New Beginnings FAQ

Both the board and staff have been examining this issue for at least a year, with in depth analysis over the past six months that included consultants in seminary education. By the time we gathered at the April 2019 board meeting, it became clear that it was time to set this exploratory process in motion. Because we are committed to being both transparent and accountable to the community, we decided to be as open as possible about our thinking, even though there are many things we don’t yet know.

In spite of the fact that we own our property debt free, our building is very expensive to run; preliminary research by one board working group suggests that we could reduce costs by relocating the school to a different site. That same working group is in the process of speaking to possible partners in the East Bay that have the capacity to house Starr King on a short or long-term basis. Since discussions are not yet complete, we’re not free to share more.

Not right away; we expect it to take about 18 months to find the right place. At the same time, we are in preliminary conversation with other institutions that might be willing to house the school on a long-term basis. Additionally, we are speaking with knowledgeable people to help us understand the highest and best use of our LeConte Ave. property. As we learn more about the options before us, we will be able to provide a clearer timeline. We are committed to keeping our community informed as we evaluate our options and make decisions.

The most immediate change will be a tuition increase effective in the 2019-2020 academic year, to $775 per credit. Our goal was to keep the increase modest while helping to defray some of the rising costs facing the school. For now, classes will be held pretty much as they are right now. We are committed to ensuring that our students receive the education they need to tackle the work of progressive religious leadership today.

In the short term, there is no immediate change to the student housing shortage. One avenue of exploration for us is whether we can find an institution with the capacity to help with the housing challenges our students face. Pacific School of Religion is offering their last year of housing SKSM students for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Starr King remains steadfast in its values and our commitment to educating to counter oppressions {ECO}, and to create just and sustainable communities. One of our values is to teach by who we are and what we do. Throughout this process, we aim to model that value.

As we explore potential partnerships with other organizations and institutions, we will work to ensure that our partners share our core values and competencies. We are committed to keeping our ECO commitment at the heart of what we do, to retain our Unitarian Universalist identity while embracing our multi-religious character, and to keep the school going strong.

We also will be as transparent as possible about the decisions we make and what those decisions will mean for our community.

Yes! We are committed to helping our students succeed and prepare them for the work of religious leadership in the 21st century. That will not change.

Right now, we have no such plans. At the same time, we are exploring a variety of partnerships and opportunities that will strengthen the school and help it to grow, so no option is yet off the table.

Absolutely not! For the past 115 years, Starr King has been educating our students for the practical realities of progressive religious leadership. We have no intention of stopping now.

You can reach out to our leadership team at any time by emailing us at future@sksm.edu with your questions or concerns. In the next several weeks, we hope to schedule an in-person meeting with Zoom capability to allow for the start of Starr King conversations. We will also be creating a web page on the school website that will allow us to post updates about this process as we move ahead.