I heard a rumor that Shalhevet High School will drop its three year Hebrew language requirement. This is not true. This requirement is not changing. Spanish may be added as an elective.
I heard that a rumor that 14 teachers got fired. This is not true. Two teachers are not getting their contracts renewed because of inadequate performance.
I heard a rumor that the wife of Shalhevet’s head of school will be teaching second grade. That is not true. She will not be working at Shalhevet.
A Shalhevet source tells me: Lots of changes happening for next year. They were actually much earlier than previous years in letting us know if they’re renewing contracts, which was really helpful, especially for those who will be looking for work elsewhere.
Mr. Jonathan Gilbert will be the new assistant principal for general studies in the Middle and Elementary schools. Kind of replacing Ed Eiseman, but only assistant since head of school Rabbi Weinbach is bringing someone in who is head of education, both departments, for the entire school.
The number of actual teachers this source was aware of not having their contracts renewed for next year is 3 from elementary, none from middle and 3 from the high school. Only 6. 3 of those are not full-time. The source said that unfortunately, the financial situation is such that they have eliminated “extras” – not splitting small grades into 2 classes anymore in the lower school, not having TA’s above grade 2 or (maybe til 3rd?) and in the high school not retaining teachers who teach part time. It is still difficult that the coworkers whose contracts aren’t being renewed are not going to be working at Shalhevet – because they are phenomenal. They will be sorely missed, for sure.
Overall, the changes are part of the inner and outer renovation the school has undergone during this first year of leadership of Rabbi Weinbach. It seems to this source that Shalhevet students, families, and faculty (including them) are primarily happy with the changes.
