'Too soon to panic': Funding sought for New London early childhood center
Yet.
'It's too soon to panic, but it would break my heart if we had to close this preschool program, which is not mandated for us to offer,' she said.
The funding issue revolves around the estimated $2.3 million the district says it will take to continue running preschool and other programming at the Early Childhood Center at B.P. Mission on Shaw Street. The expenditure is one of the big increases in Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie's $56 million 2025-26 budget proposal.
Maynard-Adams said she and Ritchie have had several conversations with state legislators and department leaders on possible funding relief options.
'That's included things like revamping early childhood program financing,' she said, noting Gov. Ned Lamont has suggested offering more state funding for preschools, but not until next year.
Lamont this month touted a proposal to deposit a portion of the state's anticipated surpluses over the next several years into a new 'Universal Preschool Endowment' fund. The endowment would be seeded by $300 million from the 2024-2025 surplus, and in the following years any unappropriated surpluses from the state's general fund will continue to be transferred into it.
Lamont said the endowment would make preschool available for free to families earning up to $100,000 per year and create 20,000 new preschool slots by 2032.
Seeking sustainable funding
The center got an 11th-hour reprieve last year after state lawmakers, including state Sen. Martha Marx, D-New London, lobbied for the use of $2 million in federal COVID-19 relief monies to close the funding gap.
'But we knew that just a Band-Aid and not a long-term answer,' Marx said on Thursday. 'That is one of my main priorities, to try and find more state funding to keep B.P. open. There's a lot of people at the table talking about this and I haven't given up.'
The city and school district in the 2021-22 school year used $1.5 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to buy the B.P. Learned Mission building and transform it into a space for early childhood classes during the day and community programming at night.
The center's magnet preschool program recently earned national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Such recognitions are based on criteria that grades curriculum, teacher approaches, community relationships and student progress.
The center currently has 80 pre-K students with a waiting list of about another 80 families. As a magnet school, the center receives approximately $9,200 in state grant money for each of the seven out-of-district students it enrolls, but nothing for its 73 students from New London.
'The center offers high-quality educational programming, taught by certified teachers and professional staff, and is free of charge for families,' Ritchie said in a Thursday email. 'Nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) are served daily. Transportation is also provided.'
Maynard-Adams said there have also been expansion conversations.
'If we had more space we could enroll more students and that means more state resources,' Maynard-Adams said. 'We've also had conversations about transitioning 4-year-old students into elementary school classrooms to free-up space at B.P.'
Maynard-Adams said preschool programming has been shown to pay big student dividends, especially for those with special needs.
'Those students who take part in early childhood classes outperform those who don't,' she said. 'And it also enables those students with language or speech issues to get help early on and help quickly address those issues.'
Maynard-Adams, who noted the state legislature's budget is still being crafted, said she's not sure the district budget can bear the cost of the center alone.
'I don't know if we can justify that cost — one that's not mandated — at the expense of something else,' she said.
The center is accepting enrollment applications.
j.penney@theday.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
26 minutes ago
- Fox News
Former top Adams adviser, donors charged in bribery case as Cuomo mocks with chips stunt
A day after a local news outlet exposed an Eric Adams aide for handing a reporter a wad of cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips, a handful of folks from Adams' inner circle, including one of his former top advisers, have been indicted in their own alleged bribery scandal. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced four new indictments Thursday, alleging a pay-to-play scheme and other charges against multiple Adams' associates, including one of his former chief advisers and her son, local business owners, and two of Adams' reported political donors. Meanwhile, in light of the news, Adams' opponent in the upcoming race for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo, took a jab at Adams' Thursday when he handed out bags of chips to reporters at a press conference. "Sometimes a bag of chips is just a bag of chips," Cuomo told those in attendance. "Frankly it is embarrassing for the City of New York," Cuomo, who himself is no stranger to scandals, added Thursday. The fresh corruption-related allegations follow an incident Wednesday, when, according to local New York City paper The City, one of Adams' aides, who has since been suspended, allegedly attempted to give money to one of their reporters hidden inside a bag of potato chips. The now-suspended Adams adviser, Winnie Greco, later called the move a "mistake," according to The City. Meanwhile, the indictments levied Thursday alleged a former chief adviser to Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who resigned in 2024 amid other accusations related to a different pay-to-play scheme, received $75,000 in bribes between March 2022 and November 2024. Among the bribes was a $50,000 cash payment "diverted from a City contract and other benefits" that was directed to her son's bank account, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Other allegations laid out in the indictments include improper steering of government contracts and policy decisions that were spurred by monetary incentives. "We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in classic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging impact on City government," said District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "As alleged, Lewis-Martin consistently overrode the expertise of public servants so she could line her own pockets." On Thursday, following news of the indictments, an Adams' spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, contended that the mayor "has not been accused of any wrongdoing." "While Ingrid Lewis-Martin no longer works for this administration, she has been a friend and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he knows her as a devoted public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are with her and her family," Shapiro added. "Mayor Adams also recognizes that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not guilty, and like anyone accused, he is entitled to the presumption of innocence. His commitment to New Yorkers is unwavering—no distraction will ever take his eyes off the ball or his dedication to this great city we all call home." Despite Shapiro's claims that Adams' was not involved, the mayor's opponents in his upcoming race to keep his position have capitalized on the incident. "While New Yorkers struggle to afford the most expensive city in America, Eric Adams and his administration are too busy tripping over corruption charges to come to their defense," the Democratic Party candidate for New York City Mayor, self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani, said Thursday. "Corruption isn't just about what a politician gains, it's about what the public loses. And right now, New Yorkers are paying the price as another flurry of indictments continue to erode their trust in our democracy and distract from the affordability crisis that demands action and urgency." Meanwhile, Cuomo, who has not been the subject of any major bribery scandals himself, did resign from his position as governor amid numerous sexual assault allegations in 2021. He called the latest incidents involving Adams and his confidants "sad," "embarrassing," and "depressing." "We were talking about how people feel frustrated with government, and alienated from government, and that government isn't working for them. And then, there seems to be this never-ending series of government corruption that just continues," Cuomo said Thursday. "And it's sad, it's embarrassing, it's depressing. And then you wonder why people don't believe in government."
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
AAHI Partners with Quratis to Strengthen Global Vaccine Manufacturing and Accelerate Access to Lifesaving Vaccines
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI), a global leader in translating high-impact science into scalable, field-ready vaccine solutions, today announced an exciting new partnership with Quratis, a premier biotechnology company and advanced Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). This collaboration marks a pivotal step forward in breaking through barriers in global health equity around the world. Under this strategic alliance, Quratis has been selected as AAHI's preferred manufacturer for high-quality pre-clinical and clinical vaccine supplies, with the capacity to expand into commercial-scale production for global markets. This collaboration will accelerate the development of AAHI's innovative vaccine candidates targeting deadly diseases such as tuberculosis, and of vaccines that rely on AAHI's vaccine adjuvants to provide protection against malaria, HIV, and other global health threats. Quratis brings a world-class GMP-certified bioplant and cutting-edge CDMO expertise in biopharmaceutical raw material development, process optimization, and finished pharmaceutical manufacturing. By designating Quratis as preferred partner, AAHI strengthens both its scientific capabilities and access to scalable, cost-effective production of its groundbreaking vaccine formulations—including dry vaccines that eliminate cold chain dependencies and needle-free delivery systems for superior respiratory protection. The partnership ensures a seamless supply chain platform, enabling swift clinical development and broader deployment to the world's most vulnerable populations. "Partnering with Quratis is a very important step in AAHI's strategy to advance practical, life-saving vaccines, that can be deployed at scale where they're needed most,' said Keeley Foley, CEO of AAHI. 'Quartis' innovative cutting edge, safe, world-class CDMO capabilities makes it possible for AAHI to deliver on our mission – and helps ensure our efforts to combat infectious diseases and foster health autonomy worldwide. Together, we're not just manufacturing vaccines—we're delivering an important mission to revolutionize global health." Quratis, renowned for its global innovation in healthcare, brings unparalleled expertise in vaccine development and manufacturing to the table. With a track record of success in TB and COVID-19 vaccines like QTP101 and QTP104, Quratis' advanced processes will enhance AAHI's pipeline, ensuring high-quality, efficient production from pre-clinical stages through clinical trials. "We are honored and thrilled to join forces with AAHI, a pioneer in immune-enhancing technologies and sustainable vaccine solutions," said Soung Joon Kim, CEO of Quratis. "This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision of making people happy and healthy through borderless healthcare innovations. By supporting AAHI's pipeline, we expect to create value not only for global health, but also for our shareholders through long-term growth opportunities.' The partnership builds on existing collaborations, including the co-development of the ID93+GLA-SE tuberculosis vaccine candidate (QTP101), and underscores a shared commitment to strengthening international vaccine supply chains, advancing equitable access, and fostering worldwide manufacturing capacity for sustainable program deployment. For more information about this partnership or to explore collaboration opportunities, and order pre clinical materials please contact info@ About Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) Access to Advanced Health Institute (AAHI) is a global leader in developing practical, cost-effective vaccines to combat deadly diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV. With a mission to translate high-impact science into scalable, field-ready solutions, AAHI breaks through barriers in global health by creating innovative vaccine formulations, building worldwide manufacturing capacity, and fostering partnerships to ensure sustainable, equitable health outcomes. For more information, visit or contact us at info@ About Quratis Quratis Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical company specializing in innovative vaccine development and advanced biologics manufacturing. With a state-of-the-art GMP facility and strong global partnerships, Quratis is at the forefront of developing next-generation vaccines against infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, schistosomiasis, and neglected tropical diseases. In addition to its core vaccine pipeline, Quratis offers superior CDMO capabilities, including expertise in mRNA–LNP drug delivery platforms that provide seamless bench-to-field support from research through commercial production. By combining cutting-edge R&D with scalable manufacturing, Quratis is committed to delivering high-quality, accessible, and life-saving solutions to patients worldwide. For more information, visit
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Kiss job hopping goodbye. Why more people are job hugging.
Have you hugged your job lately? Maybe you should. Forget job hopping, more people are job hugging in the cooling labor market. 'At an alarming rate, more and more employees are displaying what is colloquially known as 'job hugging' – which is to say, holding onto their jobs for dear life,' Korn Ferry, an organizational consulting firm, reports. Most employees plan to cling to their current employer for the next six months, according to the Eagle Hill Retention Index. 'Worker confidence in job opportunities is dwindling for nearly all U.S. workers as uncertainty looms around the broader economic outlook and job threats like AI and automation,' Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting, said in a statement. The quits rate – the rate at which workers voluntarily leave their jobs and a gauge of their perceptions of the labor market – has stayed around 2% since the start of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's significant because levels haven't remained so consistently low since 2016, apart from the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers' growing reluctance to change jobs reflects heightened worries over job security as nervous employers turn more cautious, said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics. Shock jobs report stirs recession fears: Takeaways "It may also reflect the surge in job switching that occurred during the pandemic, as workers landed in better jobs that were more suited to their skills and interests and paid better, and are now reluctant to leave those jobs," he said. U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs in July as payroll growth slowed amid President Donald Trump's import tariffs, the immigration crackdown and massive federal layoffs. With hiring stalled and job growth sluggish, workers are nervous about landing the next gig so they are staying put instead. But they aren't very happy about it. Social media is rife with cautionary tales, such as frustrated job seekers submitting hundreds of applications with no callbacks and overqualified candidates applying in droves for entry-level positions. 'My cousin made the mistake of quitting her job because the situation was so toxic,' one person said on Reddit. 'She thought with her experience she'd easily find something new and now she's working overnights at a gas station to try and stop the hemorrhage of money.' Workers say employers have the upper hand and they are using it to enforce return-to-office mandates and to slash benefits. 'They know how bad the job market is out there so they can get away with this. Their employees can't leave because there aren't better opportunities out there,' another employee said on Reddit. 'It's extremely frustrating and has made lots of people in my company feel hopeless. We're stuck.'
