By Pinecrest Schools parent Giselijn Knight
How do you tell your children that the school they love is shutting down? We received a short letter this week from Pinecrest Schools, informing us that our school in Lancaster will be closing at the end of this school year. The school has been unable to renegotiate a lease for the campus and sees no other options than to close in only a few months, according to the letter. [Read it here.]
There was no warning, no attempt to involve parents or the community, nothing – just a short letter with devastating news and no apparent way out.
For us, it means that our children’s education is going to drastically change. For the children, it means they will need to leave behind the place they trust, the place that has given them security and friends for a large part of their lives. For the staff and teachers, it means they are out of a job.
Our children are heartbroken. If we can’t find a way to keep the school going, the students will have to go to another school and get used to a completely new environment. For some children, this happens only a few times in their lives. However, a lot of Pinecrest students belong to military parents, who must move every few years. Trying to minimize change in your child’s life is difficult enough without schools deciding to close their doors.
Pinecrest is a great school. It was even voted “Best Private School” in the Antelope Valley this year.
At Pinecrest Schools’ Lancaster campus, there are wonderful students who want to learn, great teachers and staff who desperately want to teach, and parents who want to help in any way we can.
When everyone is so eager to create a great environment for children to learn and develop, how can it be possible that the only solution is to shut down that very location where all the learning takes place?
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The AV Times.
Email letters@www.theavtimes.com to submit a story to Your Issues | Your News.
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Editor’s note: Knight is one of many concerned parents rallying to keep the Pinecrest Lancaster campus open. Other parents have created Facebook and Twitter pages to raise public awareness about the school’s closure and to organize an effort stop it.To support this effort, visit www.facebook.com/savepinecrest or https://twitter.com/savepinecrest.
Mart says
Stay away from this school i use to work at van nuys the from van nuys i was moved to northridge then from northridge to canyon country to valencia and a bunch of bs with these schools they all closed except for canyon country now lancaster all this school cares about it money books are outdated schools are in terrible condition the plan for jeri dye lynch is to close all of em shes rich she made money off the van nuys campus alone theyre all a bunch of thiefs from the directo who use to be in northridge and the one in valencia was a total bitch she stole from the school without anybody finding out wih that janitor supervisor valentin and dont even get me started in woodland hills and northridge i love the van nuys campus it was the best had the best teachers but it all went downhill after they closed van nuys sooner or later JDL will close them all youll see
ThatOneChick says
Is there a reason why Pinecrest has not considered finding a NEW LOCATION? And after so many years of leasing ONE location all the while OWNING the other FIVE, why had no one come up with a plan to purchase property and eventually move? As a profitable school with families who clearly who not like this school shut down, I’m sure it could have been done. I’m sorry for the poor planning that lead to this demise and hope all families, faculty and staff come out on top in their own ways.
All the best
ThatOneChick says
who clearly *would* not like this school shut down
PinecrestFamily says
Several years ago my family moved to the AV because my husband was transferred to Edwards AFB. As a military family, moving is a part of life, but it’s still stressful and creates chaos and change. With most of us, the first question we have about our new assignment is “how are the schools?” As soon as we arrived we began our school hunt and found a great match in Pinecrest. Our children love going to school. They love their teachers, feel safe, and are challenged academically. Over the years, Pinecrest has been very comforting to our lives that are so full of change. Teachers, staff and other parents have become family. We are all very sad that the school is closing because the owner and landlord cannot come to terms. There were many tears when the news was shared.
I’ve noticed how many negative comments are listed below. It’s unfortunate that you cannot empathize with a part of your community that is hurting.
Yes, Pinecrest is a for-profit private school with a substantial tuition. I work, predominately so that I can pay for my children’s education. It’s important to me and a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Both of my children far exceed their grade levels (academically).
Every teacher my children have had was credentialed, caring, and academically challenging.
I don’t know of anyone on welfare or who has their tuition waived. Pinecrest offers a military and referral discount. Many of the families I know are military, have two working parents to cover tuition, and are financially stable.
I have no knowledge of their water being shut off if they didn’t pay, however, the water stayed on.
And lastly, to the comments related to the school not ‘giving a dang’ or ‘not caring about the kids’ – this has not been my experience. Everyone we interact with is involved, warm, caring and loving. Right now they are sad and hurting from such sad news, but sticking together. Many of the teachers and staff have been there for nearly two decades – and believe me, they care.
The school, teachers, and staff aren’t perfect. It’s isn’t run perfectly, it has THE WORST parking lot…but it is home to my kids and we love it there. We are incredibly sad that it’s closing.
I doubt there is much any of us can do to ‘save the school.’ But maybe, as a community, show a little compassion for the teachers, staff, students, and family that are hurting and feeling so displaced.
College tuition says
Stay far away from this school, $18,000 per year for my two sons and they are so far behind grade level. This is and under performance school who gives away fake honor rolls for money. Not one teacher there is Credentialed. They pick their favorites, and ignore the rest of the children, the parents do most of the teachings at home and on weekends. Yes, great small class sizes but that is the only great asset. Their staff is Rude with poor etiquette, manners and leadership skills just horrible roll models. This private school is registered with the department Edu. as a for PROFIT school only and has no State/federal over site… Stay away better education is in public schools anyway. Entire college tuition that my husband and i can never get back. And my children are BEHIND…
Patrick says
As a past student that went there from kindergarten through half of seventh grade Im going to vouch for the school. I was a student during the 9/11 attacks and the staff, including maintenance and food staff, were right there calling parents and making sure students were sent off safely. Every other day, staff cared for each child as if their own, yes there are some days where staff is a little iffy ,but it is expected because we are all human. Mrs Latimier is probably the biggest example of a staff member showing great care for students. When I left, she had organized a huge going away party that included both seventh grade classes. It’s extremely sad that this school is having to close. Memories will be lost for all of us, but as a community the Antelope Valley residents should at least try to help and not just sit back and admit defeat. This is not an issue between private or public, it’s a matter of a place of amazing EDUCATION being shut down. Don’t discriminate,help them out a little bit.
Kandice says
although many people believe this school takes in tons of money because of its tuition, people need to think of how many people actually pay tuition. This school gets funds waived for those on welfare. My neighbors kids have all gone to Pincrest because her fees are waived. I know a lot of kids whose parents are on welfare and they attend Pincrest. This school isn’t full of snooty rich kids…a majority of the students’ parents are on welfare. So I could see how the school can’t manage anymore.
Michael says
As a private school, Pinecrest offers a discount for military, multiple children in the same family, and referrals. They do not, however, receive funds for anyone on welfare, nor do they waive fees.
Christina says
Both of my children attended Pinecrest and I beg to differ with you. I noticed first hand that parents on welfare were paying less or had their fees waived. Even to this day, all welfare parents have to do is request that their children attend a private school and they receive the appropriate documentation.
Please open your eyes. Last I heard, welfare recipients are living better than most of us these days! They receive food stamps to feed their children, yet schools are providing free breakfasts and free lunches. Not only, during summer breaks, the schools are still providing meals for these children. Tax payers are paying for homes that they are living in ($1800 a month); health insurance, cell phones, leases for their brand new expensive cars (because they cannot own,) electricity and gas bills, etc. Were you aware that if the parent requests an IEP that they receive up to $2500 dollars a month for taking care of that child. So why not throw private schools (and more) on the tax payers!!!!
Don’t know about you, my standard of living (and many others) is less than those who feel “entitled.”
I’m truly sorry about the school closing as my children received the best possible education. The entire staff was very involved, supportive, respectful and would go out of their way to assist with all of their students to ensure that they succeeded.
Both of my children have their Bachelors Degree; one recently obtained his Masters while working full time and my second child is working on hers.
As parents, we all know what are children are capable of and it is up to us to make sure that they live up to their full potential and set the high standards. It’s very easy to blame the school(s) for everything, but let’s face it, it’s the parents. responsibility. If your child fails, you failed.
bird says
So sorry to hear about this situation. I read the history of Pinecrest schools and the Dye family, and that there are six campuses, soon to be five. Such a short notice for a school closing can be overwhelming, and stressful. I am part of a military family that spent very little time in one place, so I know that this is a double portion of stress for the children, as well as parents. I hope this is resolved soon.
Parent says
I will add to the comments for those who know nothing about the school and the terms that are being asked of them. I have a older son in public school and is doing well yes a out stand GPA and all A’s and its works for him but my other child had a really hard time in public school and I pulled him out and move him to Pinecrest.This school does care about its kids and what happens to them. You don’t see what happens behind the gate and it’s not about the money and if you spent time at the school you will see that. This is not a easy time for anyone so please either don’t comment or keep quite
jt says
Sounds to me the owners of the property are to blame here, if they been leasing for numerous years and now the owners don’t want to reach a mutual agreement, sounds like they have bigger and more expensive plans for the site, which does not include the school! That is if we are being given all the information! The school could agree to pay 3 times what they are paying. If the owner’s down agree it doesn’t matter!
Christine says
I agree here, I think the landlord has other plans for the property to which we are not privy. I think most Pincrest parents, myself included, would absorb a reasonable increase in tuition to keep the school open, but the fact that the school did not offer this to us indicates that it is such an unreasonable amount that it is clear the landlord no longer wants Pinecrest as it’s tennant.
As the landlord, I should also be able to do what I wish with the property. In leasing it to a school, I should have been prepared to continue for the “long haul” as uprooting children like this is in favor of some other business venture is simply cruel. As the school, on the other hand, it was probably a poor decision to have placed their students and faculty into a situation that had the possibility of ending like this. If the property could not be purchased, the school should not have opened.
Turning this into a public school vs. private school debate is not really the point. I love the school and it has been a good fit for my child for the past 6 years. At his tender age, he has already suffered too many tragic losses, so this is hitting us particularly hard. I support the effort to keep Pinecrest open, but only if there is a long-term solution so that we are not back to this point year after year.
khloe says
Maybe if there weren’t so many healthy men and women working thw welfare system and getting real jobs this school could stay open for these poor kids
Zee says
Tf???
Lin says
Sorry but what are you talking about? ?
Parents, can you tell us, the community what we can do . . . That is constructive.
Comeonnowgetittogether says
Too bad the school doesnt give a dang about the kids. They make enough money to stay open.
Dont got to worry about that crap with public schools. They stay open. And dont say they are bad because my kid got straight A’s all through school, graduated with over a 4.0 gpa and in college. All this from going to public school!!
rooney says
Can’t the mayor jiggle some cash around instead of wasting money trying to pretty up the blvd?
RF says
instead of pissing away how much $$ on cycle lanes that I have yet to see ONE cyclist using…
Comeonnowgetittogether says
With all the money that school brings in they can’t just agree and pay for the lease. Looks like the school doesn’t really care about those kids or staff if they are unwilling to fight harder to save their school.
Glad I dont have to deal with this stupid BS!!