You are dead on. The budget for TTSP includes numerous programs that help build identity for over 300 children in the greater Saint Paul area. Without UJFC’s support numerous families would be affected as would synagogue membership and the Saint Paul jewish identity. Parents are motivated to build the school along with UJFC support. More scholarship money is indeed not forthcoming and up until now the parents have NOT been notified of the urgency involved in building enrollment. Parents built the school initially and will build it again once given the fair shake that they are now being given.

“Waste” is a subjective term as used by Stephen. If one considers a Jewish day school in St. Paul important, then supporting it in a time of difficulty and funding efforts to make it larger are not waste. If anything, it is an investment.

Facts should inform statements and questions.

Assumption #1 – More scholarships per student. No one was quoted as saying that a continued allocation at the same level to TTSP would mean more scholarships per student. That was an assumption that the reporter made. Here are the problems with that assumption. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that if there are fewer students in the day school and the allocation is the same, the amount each student receives will increase. However, once again the Day School is only 1 program. Perhaps the school is expecting an increase in enrollment in its other programs from those students who used to go to the day school, or perhaps the other programs will see an influx of students from the general Jewish community. Maybe some of the allocation will be ear marked to be used to hire a consultant to help the school address some of its issues or for increased marketing. I don’t know and neither does the writer. It was only assumed that the money is used for scholarships.

Assumption #2 – Every other agency will be cut by big amounts because of the allocation to TTSP. As far as I know, allocation decisions have not been made nor is the UJFC campaign over. Supposed the UJFC Campaign increases by $500,000 this year (unlikely especially if people continue to threaten withholding their support but let’s suppose) and the TTSP allocation is flat. One could assume that every other agency other than TTSP would get an increase in thier allocation. Now one could then argue that wouldn’t be fair and therefore will again find a reason to with hold their support for communal fundraising. Perhaps, UJFC will reduce its own budget which it did last year or reduce overseas allocations or cut one agnecy by X amount and reallocate to another agency and thereby increasing that allocation. There are many possibilities so it is premature to jump to assumptions.

There seems to be anger directed either at TTSP, its students or their parents or at the UJFC. Not sure why. Rather than anger though, a “what can we do as a community to address this and other issues” (there are a number of issues facing the St. Paul Jewish community, Jewish Day School education being just one of them) would be more constructive.

The number of students the TTSP enrolls is 316 total, between the Preschool, Day School, Afternoon School, Midrasha and TTSP/Mount Zion’s Hebrew programs. The allocation is for the entire school’s operational costs and all programs, not just the Day School.

As always, the UJFC is fully transparent in our beneficiary agency allocations both to our local and overseas agencies. You can always check out our annual report online here http://www.jewishstpaul.org/page.aspx?id=200056 . We have a rigorous analysis of community needs each year through our Central Budget Review Committee, which reviews recommendations from five budget sub-committees and prepares final allocation budget recommendation for approval by the UJFC Board of Directors. CBRC is comprised of a large number of community members.

I hope you will check out our website to find out more about all that the UJFC does for critical greater St. Paul community and overseas Jewish needs. You can watch a video about what we do via the link above or read more here: http://www.jewishstpaul.org/page.aspx?id=198601

Again, feel free to contact me with any questions at apriso@ujfc.org Thank you.