Q&A
Concerns about maintaining culturally appropriate services post-closure
0:57:36
·
65 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph raises concerns about maintaining culturally appropriate services for the Latinx student population served by Nuestros Niños if the center closes after its contract expiration in June 2026. Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins addresses these concerns.
- Nuestros Niños has been operating since 1973 and serves a large Latinx student population in an inclusive setting
- Some contracts renew annually, while others are on a five-year track for birth to five programs
- Hawkins mentions that Nuestros Niños has two more sites within walking distance that have open seats available
- The importance of cultural relevancy and responsiveness to the community is acknowledged
Rita Joseph
0:57:36
Earlier, Los Altos Ninos talked about they've been operating since 1973, serve a large Latinx student population inclusive setting.
0:57:45
If this center closes after contract expiration June 2026, would New York City Public School be able to enroll these students in comparable programs that speak their culture through language and food?
Simone Hawkins
0:57:56
Yeah.
0:57:56
And so one thing I want to mention is some of these contracts actually renewed on an annual basis and others are on the five year track for the birth to five.
0:58:06
And so those comp those contracts are set to expire in June 2026.
0:58:12
If not for an extension, we would need to re solicit through an open and fair competitive process, not just those seats but also these sites.
0:58:19
And so it's important to know that around planning for the sustainability of the system.
0:58:24
And so in regards to cultural relevancy and responsiveness community, know one thing we did mention to Nuevo Eros Nino specifically, they are more than just a site, they are community.
0:58:34
And they actually have two more sites within that community that are walking distance and have open seats available to communities if they wanted to serve them.