East New York nursery fights to reopen

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Community members gathered outside Boulevard Nursery School in East New York to call on the Department of Education to reopen this early education facility. "They don't want to renew our contract," said Ida Robertson, executive director, Boulevard Nursery School. "We have a contract that is currently sitting in dormant and they don't want to honor that." The school serves 2-K through pre-K age children in the area. It had to close in June 2023 for renovations that were expected to only take two months, but instead took 10 months causing the facility to remain closed for the entire 2023-2024 school year. The renovation included adding new tiles, upgrading the facility with central air conditioning, new lights and windows. All upgrades desperately needed a the 70-year-old facility located inside the NYCHA Boulevard Houses. "It's convenient for parents to come down from their apartments and drop their children off and go to work," said Council Member Chris Banks, of the 42nd District. Banks used to be the board president of the nursery, which is now it's located in the district he serves. He's been advocating to see it reopen. "There was a large investment invested into this center and now we sit in a room with empty seats," he said. News 12 reached out to Nathaniel Styer, the press secretary of NYC Public School, who responded with the following statement: "We deeply value our partnership with our providers, but we must ensure centers remain safe for our youngest New Yorkers. Based on existing FDNY compliance issues that must be corrected and the level of family demand in the area NYCPS will not be moving forward with reactivating the Boulevard Nursery School contract at this time. We can and will revisit this decision if the compliance issues are addressed and conditions in the district change to show there is a demonstrated need." "