When Midtown International School announced its unexpected and immediate closure on March 31, parents began questioning the school's finances and requesting information from leadership and the board of trustees. What they discovered has only raised more questions.
Parents soon learned that a newly-recruited MIS board member had bought the building in an effort to financially save the school. With the school closing six weeks early and staring down spring break, parents demanded access to board members for answers.
A letter from board members Anneke Bates, Brett Curry, and Chaitra Chambers stated that declining re-enrollment and demand for scholarships and financial aid made operations "unsustainable." In an April 2 virtual meeting with around 90 attendees, Bates introduced herself as a parent of a former student "gone from MIS long enough that most of you probably don't know me." She said she joined the board as a parent and remained because she cared about the school.
The revelation that a board member purchased the building while the school was in financial distress has left families seeking clarity on the timeline of events and whether more could have been done to keep the school open.
