By Bill Parry
The oldest day-care and pre-K center in Corona is being forced to close in July, leaving 120 families searching for options.
The Malcolm X Early Childhood Educational Center, located at 111-12 Northern Blvd., will close after 42 years, following an announcement from the Administration for Children’s Services that the center’s rent would double.
The Malcolm X Center is sponsored by Sheltering Arms, an ACS contractor serving low-income families. It will be forced to close the facility July 24, depriving the families of 11 child-care programs and foster-care services.
“We’re sending out 500 letters a week to every city leader we can think of,” Malcolm X Early Childhood Director Hope Cannaday said. “So far we haven’t heard a thing from the city.”
Families of the 120 children have taken part in two rallies in recent weeks.
“We’re trying anything we can to get the word out,” Cannady said. “This is an issue that’s happening across the city.”
The families were provided a list of all child-care facilities in a three-mile radius by an ACS representative as well as information on other pre-K programs. Parents complain that these programs are already filled.
“It’s sad that the center is closing because the city and the landlord could not reach a financial agreement,” Cannady said. “A school shouldn’t be closed for that reason, not when it does so well.” She added that the only political leaders that have been helpful are state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) and City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst).
“The Council Member is worried about those who need to work and are missing days because they don’t have childcare,” a Ferreras spokeswoman said. “Many families here have fragile arrangements and depend on UPK so they can work and support their households. Our office has been reaching out to parents and coordinating with ACS and the DOE to place those children in surrounding UPK programs asap.”
Peralta believes the ideal solution is to relocate the facility saying, “Malcolm X Early Childhood Educational Center has been serving our neighborhood for more than four decades, and it’s a school that needs to be open at the current location or somewhere close to it.”
Noting that Corona is an immigrant community, Peralta added, “this is about leveling the playing field so every child in the city, from Corona to Park Slope to SoHo, has the same opportunities to succeed. The Malcolm X day-care center must stay open. The parents and children deserve it.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
