FAQs for 2025-2026

We are profoundly grateful for the financial and emotional support that has come from so many in our community, and beyond, leading to the Apr. 23, 2025 announcement that SSFS expects to remain open as a transformational place of learning for years to come. We know our families have many questions, and we are committed to keeping the community informed as we move forward. Below, please see answers to some of the questions that we have gathered thus far. This is a living document, and new questions/ responses will be added to the page as we gain more information. We encourage you to use this Google Form to submit any additional questions that may benefit the larger community; this helps our team respond more efficiently. We are committed to keeping you informed and being transparent throughout this process. Thank you again for your support, flexibility, and care for our community.

*Questions last updated May 12, 2025

Questions Related to Administration/Leadership

Q: Is the Auxiliary/Marketing position going to be filled? 
One of our finalist candidates met with Sean Hamer on Friday and accepted the position. She will start July 21, 2025. 

Q: What opportunities will there be to engage with or hear from administrators before school starts? 
Sean, Kay, Jesse, and Meredith will hold information sessions over the summer. 

Q: Does the school have a Head of School for 2025-2026? 
Yes, Sean Hamer has committed to serving as SSFS’s Head of School for the 2025-2026 school year

Q: When does Dr. Sean Hamer begin his tenure? 
Sean will start on July 1, as originally planned. 

Q: Will Kay Mason be the Lower School Head?
Yes, Kay Mason has enthusiastically committed to serving as SSFS’s Lower School Head for the 2025-2026 school year.

Q: Will Jesse Hardman be the Middle School Head?
Yes, Jesse Hardman has enthusiastically committed to serving as SSFS’s Middle School Head for the 2025-2026 school year.

Q: Will Meredith Shankle be the Upper School Head?
Yes, Meredith Shankle has enthusiastically committed to serving as SSFS’s Upper School Head for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Questions Related to Faculty & Staff

Q: The Friends of Sandy Spring Friends School ('the coalition') solicited donations for faculty and staff salaries and retention, how has the school used those funds?
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Friends of Sandy Spring Friends School raised $31,050 to support faculty and staff salaries and retention. These funds were instrumental in helping the school retain the maximum number of current faculty and staff for the 2025–2026 school year, ensuring continuity, stability, and a strong learning environment for students.

Q: Will the financial aid packages for current faculty-staff children remain the same if they do not receive an employment contract after May 15, or voluntarily leave SSFS?
Yes, SSFS will honor all 2025–2026 student enrollment contracts and financial aid awards, regardless of employment status at the School.  

Q: Why not target a dollar amount that covers the entire staff irrespective of enrollment and let us chase the funding?
That is a Board-level decision.

Q: How are we organizing department budgets  for the remainder of the year?
The budget for the remainder of the year has remained stable in recent weeks. While we continue to manage spending carefully, departmental funding will be maintained.

Q: Does the school currently know how many teachers will be returning next year? If not, when will the school know, and how will it  communicate that information to parents?  
Re-enrollment contracts are due by May 15, at which point we will have finalized enrollment data. We are excited to welcome our students back and will maintain regular communication with our faculty and staff throughout the process. We are confident that we will have a full complement of qualified and committed educators in place for the start of the school year.

Questions Related to Enrollment and Financial Aid

Q: Other schools may not have made decisions on newly submitted applications by May 15. Can we sign the contracts after May 15?
After May 15th, your family can contact the admission office if you would like to re-enroll.

Q: Can we see next year's course offerings before May 15th enrollment deadline?
Yes! Course registration is open. The Upper School Curriculum Guide is available from the parent portal page.

Q: Can financial aid awards be reconsidered (e.g., for families who were not granted awards but whose circumstances have changed, like the loss of a job, since awards were granted)? My family has not been impacted but I have spoken to several families who have been, and for whom an increase in financial aid could mean the difference between them staying and leaving. 
Families who have had a change in circumstance, such as job loss, can contact the enrollment team to engage in conversations about financial aid.

Q: Will SSFS remain open for more than three years?
While no institution can make absolute guarantees, the Board of Trustees, Administrative Council, the Coalition, and major donors are actively and collaboratively working toward ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of SSFS. Significant efforts and planning are underway to support the School's strength and stability for years to come, including growing our School’s endowment. The recent addition of a Marketing colleague and our strong Administrative Team starting next year (Dr. Sean Hamer, Kay Mason, Jesse Hardman and Meredith Shankle) will be a positive message to our community. We expect enrollment to rise over the years.

Q: Re-enrollment contracts have not been offered to boarding students, nor have we been asked informally if we are returning. Can you please speak to where this leaves the boarding school students? When can we expect to know more, and how are you gauging interest if our contracts are not being offered?We completely understand the eagerness of boarding families who are hoping to re-enroll. At this time, we have not been able to offer contracts to boarding students because there are still significant unknowns regarding housing availability and staffing needed to safely and responsibly run the boarding program.

Unlike the day program, boarding brings an added layer of complexity—housing, supervision, meals, evening and weekend coverage—which requires a high level of certainty and planning. We are actively working to assess what’s possible, but until those pieces are in place, we cannot commit to boarding contracts. We recognize this feels like a missed opportunity, and we hope to have more clarity to share as soon as possible. 

Q: How will the enrollment numbers look for next year? 
We will have a clearer picture after re-enrollments are completed, with contracts due by May 15th. We respect and support the decisions of families who have chosen to enroll their students at neighboring schools.

Q: If enrollment is lower than expected, will the school need to reduce faculty and eliminate course offerings? 
We will align faculty and staff needs with enrollment data to ensure appropriate staffing levels. At this time, we expect to maintain and honor our current programs.

Q: What is the minimum enrollment that the school will need in order to ensure it's viability for the next three years?  
We have developed financial models based on various enrollment scenarios. Following the 2025–2026 school year, we expect our leadership stability and strong financial backing to drive increased student enrollment.

Q: When do returning families need to pay their deposits? 
Once your re-enrollment amendment is complete, your deposit will be automatically withdrawn within five (5) business days. If you would like to change your payment method, please contact the Business Office before signing the amendment. However, we strongly encourage families to submit them as early as possible to support faculty retention and planning for the upcoming school year. 

Q: Will non-renewals of students stand?  
The Admission process seeks to admit mission appropriate students to SSFS. Prior enrollment decisions will remain the same. 

Q: What will happen with the boarding students? 
There are many factors and complexities that school leadership is carefully working through to ensure the wellbeing, safety, and happiness of our boarding students. While the school is not able to guarantee housing directly, we are committed to working individually with each boarding student interested in returning to find the most viable and supportive alternative options.

Q: Will my original financial aid offer still be valid for the 2025-2026 school year? 
Yes, the financial aid offer provided with your original enrollment contract will remain the same.

Q: Will SSFS be re-accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS)? 
SSFS has been on track for our 10 year reaccreditation following the accrediting team's visit to SSFS this past fall. Our next step is to submit an Action Plan to AIMS by October 1, 2025, which was always the case. Our financial stability will now make the accreditation process much smoother. 

Q: What will re-enrollment look like? 
Enrollment contracts are currently available. Parents can sign an addendum to confirm they would like to enroll in the 25-26 school year. Families that wish to withdraw should email enrollment@ssfs.org

Q: How long will you give families to decide?
We have extended the enrollment deadline to May 15th. Contracts are binding after May 15th.

Q: Will tuition remain the same?
Yes, the  tuition for the 25-26 school year will remain as posted. 

Questions Related to SSFS Accreditation

Q: Is SSFS fully accredited for the 2025-2026 school year? I have a rising senior and want to make sure that he graduates from an accredited school.
SSFS remains actively engaged in the AIMS accreditation process. SSFS is currently in a pending accreditation status with AIMS, which is a normal part of the re-accreditation process which the School has been working towards for the past year.  Our full accreditation for the 2025–2026 school year is contingent upon the approval of our one-year action plan, which is due in October 2025. Once that plan is reviewed and approved, our accreditation for next year will be confirmed. We are actively working to meet the requirements and are confident in the process moving forward.

We want to reassure you that your rising senior’s ability to graduate is not currently at risk due to accreditation. SSFS remains in good standing with AIMS under a pending status, which is a normal part of the process following a recent evaluation. Our full accreditation for the 2025–2026 school year is contingent upon submitting a one-year action plan by October 2025 that addresses the recommendations from our evaluation. This is a common step, and many schools go through it.

If for some reason the plan were not approved, AIMS would work with us through additional steps before any change in status would occur. Loss of accreditation is not immediate or automatic—it would involve further dialogue and time for correction. Our team is actively preparing a strong, thoughtful response to ensure continued accreditation, and we remain confident in the process.

Questions Related to Spring/End of Year Activities

Q: What events are back on the table?
We hope to see Our People, Our Planet (OPOP) Day back on the schedule this spring. The AIMS Accreditation Action Planning Session for faculty and staff will now have to be completed with an eye toward our future. The Friends Celebration Auction is “on” for May 3rd. Our other spring events will go forward as planned. Please check the School calendar and the weekly newsletter for information about upcoming events and activities.

Questions Related to Finances & Fundraising

Q: Please share the January 2024 report from the financial planner.
The report from the financial planner is currently held at the Board level. At this time, the Administrative Council does not have the authority to distribute that information.

Q: Considering the influx of funds from the Angel Investor and considering what the current parents have gone through with this situation as Sue shares, has the school considered giving the parents a financial "rebate" of some kind in consideration of this experience? AND as an incentive to re-enroll.
At this time, the school is not considering a financial rebate for current families. The generous support from the Angel Investor is being directed toward stabilizing the school’s operations and ensuring long-term sustainability. We remain deeply grateful for the ongoing commitment of our families and are focused on providing the strongest possible educational experience moving forward.

Q: Since SSFS is so enrollment-dependent, have you identified the factors within SSFS as to why other schools have wait lists, while we seem to be vulnerable to enrollment dips/peaks on a year to year basis? How can SSFS be more competitive?
Most nonprofit independent schools—if not all—are enrollment-dependent, with tuition serving as the primary source of revenue (over 80%). At SSFS, auxiliary programs such as Summer at Sandy Spring and other offerings, along with fundraising efforts, help offset operational costs and provide important supplemental income. However, the most effective way to ensure long-term stability and protect against enrollment fluctuations is through the growth of a strong endowment.

Q: Are the pledged funds only for paying the big bills (e.g., mortgage payments)? In the short-term, can some of the pledged funding be available for operations so that SSFS can continue to operate at a level that retains faculty and maintains programs to keep existing students and more actively draw more students in over the next few years?  
The details are currently being worked out in collaboration between the Board and the Coalition.

Q: What is the school's plan for navigating the local economic downturn?  
The declining birthrate is an international reality. The economic downswing in the greater DC area is a real concern moving forward. Our budgeting process will likely result in a smaller footprint for building usage to compensate.  

Q: How much is needed for the school to be debt-free?  
The school has $20MM of tax-exempt bonds outstanding, collateralized by the campus and other real property. Additionally, there is a $2M bank loan due in full in October 2025. 

Q: How much does the school's endowment need to be to cover operating expenses? 
While our endowment is a vital long-term asset, it does not directly cover operating expenses. Instead, tuition, donations, and community events like the Auction provide the critical funding needed for daily operations. On average, every $1 million in endowment generates approximately $40,000 annually to support key priorities such as equitable compensation for our dedicated faculty and staff, the development of robust academic and extracurricular programs, building maintenance, and more. Growing our endowment is essential to ensuring the long-term strength, excellence, and accessibility of our school — and we are deeply grateful to those who invest in our mission.

Q: What is the size for the school's endowment?  
The school's endowment corpus is $2MM. 

Q: We are 'stable' financially, but what does that mean?  
We have secured a three-year commitment for our financial plan. We anticipate that this initial funding will generate increased enthusiasm among donors and attract additional support.

Q: Is there any scenario that would prevent the school from operating for the 2025-2026 school year?
At this time, we have secured funding, issued re-enrollment contracts, and will have appropriate faculty and staff in place for the 2025–2026 school year. The only foreseeable scenarios that could disrupt operations would be an unforeseen natural disaster or a significant international economic crisis.

Q: How can parents, faculty/staff, alumni, donors, etc. be sure this doesn’t happen in the future? 
Committed involvement and active engagement, including robust participation in Springers Fund is critical. There will be a new make-up of a smaller Board which will have a particular fiduciary radar. 

Q: Will my donation to the Springer Fund in the future be important? 
Yes, the school’s tuition never covers all of our expenses, and the Springer Fund supplements all the great things for our students. 

Q: Is the Friends Celebration happening? What will the funding be used for?
Yes, the Friends Celebration is scheduled for May 3, 2025 and all proceeds will support Financial Aid. Tickets to the in-person event on May 3 are sold out, but you can still participate in fun and meaningful ways! An anonymous donor will match EVERY dollar donated to the Fund Our Scholars campaign. That means whether or not you’re able to attend, your gift can go twice as far in supporting Financial Aid. The online auction, which will be open from Mon., Apr. 28-May3 at 8:30 PM, is open to everyone—friends, family, neighbors—and features over 150 incredible items and experiences.

Questions Related to the Board of Trustees

Q: What is the specific action plan for the board and SSFS to ensure we don't have this issue again? Who is accountable for putting a plan on paper that can be shared?
The process and timeline for replacing board members is determined by the Board of Trustees. It is not the role of the Administrative Council to manage or oversee board governance.

Q: I would like to know exactly who was involved with the decision beyond the board members. I would also like to know what the process of making that decision looked like. How long did they problem solve? Why was the community not tapped for assistance?
Decisions of this magnitude—particularly those involving the operating budget and long-term strategic direction—are the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. The Administrative Council manages the day-to-day operations of the school but is not involved in making governance-level decisions. 

Q: It sounds like parents want to hear from the Board since the administrative council can only answer some questions.  How can we go about setting that up before we have to decide to commit?
We will share this request with the Board for their consideration. While we cannot speak on behalf of the Board, we agree that increased transparency and regular communication are important. We will pass along the recommendation for an annual State of the School or Business Meeting to provide updates on finances, strategic planning, and key initiatives.

While we cannot speak on behalf of the Board, we will absolutely pass along your request for more direct engagement. Many in the community have expressed a desire for greater transparency, and we recognize how important that is in rebuilding trust and moving forward together.

Q: It would be very helpful to hear from the school, the board and the coalition together in one convening, so that we can get as clear a picture as possible about how the school will be financed, operate and function going forward. Is this possible?
We understand the value in bringing together voices from the school, the Board, and the coalition to provide a clearer picture of the path forward. We will share this idea with the relevant parties for their consideration.

Q: Why is the board not speaking to us parents and answering our questions directly? Their lack of transparency in their decision-making aggravates our financial problem. They should have informed the community years ago when the issue was still manageable.
We understand your concerns and the frustration around communication. While we cannot speak on behalf of the Board, we will absolutely pass along your request for more direct engagement. Many in the community have expressed a desire for greater transparency, and we recognize how important that is in rebuilding trust and moving forward together.

We will share your concerns with the Board, especially the call for more openness around financial oversight and decision-making. Your point about accountability being rooted in service to the students is both valid and essential.

Q: I am really bothered that we will have no input to bylaws as parents. The board may be smaller, but it desperately needs to not just be smaller with the same overall make-up. It’s unconscionable that they did not have a clear picture of the finances.  The only way for them to be accountable is for meetings and finances to be an open book.  While a 990 may not be required, they do have legal fiduciary responsibility.  It seems like they view their accountability to the Friends rather than the students the school serves.  If the bylaws have no accountability to the families of the students, I can’t see how the school will survive.  
In independent school governance, it is standard practice for boards to operate as self-perpetuating bodies, meaning they appoint their own members and are responsible for overseeing fiduciary, strategic, and generative leadership. While this structure does not typically include direct parental input into bylaws, transparency and community trust are critical to a healthy school ecosystem. We fully recognize that recent events have strained that trust.

Q: Will there be revisions to the Board of Trustees? 
The Committee on Trustees has been working on the bylaws this year, and this work coincides with expectations presented by the Friends of Sandy Spring Friends School. There will be new Board members and a smaller Board of Trustees in the end. 

Questions Related to Curricular and Extra-Curricular Programming

Q: Please speak to the intention and viability of important non-academic features that are important to the SSFS experience. Is there an intention to keep the Intersession trip program in the Upper School, as well as performing arts, athletic teams, and clubs?  
We intend to continue offering a rich school experience, including Intersession trips, athletics, clubs, dining services, and the arts. We recognize how vital these programs are to student life and learning.

While lower enrollment may require us to adapt the scale or structure of some offerings, our goal is to preserve the core opportunities that define the SSFS experience. For Intersession trips, this may mean more local or regional options, or partnering with other schools or organizations. For athletics, our Athletic Director, Sal Benitez, is actively engaged in discussions with the PVAC regarding our athletic participation for the 2025–2026 school year. While we anticipate challenges related to meeting minimum player requirements for some teams, we remain committed to offering meaningful athletic opportunities for our students. In some cases, this may take the form of club-level experiences rather than traditional league competition.

Our commitment is to maintain a vibrant, engaging student experience, even as we adjust to new realities.

Q: Will the courses offered and extracurricular activities continue next year as they did this year?
We expect to offer a similar range of courses and extracurricular activities, including sports, next year. However, with anticipated shifts in enrollment, some offerings may need to be adjusted based on student interest and participation. Our priority is to preserve the breadth and quality of the student experience, and we are committed to being flexible and creative in maintaining academic and extracurricular opportunities.
 

Questions Related to Operations, Camp, Other Auxiliary Programs

Q: What programs can you *guarantee* will not be cut next year?  For example: learning support specialists, school lunch program, after-school care, etc.
We are committed to maintaining essential student services like learning support, school lunch, transportation, and after-school care; however, we want to be transparent that we cannot definitively guarantee that no changes will occur. Enrollment numbers are a primary factor in determining the viability of specific programs, and as those numbers shift, we may need to adjust accordingly.

Q: Will SSFS offer bus services for 2025-2026? 
Yes. Current routes and stops will likely be modified based on participating families.

Q: Is the Summer Camp still on for this summer? 
The camp is on. 

Q: How will the camp be affected by this 8-day limbo? 
There is little doubt that the camp size will be affected as parents scrambled this past week to find activities for their children this summer. This is also a well-respected camp and there is every hope that the camp will gain momentum and have a good season. 

Questions related to School marketing, admissions, and fundraising

Q: Will marketing and admissions be looked at closely to attract new students?
Yes

Q: Can Admissions work with current parents who are willing to support outreach at recruiting events and school fairs?
The admissions team is actively working on outreach efforts and has already engaged a number of current parents to serve as advocates for the school. Parent voices are incredibly impactful, and we’re grateful to those who are helping share the SSFS story with prospective families through events and personal connections. 

If you are a current parent and would like to get involved, please contact admissions.team@ssfs.org.

Q: Can you tell us more about the pledges committed by the alumni/friends group? I believe this is happening on Facebook and I am not on Facebook.
From what we understand through communications from leaders of the Friends of Sandy Spring coalition, approximately $16 million in pledged support was secured from alumni and current parents. The financial planner retained by the Board reviewed these pledges and developed a model showing that, with significantly reduced enrollment and careful financial planning, a path to continued operation was feasible.

Q: Are these pledges spread out over multiple years? Will SSFS’s administration be sending out a fundraising request similar to what the coalition did?
Fundraising will absolutely be a top priority as we work toward long-term financial sustainability. The SSFS Advancement Office is preparing to launch an endowment campaign, with the goal of doubling the funds raised by the coalition. This campaign will focus on securing long-term support to stabilize and strengthen the school for the future.

At this time, we are still awaiting full information about the donors and pledge details from the coalition. For the long-term success of the school, it's critical that these generous donors work in partnership with the SSFS Advancement team to align efforts and ensure proper stewardship of their commitments.

Our understanding is that many of the pledges made through the coalition are multi-year commitments, though we are still seeking full clarity on that. We plan to issue a fundraising appeal with a coordinated and strategic approach through the Advancement Office to support both annual and long-term planning.

Questions about partnership between the Board, school administration, and the Friends of SSFS Coalition

Q: It would be very helpful to hear from the school, the board and the coalition together in one convening, so that we can get as clear a picture as possible about how the school will be financed, operate, and function going forward. Is this possible?
Thank you for the suggestion. We understand the value in bringing together voices from the school, the Board, and the coalition to provide a clearer picture of the path forward. We will share this idea with the relevant parties for their consideration.