NYC: No Stone Unturned As Pre-K Sites Face Inspections

Dustbunnies are not allowed. Nor is extra paper on the floor. Lighting has to be sufficient, and hand-washing signs must be near every sink. Fire extinguishers and alarm have to work and there can't be any obstructed doors.

This is the range of violations, some quite minor and others more hazardous, that inspectors are looking for as they examine 1,150 community centers that will offer pre-kindergarten this fall.

But even as New York City expands to serve about 70,000 four-year-olds in a total of more than 1,800 sites, including public schools, city officials said they are ahead of the curve in making sure every site is safe when classes start Sept. 9.

"We've had inspectors and support staff on the ground all summer to ensure that every program meets the very highest standards," said Deputy Mayor Richard Buery, the de Blasio administration's point man for pre-k.

Buery was joined at a press briefing Thursday by representatives from all of the partner agencies. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it had found no serious violations so far. However, there were eight lower-level violations at four different sites which must be handled in the next 30 days. 

The Department of Investigation said it had run almost 2,000 checks on corporations and individuals, and determined that a total of 15 programs were cause for concern. In five cases, Commissioner Mark Peters said they found falsified documents such as employee qualifications or medical clearance and training. 

Department of Education staffers are doing their own walk-thoughs of the 1150 community centers and 700 schools providing pre-k. They're checking to see if furniture and toilets are the right size for four-year-olds, and looking at educational programming.

Buery said the city declined to sign contracts with 47 programs that were gearing up to open this fall, adding that this advance work will make for a smoother opening of school.

"So even though we're a much larger program this year, over 400 additional sites as compared to last year, that's why I'm confident that we will have fewer last-minute closures than we had last year," he said.

Buery said caseworkers were finding alternative sites for parents who had applied to any of the now-shuttered programs. Parents can sign up for text messages in case of closures and look up a site's history of violations at Childcare Connect.

Buery said the city has 80,000 seats ready to go, more than it expected to need. So far, more than 70,000 applications have been received in the first and second rounds, although some of those could be from the same families looking at multiple slots.

The city will be accepting applications through Aug. 21.