Assemblyman 'Distressed' at Condition of Tibbs Center

The following is a letter to the editor from Englewood Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson:

I was heartened, as many of my colleagues were, to hear President Obama so strongly endorse early childhood learning in his State of the Union address.  I have long believed that childhood education is the key to leveling the playing field, especially among our poorer and our immigrant populations.

Consequently, I was distressed to see the condition of the facilities at the Vincente K. Tibbs Development Center on William Street in Englewood. The building once housed The Suburbanite Newspaper office and is now leased to the Tibbs Center for $1.00 a year by its owner, the City of Englewood. Over the years the Center has made the repairs that they were able to make. But, as the building comes nearer to the end of its usable life, larger capital expenses are beginning to come up.

The Tibbs Center is licensed by the State and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Obviously, much depends on this accreditation, including the payments received from the State of New Jersey which make up the majority of its revenue. The accreditation is partly based on the physical facility and it is of grave concern that the dilapidation of the facility will put both the license and the accreditation at risk.

Losing the Tibbs Center would it be a tragedy for the 80 children (mostly Englewood residents) enrolled in its program and the parents who depend on it. These children are the future of our City and our country. If they aren’t given a chance, they will never reach their full potential or be able to make their full contribution to society.

I recently visited the facility with Englewood City Manager Timothy Dacey to explain the dire situation. After the visit, Englewood committed to making repairs at the Center, including fixing fences, removing debris, and repairing the faucets. The City will also make capital improvements to the Tibbs Center over the next few years. These actions will ensure that the Tibbs Center maintains its license and a safe environment for the children.

Sincerely,
Gordon M. Johnson
Assemblyman, District 37