STEP BY STEP DAYCARE a Collier day care shut down - INVESTIGATION


Posted: Dec 18, 2009 6:32 PM EST

COLLIER COUNTY: A Collier County day care center shut down abruptly tonight and parents weren't told why. But NBC2 uncovered the school is closing because of a criminal investigation against one of the school's employees.

A board member with Step by Step Day Care said criminal complaint was just filed Thursday. While he wouldn't tell who it was filed against or what sparked the investigation, he said the center is closed indefinitely and parents will have to find another school for child care. Friday, parents walked out of the doors clinging to their children and wondering what caused the child care center to close with no warning. "Everyone was crying, upset and everyone was blind sighted. I guess the teachers aren't getting paid," said parent Victoria Ingram. Ingram's daughter is enrolled in the VPK program. She says she noticed that something at the day care wasn't quite right last week. "Last week there was a police officer here as I was leaving with my daughter," she said.

Step by Step board member Clay Cone said the board decided to close down the school because they could no longer afford to operate. That's leaving parents like Ingram with few options for child care and now she says she's struggling to explain this to their kids. "No one has given me any information. My child goes here and I haven't told her yet. "It's going to be an emotional strain for my child," she said.

Step by Step board members say there is a criminal investigation surrounding the center's closing. They say the investigation is financial in nature and is lodged against one of the school's longtime employees. But that information isn't enough for Ingram because her child's education has been put on hold. "I just want to know what's going on. I trusted them with my child all day long," she said.

Board members say they will have a meeting at the school Monday night at 5:30 to answer parent questions and help find alternative day care and child therapy classes. They also say board members of the Naples Wine Festival, who donated more than $300,000 to the school last year, will also try to help place the students.

By Travell Eiland

http://www.abc-7.com/global/story.asp?s=11702303