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November 21, 2004
Dear Coronado Parents:
Over the past few years, Coronado Academy has matured into
a unique, exciting, enriching environment for a select population
of students. Our graduates have been accepted to outstanding
universities where they have thrived on the positive values
adopted while at Coronado. Our current and alumni students
and parents frequently praise the caring, dedication, and
creativity of our faculty in working with a very distinct
niche of bright, strong-willed, highly capable students.
Despite these successes, the "business" that supports
the school has been weak. The Board of Directors of Coronado
Academy has wrestled with insufficient enrollments, huge
operating costs, and chronic cash flow problems. Our growth
projections did not anticipate the devastating psychological
impact of the 9/11 terrorist strikes. Overnight, U.S. parents
viewed travel and personal safety abroad differently, and
student census projections became a fantasy. Consequently,
from Day One, Coronado faced a looming fiscal crisis.
Mounting debt and dwindling rescue options have finally
caught up with us. The Board has tapped every resource it
can and is only left with one option at this time. Given
our limited available funds, we must close the Academy's
doors no later than Sunday, November 28. The only exceptions
are the handful of students that are already registered for
the December 4 SAT test with extended time accommodations.
Those who are registered for the December SAT exam but do
not have extended time accommodations need to call College
Board at 609-771-7137 and change the test center to a test
center near home. Margie Griffin, a supervisor with College
Board, has been helpful and empathetic to Coronado Academy
in the past and would be a good reference for you in this
situation as well. Heather Tracy will coordinate plans with
those families as needed. We recognize that Coronado's immediate
closure will create serious hardship for students, parents,
faculty, staff, and educational consultants, and our heartfelt
apologies go to all that are impacted by this news.
Heather Tracy, Academic Director, has outlined a plan that
ensures students will earn full credit for the current quarter.
Though students will not complete the last three weeks of
the quarter on campus, they are already ahead in terms of
hours
of instruction and will receive final projects from teachers
early this week. Students will have time to work directly
with teachers to clarify instructions and work on their projects.
Projects will then be emailed to the Heather Tracy who will
coordinate the grading and credit-granting procedures for
students' final transcripts. This final week of classes will
consist of time for students to work on final projects, college
applications, and attend a free SAT prep seminar on Wednesday.
Heather will also remain available to students and families
via email in order to help wrap up college applications,
recommendation letters and the sending of transcripts to
new schools.
Students will be told about the school closure on Monday,
November 22 at approximately 11am, "Coronado Time." PLEASE
DO NOT EMAIL OR DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH THEM UNTIL THEY
RAISE THE MATTER WITH YOU. We are making every effort to
ensure that our communications facilitate students' emotional
safety during this transition. Parents are urged to contact
Saul Rudman, Mario Duran, Heather Tracy, Andy Myers, or their
Advisor on Monday to process this sudden announcement and
ask questions. Please contact Elena Bottarini and
/ or Sadie Rudman at the school to make arrangements for students' return
to the U.S. We can be reached at:
703-738-9629
561-208-8193
856-269-2809
305-433-8286
708-231-7522
011-506-778-8311
011-506-778-8038
011-506-778-8313
Forgive us for not calling you to share this news. We have
waited until every possible option has been exhausted, but
time is no longer on our side. We will do our best to reach
each family by phone and welcome your calls Monday afternoon.
Sincerely,
Saul Rudman, President & CEO and
The Coronado Academy Leadership Team |
