By MIA RUPANI | Preschool of America in Battery Park City reopened on Mon., July 6 after having its operating license suspended last month after losing track of a toddler who reportedly wandered into the street.
It appeared to be business as usual at the school on the afternoon of July 8 as parents came to pick up their children after work. Inside at Two South End Ave., the school was bustling with activity and children could be heard laughing.
Many parents leaving the school with their children did not want to comment.
One woman, who did not give her name, came to the defense of the school.
“We’ve tried other daycares but this is the only one he likes,” she said. “The quality of teachers here is higher than anywhere else we have been to.”
Another woman with a young child said, “I do not want to talk about the incident if that is why you are here.”
The city Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene suspended the facility’s license on June 17 after a child attending the school’s daycare managed to wander away from staff during an outing.
A driver, Susan Bittan, noticed the boy, whose age has not been released, wandering on South End Ave. when she slammed on her brakes to avoid hitting him, the Battery Park City Broadsheet reported. Bittan brought the child back to the school.
On Wednesday, a staff member at the school directed all questions to Michele DeMizio, regional director for Preschool of America, a New York City chain with 20 locations.
In an email, DeMizio refused comment about how the school has improved its safety measures since having its license revoked.
The school’s attorney, Enrico Demarco, responded in an email: “Various new and additional measures are being taken to assure child safety during outings above the mandated requirements. This includes face to name headcount procedures using checklists which are performed within shorter intervals and a third staff member will attend all outings.”
Last week, Demarco said the two teachers responsible for the child who went missing were fired.
The city Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene, which suspended Preschool for America’s license in Battery Park City, declined to comment on the reasons for the school’s reopening, or say if officials had any message for any concerned parents.
