PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mabel Muniz Sarduy, Director of Political and External Affairs at Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA)
2:39:49
ยท
4 min
Mabel Muniz Sarduy, representing the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), expresses deep concerns over the sudden closures of early childhood centers in New York City. She criticizes the Department of Education's lack of communication, transparency, and planning in the closure process, emphasizing the negative impacts on families, educators, and communities.
- Calls for improved outreach and enrollment efforts, negotiation of lease renewals, and development of long-term solutions to ensure stability in early childhood education
- Urges the establishment of a formalized process for handling ECE closures, including stakeholder engagement and accurate enrollment projection data
- Advocates for increased funding to maintain access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education and clear reassignment pathways for displaced educators
Mabel Muniz Sarduy
2:39:49
Good afternoon, chair Joseph.
2:39:52
Thank you for your advocacy around early childhood directors as well as the centers.
2:39:57
My name is Mabel Muniz Sardewy.
2:40:01
I am the director of political and external affairs at CSA.
2:40:07
As you know, our membership includes over a 60 early childhood educational directors who lead CBOs based ECE centers.
2:40:21
I am here today on behalf of president Henry Rubio to express the deep concerns, our members, their students, and their families over the recent announcement of sudden closures of early childhood centers.
2:40:38
We stand with the affected families and educators who have called out the city's lack of timely communication, engagement, and possible plans to support families.
2:40:52
The DOE's approach to EEC ECE closures contradicts the city's stated commitment to early childhood education.
2:41:04
These centers serve as community anchors and they abrupt closure disrupts lives and upends families.
2:41:14
Closures not only create uncertainty for parents who rely on these centers for affordable childcare, but off also threatens to displace experienced educators, many of whom have dedicated their entire careers to serving the city city's youngest learners.
2:41:35
Add adding to our union's concern is the lack of public transparency and how these closures were decided and the lack of timely communication about possible impacts.
2:41:50
When the city announced it would not renew their leases, the DOE failed to provide adequate notice to the directors of these centers.
2:42:01
Many did not learn about the closures until the day before the parent portal, enrollment portal opened.
2:42:10
Though d o d the DOE has cited declining enrollment as a reason for the closures, but some of these facilities have said said that the DOE numbers are were wrong.
2:42:22
Incentives that truly are under enrollment, the city should improve outreach and enrollment efforts.
2:42:30
If lease course are the reason for the closures, the city should work with providers to negotiate lease renewals, secure alternative locations, and or develop long term solutions to ensure stability well in advance.
2:42:48
The DOE must establish a formalized process for handling ECE closures that includes direct engagement with all stakeholders.
2:42:58
Since early childhood centers do not control the enrollment process and projections, the the city must take responsibility for providing accurate enrollment projection data instead of cutting programs.
2:43:13
The the city should increase funding to ensure that no family of is left without access to affordable and high quality early childhood education.
2:43:24
Finally, educators who have lost their jobs due to these closures must be given clear pathways for reassignment, ensuring that their expertise is not lost.
2:43:36
We are pleased when when the city recently reversed the decision to close Ninos and hope is that the city will listen to the other communities involved and commit to reopening the other sites.
2:43:51
On behalf of the impacted ECE leaders and their families, we depend on these programs.
2:43:58
City CSA urges the city council take to take appropriate action to protect our early childhood seats and the valuable staff that support these families across New York City.
2:44:10
We must push the city to reevaluate the process for projections, enrollment, and expand e c e funding to communities that warrant the need.
2:44:22
Thank you.