Day school more do-able in SJ

The day school education that may have seemed out of reach yesterday just came a whole lot closer.

A grant from the Kohelet Foundation will make day school more accessible to many South Jersey youngsters, according to Fran Rebhun, president of Kellman Brown Academy. In the talking stages since November, the grant was awarded to Kellman Brown at the end of February.

"This is a tremendous gift," Rebhun said. It means a day school education will be available to more kids in our community."

The Kohelet Foundation was founded in 2008 by David Magerman, a 40-year-old computer scientist who recently left the technology industry to focus his energies on increasing day school enrollment and thereby increasing commitment to Jewish life.

Initial Kohelet funds went to the Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day Schools, an affiliate of Conservative Judaism's Solomon Schechter movement, for a Tuition Incentive Program For Subsidizing Yiddishkeit. The grant to Kellman Brown, also a Solomon Schechter school, is for a similar program.

"It will lower the financial barrier to initial entry to day school," said Kellman Brown immediate past president Sandy Brown.

Politz Day School of Cherry Hill, an Orthodox institution, is also anticipating Kohelet funding, according Politz spokesperson Alise Panitch. "Politz and Kohelet are in the talking stages," she said. Magerman has visited Politz and "was impressed with it. Now, we're working to develop the appropriate program."

Kellman Brown is a kindergarteneighth grade school. "Educators consider that the best model," said Sandy Brown. "It works for us. Our middle and elementary schools have great relationships.

"The Kohelet Foundation wants kindergarten enrollment. The earlier the exposure, the better the chance of sustaining a Jewish lifestyle," she explained." The tuition incentive program will offer families a three year $7,500 reduction in tuition for every new

student, regardless of income level, entering gan (kinder- garten); a three year $4,500 reduction for every new student entering first grade, and a three year $9,000 for every new student entering the sixth grade. These reductions will be offered only to students enrolling for the first time in the 2009-2110 school year.

"These are the three natural entry points," said Kellman Brown past President Andrew Barnett. He added that financial aid will also be available based on the net tuition due after the Kohelet subsidy. "This may free up funds for families with significant needs," he said.

Stated tuition is $9,695, kindergarten; $11,262, Grade 1; $12,450, Grade 2; $12,715, Grades 3-5; $13,338, Grade 6, and $13,909, grades 7-8.

"The three year commitment will be reviewed annually," according to Barnett. "And results are essential for continuation." He also said that success was likely to bring "a continuing commitment for support for additional cohorts during each student's tenure at Kellman Brown.

Upon notification of the grant, Kellman Brown began spreading the news by calling community leaders. "The rabbis were really excited and supportive," said Gail Cohen, the school's executive director. The next step was calling two information sessions for both current and prospective Kellman Brown families. A broader outreach will soon be underway.

Benefits from the grant are many, according to Sandy Brown. "Any school operates best when its filled to capacity, for one thing." Also, the program will allow for realigning financial aid awards. Increased enrollment will not be problematic, because class size will not climb above 18.

Kellman Brown Academy moved to a new building at 1007 Laurel Oak Rd., in the Voorhees Corporate Center behind the Ritz Theater in Sept. 2008. To tour the building and for additional information about the subsidies please contact Beth Warren, admissions, at 679-2929, Ext. 1712, or email bwarren@kellmanbrownacademy. org.