Announcement from the Executive Director
SUMMARY: In order to pay teachers more competitively and protect Circus Center’s financial health, we are changing our pricing structure and prices. The changes will simplify our structure, some things will get more expensive, and a few things will actually get cheaper. In order to keep our training program accessible, we are also expanding our need-based financial aid and work-trade programs. Plus, we’re running an Adult Rec Program sale for the next couple of weeks.
Over the last several months, the Board and I have been focused on securing Circus Center’s future. Our training programs are by far our largest programs, so getting those right is essential, and the #1 factor in our training programs’ continued success is recruiting and keeping high-quality teachers. We get a lot right in our training programs – classes are small, plenty of instructor attention and time on apparatus, attention to curriculum and progression, and so on. But the overall financial structure for our classes is not working well enough to support a competitive pay scale for our teachers or the financial health of the organization as a whole.
Our goal, therefore, has been a new structure that will benefit both teachers and the whole organization. The following three announcements lay out how we are changing to create a sound, sustainable financial structure for our classes and teachers, while still maintaining and even expanding on our non-profit mission to make circus training as accessible as possible.
RAISING TEACHER PAY
This year, working with our Board of Directors, we are happy to be offering substantial raises to our teaching staff – 15-20% in many cases. We’ve also introduced opportunities for instructors to earn incentive pay for things like full classes, and we’re going to have to start keeping an eye on classes that have low enrollment. We want Circus Center to be an organization that takes care of its teaching staff, and we are grateful that our community shares this value.
CHANGING PRICING
The Board has approved changes to the prices and/or pricing structure of our adult rec, youth pre-pro, and youth after-school programs. These changes bring us more in line with our competitors and peer studios around the Bay Area, and I believe they reflect the true value of the high-quality services we offer, with smaller classes, longer classes, and better teachers. The changes will simplify our structure, some things will get more expensive, and a few things will actually get cheaper.
STAYING ACCESSIBLE
How can we build a sound, sustainable financial structure for our classes while still honoring our mission as a non-profit to make circus training as accessible as possible? We are improving the accessibility of our training program in two ways: 1) increased financial aid, including offering (for the first time in many years/ever) need-based aid for adult rec students; and 2) enhanced work-trade opportunities. Initial support for these programs is baked into the budget, and they can expand over time through fundraising campaigns.
*****
THE DETAILS
Information about youth after-school and pre-professional program tuition is coming soon – here’s the info about Adult Rec: except for a few Premium offerings (Flying Trapeze, Swinging Trapeze, and Premium Trampoline), all classes will be sold at a single set of tuition rates:
Classes
Single Drop-In: $38
5-Pack: $190 $180 ($36/class)
10-Pack: $380 $340 ($34/class)
20-Pack/Session: $760 $640 (or $32/class)
Premium Classes (Flying Trapeze, Swinging Trapeze, & Premium Trampoline)
Single Drop-In: $55
5-Pack: $275 $250 ($50/class)
10-Pack: $550 $450 ($45/class)
20-Pack/Session: $1,100 $800 (or $40/class)
A few new policies that should help keep things simple for everyone:
- Except for the New Student Pack, all packs will have an expiration date of one year, with no extensions or exceptions.
- For session enrollments, in place of one-time makeup credits, all session enrollments will include one bonus credit of the same type (regular/premium), which expires at the end of that session. You can use it if you miss a class, or just to try something new.
- If there is only one student in a class, instructors will shorten 90 or 75 minute classes to 60; and shorten 120 minute classes to 90.
What about my existing packs? For the rest of the summer, we will honor them as usual. You can still use your Tier A packs for what we called Tier A classes, Tier B packs for Tier B, and so on. Starting on September 3, 2019, we will make Tier A credits usable for any class, whether it used to be Tier A or B. And they all keep their original expiration dates, no extensions or exceptions.
To help ease the transition to this new pricing structure for everyone, now through Monday, July 29, we are running a SALE on Class Packs.
Classes (click red links to purchase)
- SALE Class 5 Pack: $170 (save $10)
- SALE Class 10 Pack: $320 (save $20)
- SALE Class 20 Pack: $600 (save $40)
Premium Classes (click red links to purchase)
- SALE Premium Class 5 Pack: $235 (save $15)
- SALE Premium Class 10 Pack: $420 (save $30)
- SALE Premium Class 20 Pack: $740 (save $60)
PLUS fall session enrollment will be discounted to $30/class for Classes and $37/class in Premium – offer good until the day that fall opens for drop-in registration.
For those who could use extra help in making sure that our classes remain accessible to them, here are the details on need-based Tuition Assistance and our Work-Trade Program.
Circus Center provides need-based financial aid to families to help offset tuition fees for the following programs:
- Full Session Enrollment in Adult Recreational Classes (new!)
- Clown Conservatory
- Youth Pre-Professional Program
- Summer Camps
Awards are based on household income qualifications (see application for details). The total amount of tuition assistance available each year depends on our annual budget, and will grow with increased fundraising. To support this program with a tax-deductible donation, please click here.
Circus Center is committed to providing affordable, accessible circus arts training to our community. We understand that circus training is a financial commitment. Our Work-Trade Program enables volunteers to earn credits toward free classes and other training opportunities with every shift.
We seek friendly, approachable and professional volunteers year-round to help support our front desk, events, and performances. We require commitment regularly to one shift per week, or alternating weeks.
Volunteer duties include: answering phone calls, signing in students for classes, administrative assistance, and maintenance upkeep.
The incentives of volunteering in the Work Trade Program are currently:
• Free Circus Classes
• Free Individual User status
• Discounts on apparel & merchandise
• Opportunities to take workshops
• Opportunities to see Circus Center performances
Incentives are subject to change, and based on space and availability.
*****
CONCLUSION, AND A REQUEST
It can be a tricky balance to take care of the needs of our teachers, our students, and the organization as a whole. We are putting these new structures and policies in place to try to improve as an employer, as a business, and as a charity. We have the best interests of ALL at heart, and we’ve worked very hard to think through all of these changes in a systematic way.
That said, there will be things we’ve overlooked or not gotten quite right, and it will take time for everyone in our community, including members of our team, to fully understand all of the changes. I ask you for your patience. If you have questions, concerns, or just need to talk it through, and you can’t get your need for that met with other staff members, please contact me directly. I’ll be happy to talk about it, and to find ways to keep improving this organization that all of us love so much. My direct line is 415-876-5034, please call anytime.
I’ll sign off as I usually do, and I believe it now more than ever –
Onwards and upwards,
Barry