Families rally against planned closures of Brooklyn child care centers
As News 12 reported, Nuestros Niños, Grand Street Settlement, Friends of Crown Heights and Fort Greene Council are expected to close this June.
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After three weeks of outrage, the city and DOE are engaging in talks with four early childhood education centers in Brooklyn that are slated to close this summer.
The news came as dozens of families gathered on the steps of City Hall to demand the centers remain open.
As News 12 reported, Nuestros Niños, Grand Street Settlement, Friends of Crown Heights and Fort Greene Council all learned last month that they would close this June.
The centers said they were blindsided with the news a week before the portal for 3K enrollment opened.
The news sparked outrage among parents of students and members of the community.
A source familiar with the decision said enrollment numbers played a role in the decision, and Chancellor Melissa Aviles Ramos said the timing of each centers leases ending were factors.
Each center is at capacity or near capacity according to officials at each facility.
News 12 sat down with Chancellor Aviles Ramos as the protest happened at City Hall.
RELATED: Brooklyn families rally to keep early child care centers from closing
"We are excited about the potential for a pathway forward that is going to be great for everyone," she said.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said at the protest that a week ago the centers engaged in talks with the city and were told they would have to shutdown, but after more outrage now the conversation has changed.
"The DOE and ACS know exactly what they need to do to keep these centers open" said Reynoso. "Waiting until Monday waiting until Tuesday waiting until Friday to have conversations with centers that they inextricably know every detail about all these centers, they could tell us over the phone we know how it all works we are opening them all up and they didn't say that and that worries me."
Aviles Ramos did not elaborate on what is on the table for consideration or when any decision might be made on the matter.
