Hello Croft-JP Community,
We are writing to update you on our understanding of the remaining path ahead for our school. FOJPE has the funds necessary to keep the school in operation through June 12, and we are doing everything we can to meet that goal. Oxford’s decision to file for bankruptcy on Friday brings uncertainty. We hope that Oxford’s plan to keep the school operating through the initial stages of bankruptcy will work. However, we, like you, worry that something unpredictable may happen that could put this final week at risk. Nonetheless, we will continue to do all we can to ensure our kids and school get the celebration and closure they deserve, and we remain hopeful that this is still possible.
Here is what we know:
- FOJPE has the funds to keep the school operations running through June 12.
- On Friday, May 29, Oxford requested that FOJPE fund payroll early so that payment could be made before the bankruptcy filing. We intend to wire those funds tomorrow morning. This will ensure that the bankruptcy proceeding does not disrupt the ability to pay staff for the final pay period, and that staff will be paid early.
- We expect Oxford to file for bankruptcy on Friday. Given this, there is less risk of school closure before then. The risk is primarily for the final week of school.
- Once Oxford files, a trustee will be quickly appointed and will be in charge of making decisions about the school’s operations.
- Bankruptcy does not necessarily mean that the school is closing on Friday, instead the trustee will be charged with that decision.
- Our counsel has been in touch with Oxford’s bankruptcy attorneys.
- Because wages have been prepaid, we will encourage the trustee to allow the school to properly wind down by ending operations on June 12. We expect Oxford’s counsel to encourage the same and believe that it is preparing papers and motions for filing consistent with that goal.
- Until the trustee is appointed and makes a decision, we will not know for certain whether the school will operate next week.
- But we will do everything we can to continue to achieve our goal of keeping Croft JP open through June 12. Our counsel is prepared to go to court to support the plan. There may be an opportunity for caregivers to do so as well. Our hope is that we have put our community in the best position possible to show the trustee why allowing Croft to stay open for its final week of operations is the best outcome here.
- No Oxford funds are being used to support the end-of-school party at Parkman Playground on Friday, June 12. That event will happen no matter what happens next week.
When our community came together two months ago to fundraise for our school,we did so with a single goal: to ensure our children could finish their school year at Croft. We always knew it wouldn’t be easy. At every turn we have been met by lies, by threats, by arguments over money — forces with their own priorities, none of them our kids. Our priorities have always been simple: our community, our school, our children. And we are so close — because of you, and because of the teachers and staff who give our children everything, every single day.
-FOJPE