Local News
March 28, 2008
Rambam Splitting Into Two Schools
Modern Orthodox operation to offer single-sex classes on different campuses.
Rochelle Eisenberg
Staff Reporter
In an effort to increase enrollment and stem the tide of financial pressures plaguing the school, Yeshivat Rambam announced last week that it would switch from offering coeducational classes to all single-sex classes. The changes would take effect in the upcoming school year.
According to Seth Rotenberg, president of Yeshivat Rambam, “The split is connected to the economic situation of the school. If we don’t grow, we can’t continue to be competitive.”
He hopes to reaffirm that this is a financial decision and that the change does not mean that the school is moving to the right. “We haven’t changed our philosophy. We plan to keep our Zionist philosophy and our ability to recognize God in a secular world,” he said.
The school has signed a letter of intent with Baltimore Hebrew University to use its top floor as classrooms for the boys in grades 6-12. The girls in the middle school and high school will remain at the school’s current Upper Park Heights campus. Logistics regarding classes in the earlier grades are still being worked out, added Dr. Rita Shloush, head of school, and are expected to be announced within the next 60 days.
According to Alex Porcelain, a senior and president of the Student Council, “The students want the school to succeed. We are like one big family, and we receive a very good education. We don’t want any compromise,” he said.
Among students, one of the biggest concerns is maintaining academic excellence. They are worried particularly about certain AP classes, where there are few girls, that these students will not also receive the same education.
Mr. Rotenberg hopes to alleviate those concerns. “The school is committed to maintaining its present academic standards despite the split,” he said.
The school plans to hire additional faculty in both general and Judaic studies, with more opportunity for full-time positions. Many faculty members will teach classes for both genders.
Yeshivat Rambam first opened its doors in September, 1991, for kindergarten through grade 3. In its inaugural year, 52 students enrolled. The school continued to attract about 40 new students a year, as it added one additional grade per year. However, approximately 6-7 years ago, growth in enrollment began to slow, averaging 3 percent per year. “That was not consistent with our financial projections,” said Mr. Rotenberg.
As a result, the school began running an annual deficit that rose to slightly less than $1 million dollars, according to Mr. Rotenberg. They were able to balance their budget, he said, thanks to generous donors who stepped in to make up the shortfall.
“Our annual fund-raising reached a level that was exceptionally difficult to maintain,” he added.
Last year, the school hired an outside business consultant, Jay Hobby, to look at its situation and make recommendations. Several committees were formed to investigate ways to increase its enrollment. These consisted of 11 parents, who ranged in diversity from their children’s ages and genders to their philosophies; members of the executive committee; and three community rabbis –– Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb, Congregation Shomrei Emunah; Rabbi Shmuel Silber, Suburban Orthodox Congregation; and Rabbi Uriel Lubetski, Yeshivat Rambam’s middle and high school principal.
After looking closely at the school’s philosophy, the committees agreed on the same principles, which included Torah education, Torah U’Mada, academic excellence, communal responsibility and Israel. Coeducation appeared not to be an essential value for the school.
Concurrently, Mr. Hobby conducted a survey of parents who visited the school in 2007, but decided not to enroll their children.
“The results caught us off guard,” said Mr. Hobby, who added that over the last three years, approximately 150 parents, translating into 400 students, may have enrolled at Yeshivat Rambam, had the school been single-sex.
The school has estimated that it may lose between 5 and 7 percent of its current student body, mostly in the higher grades. But it believes that the gains will more than offset that number.
After learning about the changes, many students arrived at school the following day, wearing stickers that basically said, “Rest in peace Yeshivat Rambam.” They sat together and sang Jewish songs, following morning assembly. Afterwards the faculty joined them and discussed the changes, and according to Alex, reaffirmed that the split would work out.
“I have to agree with the school’s decision, but I am upset. These are like my brothers and sisters ... my life-long friends. We’re forced to split up two years before graduation,” said Maddy List, a sophomore.
She added that one of the concerns, voiced by a junior, is whether the boys and girls, who have been together for all these years, would graduate together. In addition, they wondered whether there would have to be two separate yearbooks, because there needed to be two separate classes.
In response, Mr. Rotenberg said that many of these logistics were currently being worked out and specifics would be answered in 60 days.
Overall, Dr. Shloush said that the school has seen an “overwhelming number of positive calls we’ve received since the announcement.”
“No one wants the school to fail,” said Alex. “The school is more than just being coed, but nobody wants to lose what makes the school special.”
Yeshivat Rambam Facts
Founded: 1991
Current students: 350
Boys: 53 percent
Girls: 47 percent
Source: Yeshivat Rambam