Answers To Some Frequently Submitted Comments...
Posted by Jamin Rathbun on 03/06/09.

Below, I've posted responses to some of the recent comments and questions that have been submitted through the anonymous feedback form on the site. Hopefully this helps clear up some poor communication on our part. = )

1. Why do tickets for your productions cost $10, even for parents?

We choose, intentionally, to create programs that are both accessible and high quality. We've seen community programs that weren't very good. We've also seen really good programs that were a bit elitist. We try to land somewhere in between the two. = )

To do that, we budget anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 on each production -- money that goes toward facility rental, lighting, sound equipment, production crew, director's salaries, printing, sets, costumes, music licensing, performance rights, and lots more.

So far, we've lost quite a bit of money on productions but -- we believe pretty strongly in the benefit they provide to our students and the community so, we're committed to continuing. We are, however, working to figure out how to make those more of a break even venture. Visit the Trinity Arts Foundation web site for more info about that.

2. Are you doing something about parking?

We made adjustments to our schedule this year that have helped some but -- there are still many times that parking is a challenge. We have plans to stripe the back parking lot once the weather warms up. We've also been talking to our neighbor about getting access to the large parking lot behind the building.

We are definitely aware of the problem, and we'll do what we can to make it easier soon. Thanks for bearing with us.

3. So... When can we get Trinity T-Shirts?

I promise. These will be coming very soon. = )

4. Classes were cancelled for snow, our teacher was absent, or we couldn't make it to a lesson. What is the makeup policy at Trinity?

For snow days, our first choice is to add an additional day at the end of the school year. If that doesn't seem possible, we'll simply credit each students for the missed class or lesson. In either case, we'll send an email and let you know what to expect.

When an instructor misses a lesson, we will first try to make up the lesson within two weeks. If that isn't possible, we'll credit the student for the missed lesson. If we can't do the first, we'll automatically do the second.

Students are allowed one makeup lesson per 21-week semester, for any reason. When these make up dates are scheduled, we'll send an email, and post a notice on the web site, asking parents and students to let us know if we owe them one.

If you feel like something wasn't done right, please let me know. Our goal is to protect our instructors time and to make sure that our students get what they've paid for. We'll do whatever it takes to do right by both.

5. Why do you charge so much for recital fees? (this is a trick question)

I had two submission that voiced this complaint, citing that there might be others who felt the same way. I'm not sure how to respond, other than with the info below. If there's something going on that I'm unaware of, please let me know.

All of our recitals are free. There is no participation fee. No costume fee. No tickets. Nothing. There never has been. There never will be. It is fully included in the cost of tuition.

6. I'm confused about how tuition is calculated. Can you eloborate?

For the most part, tuition is easy to understand. Families pay by month, by semester, or by year, depending on the payment method that works best with their budget. The only time when that can be confusing is if a student enrolls in the middle of the year, after Christmas break. Here's why...

When paying monthly, you are actually paying an average monthly amount or -- annual tuition divided by 11 (the number of months we are in session). In some cases, that means that you'll be paying a full monthly payment, even though there are only two or three classes in that month. As follows, there will be some months where you will take four of five classes for the same monthly payment.

The only time where that feels odd is when you begin classes after the first of the year. Students beginning in August pay a flat monthly rate, even though August, October, November, and December have three (or sometimes only two) classes per month. They continue paying a full payment to make up for January through June, where almost every month has four or five classes. We average these payment to make them easier to keep track of. Otherwise, students would pay less in November and December but -- might pay more in April or June. Anyone starting after Christmas might pay a bit more than that average monthly amount for their first month, since they didn't "pre-pay" that tuition during the shorter months.

In every case, you're paying the same amount per class. It's just spread out a little differently.

Please let me know if you have questions that aren't addressed here. I promise that we'll do everything we can (within reason) to do what's right.

By the way... You can always submit anonymous feedback using the form on this page or just send me an email. Thanks!