Post by Ashley&Scott on Sept 26, 2017 15:22:23 GMT -5
I would be finding a new daycare. It does not have to be the owner that deals with this. In a well run daycare there would be a point person in charge when the owner is out, they would handle everything then the owner should follow up upon her return. How they are handling this is totally unacceptable. I would be in full on burn it down mode.
The more I think about this, I don't even know WTF the owner of our daycare is. I would expect the director to handle this, and if she is out, the assistant director better have some answers.
Post by vtdiamond on Sept 26, 2017 16:18:31 GMT -5
We use a day care chain as well. When there was a time between when our old Dirctor left and the new director started there were regional manager/ representatives on site at our center. They helped managed day to day operations and sent communications to parents. I would expect a presence from the company in this situation. Hopefully your call to their HQ will put that into motion.
I would also hope after your conversation with the manager she was on the phone with the director telling her that they have a huge problem that needs action immediately.
Fellow parent of a toddler checking in. I feel anxious for your child and angry for you just reading this post. I am so glad that your baby is okay, and I agree with the others that this is full burn-it-down territory, all the more so because of the lack of response. At this point, I'd be standing outside the daycare or in the lobby to loudly tell all other parents what happened.
Post by polarbearfans on Sept 27, 2017 5:19:30 GMT -5
I get that the owner is really dropping the ball here but why isn't anyone else stepping up? This is serious and they are not acting with enough urgency. I know it is easier said than done but I would change daycares.
Post by starryfish on Sept 27, 2017 9:03:12 GMT -5
I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I would be calling other daycares and getting on their list. I might PLEAD with them and explain the situation to see if there is anything they can do to accommodate you now.
Post by jeaniebueller on Sept 27, 2017 9:08:34 GMT -5
You guys, I understand the desire to burn it down, but the police are not going to do anything about this. Filing a report on the daycare license is the best recourse aside from pulling their child from the center.
OP, I am sorry that happened to your child. That is very scary and am glad you made the report.
Post by penguingrrl on Sept 27, 2017 12:33:21 GMT -5
I would be upset that this happened and even more upset with their response. I definitely think they need to be reported to the licensing board, and the fact that they haven't self-reported speaks volumes. I could never trust them again given the entire story and would be finding a new childcare arrangement ASAP as well.
Hi everyone. Again, I appreciate all of the feedback. Here's the latest.
Yesterday, after I sent my email, one of the girls who read it called C to tell her I sent an email and she needed to call me. The email goes to the center, not to individuals, which I knew. C did call me, and by her tone, I don't think she read the email. It was a quick call, I have a meeting scheduled with her for Friday afternoon.
After seeing vtdiamond 's post about time between directors and the regional manager helping, I started looking for that info. I found the letter announcing C becoming the franchise owner, and it did list the regional manager's name that she would be helping. After some google/fb stalking, I found her, and was about to message her, but then I messaged our old director to see if she could help me. She asked me to call her, we spoke for a bit. She was very upset by what happened, she worked for a long time to make the center great, and now it's going downhill. Anyway, she gave me excellent points and questions to bring up with C during our meeting. She gave me a better number for corporate and told me to ask for the regional manager (the one listed in the letter is no longer), and if they blow me off to demand to talk to their manager.
Before I had a chance to call, the person assigned to the case from IAIU called me. We didn't talk too long, she got the details, said they would do thorough investigation. I asked her about calling the police, she said it really wasn't necessary, as they would just do up a report and give it to her, anyway. She is going there unannounced TODAY. Which is kinda great, because C is still out, and A is actually out today, too (awful timing, she also has a funeral to go to). So that means it's probably going to be a sh!tshow there, and that's what she needs to see.
I called the # the old director gave me for corporate, asked to be directed to the regional manager for my location, and was just connected to the woman's cell. She just said Hello, and I asked if I was connected to the regional manager for my location, she said yes but I could barely hear her, she was out of range. She asked if she could call me back, and she did. She said she called the location first, and was able to get a little information of what happened, and said she assumed that's why I was calling. She was very nice, very apologetic, said she couldn't believe nothing had been done, that she wasn't contacted, and that this is not the way they do things, and that she will probably go to her own higher up. She said that even though C is at a funeral today, she will probably have to call her today to find out what's going on. She said she'll most likely get back to me tomorrow, as she doesn't want to do it bit by bit.
So, that's where we're at. I am looking into different daycares, but am not sure what we'll do. The regional manager did say that she thinks the center is just narrowing down on hiring a director. That's really what they need. This isn't normal for them, at all, and DD loves it there, loves her teachers, and has her friends there. I'm not fully against switching, but we're not jumping to it, I want to see this through and see if improvements will be made. I'm sure I'll be judged for that, but I don't think anyone can really understand without knowing everything, how it's been there for the last 2 years, etc.
I'll update again with anything new.
ETA Lacey must have posted while I was writing my novel. Apparently the cameras don't record, so they're basically pointless. It's not a cover up, I confirmed with the old director this morning.
In the past couple years we have had several different directors and short periods of time with no director - things never went to shit. My daycare is far from perfect, but anytime there was an issue the owner was on it immediately. In fact, I only ever really deal with her and she's always on site or available by cell/email. I wouldn't like that I didn't have that information readily available as a parent.
There are great teachers and kids at other schools too. In the beginning of this year, I had to move G from his class bc his teacher was horrible. His new teacher was a million times better and he's making friends. Kids adjust.
Honestly, I get that you really like A but A could've and should reported it or made sure things were flowing and this was being handled. The fact that information still isn't flowing and this isn't being taken seriously would be enough for me to pull my kid because bringing in one new person wouldn't give me confidence that if something else happened later that the others would still make sure it's taken care of.
Maybe not fake, but live only. So that whoever is watching them can see in rooms or at the front door. My kids' school has a live camera in the hallways.
Maybe not fake, but live only. So that whoever is watching them can see in rooms or at the front door. My kids' school has a live camera in the hallways.
Yes, this is how the cameras work at DD's daycare. There are cameras on the entryway (between the unlocked front door and the locked door to the building), and on the playground, but they don't record, they are just for live feeds.
Hi everyone. I have my meeting with C this afternoon, I was going to wait until after then to update, but have some time now.
When I picked up DD on Wednesday, A was there. She had been in contact with the regional manager, and came in after the funeral she had to go to. She was able to meet with the woman from IAIU, who also met with the teacher that left DD outside, and she also monitored DD. She saw that DD is still a happy girl, doesn't seem to show any distress, couldn't exactly interview her since she's only 2, but all seemed well. I spoke with A for a bit before we left, she told me that she and the regional manager go way back, and that the manager said C will be in big trouble. She basically told me to give her hell in our meeting today, and that she herself would be giving her hell when she sees her next.
What makes this not the norm (other than the obvious, of course) is that for 1, we don't currently have a director, but also for 2, this owner isn't just new, it's new to the daycare. They've always been under corporate, corporate even had an office in the building. We just got this franchise owner beginning of June. Everything is just a bit different right now. A said that the new director has been hired and will probably start next week or week after, and I'm hoping things will get more in line after that.
This was a new teacher. I get that mistakes happen, but there was no excuse for this, and if she hasn't been let go yet, she will (I will find out in my meeting today). She is not DD's teacher, and I do not believe that the veteran teachers there are suddenly bad teachers because of this new one and because of the lack of attention from C. The veteran teachers are the ones that care for DD, and that will care for her in her next classes as she moves up. If/when they start leaving, that's a different story.
I plan on reaming C a new asshole today. Yes, I'm upset that DD was left outside, but I'm oddly more upset about C's lack of attention to the matter. I know she had a death in the family, but she should have delegated it to someone else. She's who I have the biggest problem with right now.
Post by newnamesameperson on Sept 29, 2017 11:45:06 GMT -5
Are there not any other viable options available? You can yell at whomever you choose and they can provide you with a million excuses to why this occurred. However, that doesn't negate the fact that they failed to handle this appropriately from the get go. Change is hard but based on the lack of initial accountability and follow up this is a hard pass.
Seriously, get on some wait lists and tour some other centers.
I agree with everyone else. Incidents will happen at daycare - although this is one of the most troubling that can (besides serious injury) and it matters how management handles it. My owner never worked a day in daycare before buying the franchise location but always handled everything quickly and efficiently even when she was out of the office.
I tend to be pretty forgiving and easy-going, but the follow up (or lack thereof) is totally unacceptable and reflects how the center is clearly run.
Mistakes happen, and teachers are human. I totally get that. I could move forward with them had they all taken immediate action: reported the incident, put the staff person on leave, come up with a change in policy to ensure that this never happens again and implement immediate training, etc.
The fact that you have to hound them for meetings and communication is ridiculous. They should be falling all over themselves to make this right. Even if you love her main teachers and trust them, I'd never trust the administration and would be touring new daycares immediately.
Post by starryfish on Sept 29, 2017 12:40:42 GMT -5
Also, even if it was a new teacher that made the mistake, they NEED to change their policies so it doesn't happen again. i DOUBT it was ONLY one teacher that was outside with the kids. So what about the other teacher?
Also, even if it was a new teacher that made the mistake, they NEED to change their policies so it doesn't happen again. i DOUBT it was ONLY one teacher that was outside with the kids. So what about the other teacher?
This is what I was thinking--it had to be more than one teacher on the playground, plus also in the classroom. More than one person is at fault for this happening.
That is on my list of questions to ask her, how many kids, and what other teachers, if any. It was late in the day, 5:30ish or later (dh doesn't remember what time he got there, but he called me from there at 5:50 per my phone) so it very well could have been just 1 teacher, I just don't know. If there was more than one, they are all responsible.
Also it has been a week and you still have no idea how long your child was left alone outside. That is absolutely ridiculous.
This.
OP, I've been biting my tongue because I hate to victim blame, but you are being entirely too breezy/forgiving about this. Please stop to think that your TWO YEAR OLD was left outside alone for GOD KNOWS HOW LONG and no one noticed. No one! It took your DH to figure it out! And then you were essentially ignored for a week!
I hope all the parents at the daycare are being notified. If this happened to ANY child at my daycare I'd be pulling my kid immediately.