Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston, Massachusetts

              BUREAU OF JEWISH EDUCATION
824 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167 / 277-3100
November 14, 1979
President
Bernard D. Frank
Vlc+Pnsldenis
Sumner M Mender
N. Roneld Silberstein
Treasure/
Oscar h. Cnesea
Secretary
Norman 3. Cohan
C.ec. Oitocio: ElT.eritVa
Or. Benia/nh J. Shevach
Ex*CVtrVa 0'.rottar
Louis Ntwman
Dr. Steven Huberman
Planning Associate
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
72 Franklin Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Steve,
The Bureau of Jewish Education convened several meetings of the
professijial hjads of the Jewish Day Schools in the Greater Boston
area during the last seven months, since March, 1979. These meetings
are designed to provide a forum for discussing and planning in
areas of common interest.
Senior Consultant
Dr. Daniel J. Margolts
Educational Consultants
Esther Karten'
Hasla KronMrger
Pra-School Acthtttlaa
Florence Jofte
High School Programs
Susan l_ Sttevitx
Communl'f Education
Pe(er Slack
J«tt Zaldln
Since the first meeting, one topic remains of central concern—
transportation of students from communities well  beyond the
"central core" cities and towns.  The concern here is both for
the convenience of the families involved and, more important,  for
the potential  of expanding the student enrollment pool   from
distant centers of Jewish population in the Greater Boston area.
The BJE asked three Day Schools to survey their parent populations
from one geographical  district(sample card and letter attached)
to determine the "grass roots" demand and financial  limitations.
The data from the Solomon Schechter Day School have:been?submitted.
A letter from the New England Hebrew Academy is attached.  Nine
families responded positively from Maimonides, representing fourteen students, five wanting round-trip and nine wanting one-way
transportation. Parents were willing to pay no more than $300 for
round-trip and $200 for one-way transportation.
From the data, there seems to be a call   for a small  bus(25 passengers)
from the South area to the three Day Schools. Assuming an annual
cost of approximately $10,000 for the remainder of this year,each
student would be responsible for $400 in fees  (round-trip).  Based
on the financial  information the parents provided,, a communal sub--
vention of $3500 - $5000 would enableparents to take advantage of
the transportationsystem.    A minimum subvention of $3500 to $4000
seems to be the absolute amount necessary to warrant beginning a
pilot venture.
Aililiatad with iho
American Association
lot Jewish Education
Constituent Agency oHha
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
at Greetei Boston
RECOMMENDATION:
As the community struggles with ways of funding worthwhile programs
for Jewish Education in Boston, while trying to reach out and encour-