Facing financial challenges, Laboratory Schools administration announced budget cuts that will eliminate sports teams, an academic program and staff positions. The cuts were announced in an email on the afternoon of May 6 from Director of Schools Tori Jueds.
Two U-High sports teams — sailing and squash — will be cut in the administration’s new financial plan, and the German language program will be phased out by 2028.
Aside from the U-High changes, sixth grade sports teams were eliminated beginning next year, and middle school team sports will have participation caps with only two girls teams and two boys teams.
A separate email to Lab employees laid out that nine staff positions will be cut, four of which are from the libraries.
In an email to the Lab community, Ms. Jueds wrote that university leaders devised a four-year recovery plan in which Lab is participating, and Lab’s budget guidelines over the next fiscal year reflect the institution’s philosophy that all units should share in its financial recovery.
“Consequently, we have had to make some very difficult decisions,” she wrote.
On the afternoon of May 7, Director of Athletics Matt Manley emailed the community with further explanations and opportunities for the cut sports to attain club status for the coming school year.
For the students who are involved in academic and athletic programs that will be cut, reactions were passionate. Many were disappointed in the decision, while some were baffled.
Katharine Christensen, a junior, has taken German at Lab since third grade. Over the years, she said the program has grown to mean a lot to her. Katharine emphasized her disappointment for the future U-High students who won’t be offered the program.
“I think it’s really disappointing and unfair to students that have taken German and want to take German can no longer,” Katharine said. “I’m honestly just disappointed.”
Victoria Syverson, a ninth grader who takes German, said that although she is saddened by the choice, she understands it.
“I wouldn’t say I’m entirely surprised,” Victoria said, “because I definitely can tell there’s a lack of people participating in the program, even though I think it’s really good and that the teachers are very good.”
Ilana Umanskiy, a junior on the sailing team, felt blindsided by this announcement. She wishes that the administration had spoken to the sailing team before deciding to cut the sport.
“I want them to know that you can’t make decisions like that without compromise or at least letting us know,” Ilana said. “Like, you can’t let our entire school know at the same time as us, ’cause it’s going to affect a lot of kids.”
Sophomore Cruise Lickerman, another sailing team member, said the decision doesn’t account for all the hard work and achievements of the sailing team.
“We’re really disappointed that sailing is being canceled. We put in a lot of work and effort, and we’ve been a very successful sports team,” Cruise said. “And so just to see the administration throwing that all away … is just really disappointing for us.”
Asher Dennis, a sophomore squash player, feels there are alternatives to cutting these teams. Specifically, he thinks there were many ways to limit costs within the squash team.
“Like, we don’t need two coaches. We don’t need to practice where we do and pay for that. We could do it on university courts,” Asher said. “It’s just a shock, right?”
Other cuts that will be made under this plan include:
- Faculty summer pay for service on hiring committees
- Print copies of Lab Life alumni magazine
- New faculty extra service positions
Former Student • May 13, 2024 at 11:28 am
School is going down the drain. It was already in decline when I left, such a shame. The administrators were always completely incompetent…
Confused and sarcastic • May 9, 2024 at 4:56 am
Yeah I mean when you only charge 45k a year you’re gonna have to tighten your purse strings a bit
Lucy Gray • May 8, 2024 at 10:12 pm
As a former Lab employee and parent of a student who participated in the German program, I am sorry to see these changes.
Laura and Mike Allen • May 8, 2024 at 9:04 pm
The loss of the German program is very short-sighted. We saw it as the strongest language program at Lab and one of the main draws for us to choose Lab. The program kept our daughter engaged from 3rd through 12th grade. Our daughter was very fortunate to have experienced such a well-developed and rounded cirriculum and the quality and care of such devoted teachers, leading her to continue studying the language in college. We am saddened the “new” Lab is making such a poor decision. For if Lab continues to follow other schools in phasing out the programming that gave Lab its special appeal and reputation, what then will set Lab apart other than for its high cost of tuition?
Concerned Staff • May 8, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Let’s cut German, let’s cut support staff, let’s cut student athletics, and let’s prevent new extra service positions allowing teachers to engage with students in new and innovative ways, but let’s absolutely not cut any actual administration positions, because it would be unfair to give them extra work.
How many new administrators has Lab hired since the start of the pandemic? And how many “Assistant Directors” have we added in just the last two years? It definitely makes sense that Lab is currently hiring for a (brand new position) second Assistant Athletics Director while simultaneously cutting the MS program. It may “bring out staffing back to pre pandemic levels” according to Matt Manley, but that used to be a secretary position, and if the justification is that the previous secretary is similar enough to this new Assistant AD role – and therefore justified – then how do you justify cutting multiple department secretaries? Those department secretaries were pre pandemic.
class of 2020 • May 8, 2024 at 10:13 pm
exactly. there are so many extra admin positions that are not needed, yet they cut one of their most unique programs. this is unbelievable.
Although I was not a german student at lab, two of my academic advisors were german teachers, and were incredibly devoted. Additionally, many times, german courses were a place where students could learn more about the holocaust, a topic not discussed much at Lab.
Susan H. Shapiro • May 8, 2024 at 11:10 am
The loss of the German program is a tragedy. The loss of nine staff positions is unconscionable. Eliminating 6th grade sports is short-sighted and violates the intent of the Athletics Council to build an age appropriate and meaningful athletic experience for middle schoolers. I am shocked and deeply disappointed.