AGENCY TESTIMONY
Property management and lease challenges in early childhood education
0:42:27
ยท
54 sec
Deputy Chancellor Hawkins describes the property management and lease challenges faced by NYC's early childhood education system, highlighting inefficiencies and financial burdens.
- Many properties were transitioned from the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) during system expansion
- Some neighborhoods face oversaturation of seats and properties, leading to unhealthy competition and inefficient resource use
- Underutilized or vacant properties require considerable city tax levy funding to maintain
- Some properties have long-term leases (up to 20 years) with no early termination provisions, resulting in ongoing payments for underused spaces
Simone Hawkins
0:42:27
This challenge is further compounded by the properties we manage.
0:42:32
Many of which were transitioned to us from administration for children's services also known as ACS when early childhood education was consolidated, specifically the contracted care system under New York City public schools during expansion efforts.
0:42:46
And the result, an over saturation of seats and properties in some neighborhoods leading to unhealthy competition, inefficient use of resources, and millions of dollars in misuse annually.
0:43:01
Many of these properties remained underutilized or even vacant, yet they require considerable city tax levy funding to make to maintain.
0:43:10
Some have long term leases up to twenty years with no provisions for early termination, meaning the city continues to make payments and carries the implicit costs of sustaining them.