Children are an increasing population in Brooklyn, sometimes sparking a culture war that’s feeling a bit stale, but more importantly putting a strain on pre-school programs. Prospect-Lefferts Gardens’ Maple Street School, operating out of the Prospect Park B/Q/S station, is no exception, with a waiting list up to 100 children that’s bound to grow if developer Henry Herbst builds his planned tower next door. But Maple Street board member Marc Dicus said he hopes the tower will also give the school a chance to expand. The two parties are in talks, said Herbst and Dicus, for Maple Street to lease the tower’s 23,000-square-foot community facility. “We’re in just very intial conversations with him about being interested in that space,” said Dicus. “We’re a nursery school and we may not be able to go on the second floor; we may only be allowed on a ground floor. But if it’s feasible, we’d like to serve more kids.” He said the school would keep its subway station space, leased until 2015. Maple Street School takes children aged 2 to 5, but it’s licensed up to age 6. Director Wendy Cole said the additional space could give them room for a kindergarten program. Already, she said the co-operative school, started in 1978 by a group of parents, serves 80 families. The diverse group of kids can regularly be seen lined up, holding hands and wearing little matching vests, on their way to the zoo, Botanic Gardens, Audobon Center or Prospect Park. “There’s a shortage of pre-k programs in general,” said Dicus. “There’s just been a huge explosion of children going to school in the borough.” Do you think more new buildings should provide space for strained facilities?
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