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Local nursery group offers one‑year lease to keep daycare in Pine Grove building after Head Start funding cut
Summary
Dan Tucker, a village resident and treasurer of Walker Grand School, asked the board to pursue a one‑year, nominal lease with Angle Nursery School to keep daycare services running at the Pine Grove/Head Start building after Head Start’s funding was cut. Trustees agreed to explore an RFP and schedule a special meeting to consider the lease.
Dan Tucker, a village resident and treasurer for the Walker Grand School, asked the Village of Ellenville trustees on the record to consider a one‑year, nominal lease that would let Angle Nursery School take over daycare operations at the Pine Grove building after the Head Start program announced it will close later this month.
Tucker told the board the building is already licensed and zoned for early‑childhood care and that an operator moving in would likely need three to six months to secure any outstanding licensing details. “Because it’s an existing school, I have a feeling a lot of the legwork on the building code side is taken care of,” Tucker said, and asked the board to consider a $1‑per‑year lease for an initial 12 months so services can continue while the village studies long‑term options.
Tucker said he submitted a pro forma financial statement and has volunteers ready to mobilize quickly. He also said the nursery school could pursue retention of some former Head Start staff and rely on existing subsidy relationships with county services to enroll families that qualify for financial assistance.
Trustees expressed urgency and concern about timing. Board members and staff said the village would prepare an RFP or short one‑year lease to allow a provider to step into the building quickly if that proved legally permissible. The board discussed constraints on leases below market value and agreed to seek the village attorney’s advice; the mayor and trustees set a target to hold a special meeting by the middle of next week to discuss next steps.
The board moved into executive session later in the meeting to discuss a potential lease for the property; trustees stated after reconvening that no votes were taken during executive session. The village clerk will notify petitioners of next steps and any deadlines for formal RFP responses.
Why it matters: Head Start programs provide both childcare and early‑education services for low‑income families; the announced program closure would leave local families without a long‑standing community resource unless another provider can be authorized and licensed quickly. A one‑year lease or short‑term RFP would keep the facility in active service while the village and potential providers evaluate longer‑term solutions.
