50-year-old Williamsburg staple among 4 Brooklyn child care centers closing
Haide Valerio, who has a student in 3K at Nuestros Niños, says that especially for families of immigrants in the area, the building "is a foundation. This is where it all begins."
Families in Williamsburg recently learned that child care center Nuestros Niños, which has seen generations of families come through its halls over the last 50 years, is being forced to close its doors at the end of the year.
Haide Valerio, who has a student in 3K at Nuestros Niños, says that especially for families of immigrants in the area, the building "is a foundation. This is where it all begins."
So, it was understandable when registration for next year's pre-K and 3K classes went live, the school's child care network director, Miguelina Duran, says parents were confused, noticing that Nuestros Niños was not one of the listed options.
It was only after administrators made calls to elected officials that they learned Nuestros Niños, just like Grand Street Settlement, Friends of Crown Heights and Fort Greene Council, were all in buildings where the Department of Education would not be renewing its lease.
The move leaves over 90 staffers and 250 children without a school.
Parent Katherine Ferrer says it feels "literally like they say, like pulling the rug from under your feet. You just don't know where you're going to land."
The decision seems to be the result of Mayor Eric Adams' preliminary budget. A source tells News 12 that the buildings being closed had low enrollment, so the city is choosing to divert that money to boost other, nearby programs in buildings with longer lease deals.
Duran is among those outraged, calling on the city to find the money, saying "we have this high quality, but when it comes time for you to pay pennies for to renew our lease, we're not good enough? It's insulting."
The DOE says it will work one-on-one with every family to help them find a new school nearby.
Still, members of Williamsburg's Hispanic and immigrant community say there is no replacing what Nuestros Ninos has meant to them and their familes.
"Our community matters not only to ourselves, but to our families," said Ferrer. "We're trying to raise our children in a community that raised us, and we will fight to keep our schools."
Multiple elected officials, including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who went to Nuestros Ninos, have posted their support for keeping the school open on social media.
Meanwhile, a rally is planned for Friday, Jan. 24 outside of the building.
