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On a sun-drenched first day back to school for students across the archdiocese, Cardinal Dolan and Mayor Bill de Blasio talked up universal pre-kindergarten after touring one such classroom at Sacred Heart School on Staten Island.
The cardinal stood alongside the mayor on the side lawn of Sacred Heart School in the West Brighton section on Sept. 4 as the two leaders participated in a press conference on the day that launched the expansion of universal pre-k in New York City.
“The invitation that you gave to the archdiocese of New York…to cooperate in what I think is an extraordinarily bold, promising and noble project—we appreciated that very much, the trust and the confidence,” the cardinal told the mayor.
“We’re in the business of serving the community,” the cardinal continued. “We’ve been doing it well for over two centuries. That you would invite us to be part of this project—thank you very much.”
The mayor said he was honored to be at Sacred Heart School with the cardinal to start “this historic expansion of pre-k.”
“It’s such a joy to be here on Staten Island for the first day of school,” the mayor said, noting the numerous energetic Sacred Heart students assembled on the school lawn beyond the dais.
A total of 51,500 children in New York City are now registered to attend full-day pre-k—more than double the 20,000 children who attended those programs last year, according to the mayor’s office.
The launch of “Pre-K for All” spans numerous city agencies and partners with hundreds of schools and community-based providers. It is the first stage of a two-year expansion that will bring full-day pre-k to all 73,000 eligible 4-year-olds in New York City.
The mayor thanked the cardinal and all at the archdiocese “for being such important partners” in the effort. “It’s been a great example of shared teamwork, shared values, shared vision.”
“All over the city, you’re seeing this partnership come to life today,” the mayor added. “In Catholic schools around the city—in the archdiocese and in the Diocese of Brooklyn—over 3,000 full-day pre-k seats in our Catholic schools, over 1,200 full-day pre-k seats in Jewish schools, about 100 full-day seats in Muslim schools, and about 200 full-day seats in charter schools.”
The mayor pledged “next year, with the close collaboration of the cardinal and the archdiocese and so many other partners around the city, we’re going to get to the point where every single child is guaranteed a pre-k seat—every child of pre-k age in this city. And this partnership is allowing us to do that.”
Also in attendance was the mayor’s wife, First Lady Chirlane McCray; Dr. Timothy McNiff, archdiocesan superintendent of schools; and a number of other officials from the archdiocese, as well as local politicians and civic officials.
“Again, all over this city, more than 50,000 4-year-olds showing up for pre-k for the first day—great reports coming back already—and what’s happening here at Sacred Heart is a great example,” the mayor said.
“Good things have been happening at this school for years. But pre-k—before this year—pre-k was limited to one classroom, about 18 kids,” at Sacred Heart, he said. “This year, at Sacred Heart, there will be 54 kids in full-day pre-k. So, we’ve tripled the pre-k capacity here at this school.
Both the cardinal and the mayor cited the exemplary skill set of the universal pre-k teacher whose classroom they and the first lady had just visited, that of Corie Caccese, who is affectionately known by her students as “Ms. C.C.”
“Ms. C.C., take a bow,” said the mayor. “Well done.”
“If you look in this classroom at Sacred Heart, you see a microcosm of New York City—you see every kind of New Yorker,” the mayor said.
Among others, the cardinal commended Sacred Heart’s principal, Evelyn M. Lacagnino, and the pastor of Sacred Heart parish, Father Louis Jerome, as well as Dr. McNiff, the archdiocese’s superintendent of schools.
“It’s all about the principal, it’s all about a good priest, it’s all about Dr. McNiff and our leadership at the top,” the cardinal said. “We’re just honored to be part of this.
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do they ever, here at Sacred Heart,’” the cardinal said. “So, alleluia, God bless the new school year.”
