a report/grievance about their medical discrimination- this feels like an ADA violation to refuse to provide a reasonable medical accommodation.

[Velar Fricative]

Holy shit. They are dumb because if I were them, I'd be giving a refund to avoid any bad press or even legal troubles because when it comes to not being able to accommodate medical needs (which obviously is very nuanced and not necessarily illegal), it's best to not burn bridges. They should have said, "I'm sorry we cannot accommodate the needs of your son, here is your refund for all February fees, we wish you and your family well." I'd be in less burn-it-down mode if they did that.

[ilikedonuts]

Burn them the fuck down.

Id light them up all over social media. Don’t pay them another cent.

[boiler717]

Feb 7, 2020 9:13:51 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Holy shit. They are dumb because if I were them, I'd be giving a refund to avoid any bad press or even legal troubles because when it comes to not being able to accommodate medical needs (which obviously is very nuanced and not necessarily illegal), it's best to not burn bridges. They should have said, "I'm sorry we cannot accommodate the needs of your son, here is your refund for all February fees, we wish you and your family well." I'd be in less burn-it-down mode if they did that.

Right? I expected to be told they would refund with a statement releasing them.

[pugz]

Light it up on social media

[boiler717]

Feb 7, 2020 9:03:36 GMT -5 ECB said:

Feb 7, 2020 8:44:59 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Whatttttt! This is crazy! They were super sneaky and knew exactly what they were doing. What assholes.

I wouldn't offer another cent. Yes, they could pursue the remainder of the tuition due to a contract that you've signed. But I'd think if you are able to show they're unable to medically accommodate the needs of your child, you would be able to fight it. And the amount it would cost wouldn't be worth it to them. I'd guess they won't pursue it. Definitely don't offer.

I'm so glad he had a great first day at the sports academy! I hope he continues to thrive there!

This actually makes me think of the ADA. A company has to provide REASONABLE accommodations to employees with disabilities.  It can actually be very hard, especially for large companies, to prove that an accommodation is unreasonable. 

I realize this is a different issue, but i feel like if they pushed for the remainder of the money, I'd actually consult w/ a lawyer and find out if any kind of precedent may exist in this kind is situation.  Your'e asking for a VERY reasonable accommodation for your child's medical needs that truly costs this school NOTHING.  And they refuse to meet it?  With no true explanation?  

Im kind of with icedcoffee here.  I'm really mad for you!!!  This is such bullshit.  

They have completely violated the ADA. The ADA says you have to allow a parent to provide services if you are unable to provide them, but you can’t exclude the child (they said he could come half-day instead of full). They straight up told me a parent would not be allowed to come.

[isabel]

Feb 7, 2020 9:02:18 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Feb 7, 2020 8:50:10 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

WTF?!? I would not give them another cent and I'd demand back the remainder of the tuition for the month and the deposit since they are unable to make a medical accommodation. I would put this on blast to other people. My kid doesn't need any medical accommodations, but I still wouldn't send him to these assholes. HELL NO. Honestly, I rarely say burn it down, but I'd burn it down here.

Glad he likes the new school!

Seriously. It would not be an exaggeration to blast them on social media, saying they were intentionally harmful to your son's health. That they could not ensure that he would be safe for the hours that he was in their care.

Seriously. Blow them up (with words, lol)

ETA: I didn't reply to your original post, but I'm so damn angry now on your behalf!

Honestly, I'd report them to the state licensing board for preschools/daycares. They are subject to licensing requirements and I feel like this is something the state would want to know. I would also hit them on all social media platforms.

I find this fucking outrageous. Effectively stealing money from you on top of it after agreeing the delay the decision is just icing on the cake. Good Lord.

[boiler717]

I get the social media angle, but I am going to file a grievance with their accrediting organization and/or the DOJ for an ADA compliant. I think it is more useful to pursue avenues that will result in increased training and oversight so others are not affected.

[boiler717]

Feb 7, 2020 9:51:21 GMT -5 isabel said:

Feb 7, 2020 9:02:18 GMT -5 kdubs923 said:

Seriously. It would not be an exaggeration to blast them on social media, saying they were intentionally harmful to your son's health. That they could not ensure that he would be safe for the hours that he was in their care.

Seriously. Blow them up (with words, lol)

ETA: I didn't reply to your original post, but I'm so damn angry now on your behalf!

Honestly, I'd report them to the state licensing board for preschools/daycares. They are subject to licensing requirements and I feel like this is something the state would want to know. I would also hit them on all social media platforms.

I find this fucking outrageous. Effectively stealing money from you on top of it after agreeing the delay the decision is just icing on the cake. Good Lord.

They are not subject to state licensing for preschools. However, they still have to comply with the ADA as a business open to the public.

[redheadbaker]

Feb 7, 2020 9:53:14 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I get the social media angle, but I am going to file a grievance with their accrediting organization and/or the DOJ for an ADA compliant. I think it is more useful to pursue avenues that will result in increased training and oversight so others are not affected.

Do both! File a complaint AND crucify them on social media!

[isabel]

Feb 7, 2020 9:59:08 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Feb 7, 2020 9:53:14 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I get the social media angle, but I am going to file a grievance with their accrediting organization and/or the DOJ for an ADA compliant. I think it is more useful to pursue avenues that will result in increased training and oversight so others are not affected.

Do both! File a complaint AND crucify them on social media!

I agree with this. Filing complaints is great for increased oversight and training in the future, but it isn't going to help parents now. This is something I would want to know if I was considering sending my child there and social media is one of the best tools for that since they aren't subject to citations from the state licensing agency (which was my primary check for daycares when we were looking).

[UMaineTeach]

They effectively kicked you out. They can’t demand advance notice.

File with all the authorities.