Parents given 1 week to find new school as early education center 'consolidates'
LIFE-John Coker Learning Center in Bushwick sent home letters to parents on Feb. 21 notifying them of the change.
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Parents at a Bushwick early education center are outraged after learning their children will have to find another program to enroll in.
LIFE-John Coker Learning Center in Bushwick sent home letters to parents on Feb. 21 notifying them of the change.
"Due to unsustainably low enrollment and budget constraints, LIFE must consolidate classrooms, which unfortunately means we will no longer be able to serve your child at our center," the letter signed by Frumit Bimbaum, director of LIFE, stated.
The letter stated the change will take effect on Feb. 28.
John Coker offers 3-K and pre-K programs funded through NYC's Department of Education.
Parents now questioning why school leadership didn't wait until the end of the year to consolidate or offer parents more time to enroll at another school.
"I think they could have waited ya, until the kids graduated, the kids are going to be placed in different schools in the middle of the school year," said Nia Raysor, who has a son enrolled in pre-K at John Coker.
The move comes just weeks after four early education centers fought to keep their programs open after the NYC DOE informed them they would be closing at the end of this school year.
NYC DOE said the decision to consolidate classrooms was made by John Coker.
Sources tell News 12 all invoice payments by NYCPS are up to date.
"Quite frankly, I'm outraged by the fact that a childcare center would make an abrupt decision without a long plan and a window for parents to make different choices," said Council member Sandy Nurse, who represents the area. "When choices need to be made like this, they need to be made with care and consideration of how it will disrupt peoples lives."
NYC DOE said it is working with impacted families to find open seats for children at nearby programs.
