DEWITT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WSYM) - Parents dropped their kids off at a Mid-Michigan daycare Friday only to find out the operation was shutting down by the end of business on the same day.
New Beginnings Learn and Play daycare in Dewitt Township made the announcement, leaving many parents scrambling to try and figure out who will be watching their children Monday.
Clay Coey, owner of the daycare, tells FOX 47 News he’s shutting the operation down for health reasons.
Coey says he has tried to sell the business and keep it open but after a deal fell through, he’s left with no choice but to shut down.
New Beginnings Learn and Play is not being shut down by the state of Michigan, however it has received many violations.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) found that one child had gotten into latex paint.
Another child got sick after being sent home with someone else’s breast milk.
The state found the owner was using foul language in places kids could hear.
LARA says a corrective action plan was submitted by the owner, which was accepted by the department.
Parents are still left wondering what is next.
"It's rough but we’ve got a plan and schedule,” said Alex Nunhan, a parent who drops his daughter off at New Beginnings Learn and Play. “You’ve got to worry about the kids, their safety, and where they're going to go."
"I took the rest of the day off work so that I could not have the interference at work, it definitely makes things difficult,” said Nunhan.
Staff at New Beginnings Learn and Play claim the owner was abusive to them however that is not a daycare violation.
A grandparent sent FOX 47 News a copy of the contract signed with the daycare.
The contract states either parents or the provider must present a two week written notice before terminating service.
Coey tells FOX 47 News he is looking into what the terms of the contract.
Click here to view the LARA special investigation report made on August 25, 2017. The report contains quoted profanity and/or sexually explicit language.
Click here to view another LARA special investigation report also made on August 25, 2017.
