By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
Private nursery schools in northeast Queens' School District 25, where universal pre-kindergarten contracts were terminated for the coming year, have been given back their contracts, educators and public officials said last week.
Nine community-based organizations in District 25, which includes Flushing, Whitestone, College Point and parts of Bayside, received notices form the Department of Education several weeks ago saying that their contracts would be terminated in 30 days.
The agency made the decision in the spring, when state funding for universal pre-K was uncertain, as part of a plan to move the children into public schools for half-day programs.
Parents feared they would have to shuttle their children between the public schools and private nursery programs instead of keeping extended-day programs at the community-based organizations.
But after a news conference called by City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and negotiations with state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing) and Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), the contracts were restored at an Aug. 13 meeting between the nonprofit groups and education officials.
“I'm pleased,” said Avella. “They had indicated to me prior to the press conference that they would try to work out these details, and they did.”
The Department of Education could not be reached for comment.
Lenore Rappaport, director of the Bayside Kindergarten and Nursery in Auburndale, said she was delighted to get her contract back.
“I'm happy for the children and parents and the community-based organizations, because a lot of them were in danger of closing,” said Rappaport, who was still waiting for a list from the Education Department of the children who would be attending her universal pre-K program come fall.
Avella said in a news release that the contracts would be renewed with the same number of children assigned to the community-based organizations as last year.
“This is a win-win situation,” Padavan said in a news release about the agreement. “It gives the Department of Education a viable way to offer pre-kindergarten programs to the most students, and more importantly, it allows quality programs in districts throughout the city to continue.”
Avella said Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside) and Councilman David Weprin were also involved in the talks.
Rappaport said she was planning a thank-you event with all the legislators in October to show her gratitude.
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
