Lucy School

The Lucy School is a terrific place for children to explore and grow academically and socially. We love the small classes, the teachers and the gorgeous grounds.

I contacted Lucy and visited. It was a lot out of the box, but I liked that it taught kids to be environmentally friendly and used their creativity so I wanted my child to start their preschool program. However, it is extremely pricey. To even be considered for tuition assistance, one must complete and application, pay a $ 40.00 application fee and a $ 950.00 deposit. They did assure me if the financial assistance wasn’t sufficient, I could cancel and get my deposit back. I provided every thing in March. Decisions were in April. Chris, one of the owners called me and left a message on 5÷15÷12. I called him back on 5÷16÷12 and told me I had received tuition assistance. I called him back on 5÷17÷12 and asked him what the cost would be. I received the contract on ⁵⁄₂₄. It had a purple pos-​it it note that stated, Tuition asssistance $xxx. It didn’t break down tuiton cost or before/​after care. On 5÷29÷12, Chris called me and left a v/​m. I called him back on the 30^th. He asked if I had received the contract. I said I had, but I didn’t see the breakdown of tuition cost. I inquired if it would cover before/​after care. Chris, said, «You need before/​after care?» I said, «Yes, I am a single working mother. It was on the application and I told staff.» He said, «No and it was $x per day for before and another cost for after. I said, It was not affordable. My son’s father just got laid off on the 18^th. He said it wasn’t that much. I said, «I have lost all child support with him not having a job and not having $X amount, means I have to stay affordable. I hoped that he would get called back or find another job soon, but with the way things are, I don’t know.» He asked me how much I was paying now and I told him. He said he wouldn’t be able to meet that which I completely understood. He said that he would go back to the board to see if they would provide additional assistance for before/​after care.
On 5÷31÷12, he said that the board approved additional assistance for tuition. So I asked how much would I have to pay on a monthly basis. He rambled off various numbers and I said once again, «I am not sure that this will be affordable.» He said, «Do you want your son to go to Lucy?» I replied, «I would love for him to attend. I want a place where his intelligence will flourish and not just be another number. However, wanting and being able to afford are two different things. I need to know the total as I need to compare it to what I am paying now.» He said that he would break it down and send it to me in another contract. On 6÷5÷12, he asked if I had received the contract. I said no and asked him to email it to me. He said he didn’t know how and that he would send another one. I said that I would just have someone pick it up to make it easier. On 6÷7÷12, I did have someone pick it up. On the 12^th, I finally picked it up from the person that picked it up from me and I brought it home. Chris had called the 13^th and asked if I looked at the contract. I told him I had to discuss it with my son’s father. On the 23^nd, we sat down and discussed the cost. I thought I could swing it at the time. Then, there were medical issues and the savings was dwindling. Chris called me on 4÷2÷1 and I said I didn’t have time to speak at that time. I was extremely busy at work and I hadn’t mailed the contract because I needed some more time to figure out if I could afford it. Finally on the 16^th, Chris left a v/​m. He said, «I need that contract back if your son is going to attend here. We have a waiting list and some of these children need financial assistance.» I called him back and said, «Chris, I have had medical issues, I am struggling with trying to keep afloat because like I said I am not getting child support and go ahead and give my son’s spot to someone else. Right now, the financial constraints are just not going to be able to handle these costs and maybe next year it would look better» He still tried to push and say, «What if we did a 12 month payment. You don’t want him to go to Lucy?» I said, «That is not the point. I am struggling to keep food on the table and vacation even had to be cancelled.» He said, «You work full time right?» I said, «Yes» He replied, «I was going to say you could volunteer.» I finally said, «Chris, it would be unfair to you to send my son there in this situation, not pay you all and I do I don’t even have the $ 752.00 to pay for August. He said with a surprise, «You don’t have $ 700?» I said no. On the 30^th, I asked him for the $ 950.00 deposit back. He said that it was not refundable. He then said that people had until ⁴⁄₃₀ to cancel. He said since they were late deciding financial assistance, they extended it until the ⁵⁄₁₅ for tuition assistance. I said, I was never informed of that and I have been telling you I am unable to afford it. Therefore, I have went to consumer affairs, the BBB and an attorney. So much for peaceful loving people.