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Comments: This school is now close to three years old. It was started by a group of parents, however one strong female personality managed to drive away all the other founders, leaving her and her husband in charge of the school. . She has continually interfered in the school, called teachers at home late a nigh with “requests” and controlled everything that happened because she controls the finances. Three directors in the first year – one left, one was “fired”; more than 130% faculty turnover; one director in the second year who was very good (Robert Young) but ultimately he left because he was unable to function under the circumstances. No teachers, however, left that year. So far two directors this year and over 50% faculty departures. Director Young spoke many times about the vision of the school. I don’t think the Board supported this vision, although we did have meetings with them and they said all the nice words. I think only two members of the Board were serious about education, and they left when Mr Young left. So I suppose they are just words. Another teacher has just left (end of April) and two more have told me they have new jobs for September. That means again more than 100% changeover in staff.

The area around Chatsworth, California is horrible. It is probably based on the suburbs in Hell. Everything is boring, low class, dirty, blah blah. To go anywhere takes forever and you have to like sitting in your car in traffic. “The world’s longest parking lot is the 405 freeway and the second longest is the 101 freeway” – two of the three freeways in the Valley.

The cost of everything is high, especially housing, and the salary at Elan ($25 000 – $35 000) is not enough for living – if you get your check and if it doesn’t bounce. Mine bounced three times. At 3.30 on Fridays we would get our checks. At 3.35 almost all of the teachers were in the bank cashing them because if you deposited the check your own checks would probably bounce and cost you money in fines. Sometimes there were no teachers at the school at 4.00 on Fridays because they were all in the bank even though they were supposed to be at after school programs. It was the hardest year financially for me I have ever passed. Is this good for you?

Comments: The Board has real problems and most members leave once they encounter the “two at the top” of this “personal empire” school. The Director tried to resolve the situation and to take the school forward, but the wife of the President decides what does and doesn’t happen without any discussion. The director ended up leaving after one year (his two predecessor managed 3 – 4 months each) and his successor left after 8 weeks.The school is now on its fifth Director. Avoid this school.