Questions Surround Sudden Closing of Day Care Center

By Mark Geary, Reporter

Tools

By Mark Geary

Story Created: Aug 23, 2009 at 7:43 PM CST

Story Updated: Aug 24, 2009 at 5:38 PM CST

NORTH LIBERTY – Ninety-five children and their families have spent the weekend struggling to find a new day care. That's after North Liberty's Lit'l Russellers day care center suddenly shut down. It’s located at 970 North Bend Drive.

While these children enjoy a carefree summer day, their parents stress about Monday morning. "Our teacher for our daughter was crying when she called. She didn't know what to do. Those people have been like family to us,” parent Chad Wood said.

On Saturday night, parents learned North Liberty's Lit'l Russellers day care center had closed. Jamie Russell owns the business. She says she can't afford to pay her bills. Some staff members feared this would happen.

"I think Jamie did not run her place right at all. Money...she'd just go blow it instead of putting it into the day care,” former worker Tabitha Woody said.

A recent surprise DHS inspection found violations at the center ranging from broken down vans to playground equipment safety issues to dirty carpeting.

"The carpets were very dirty. She would come home and the tops of her feet and knees would be black where she had been crawling around on the carpet,” parent Rachelle Stewart said.

Parents also had concerns about staffing levels in the classrooms and access to the building.

"The security was pathetic,” parent Jason Stevens said.

Despite those problems, these neighbors kept their boys and girls enrolled because they loved the staff.

"That's the one reason I stayed there as long as I did...the families and the kids,” Woody said.

Now, those bonds are broken and families are left with nothing but unanswered questions.

A Department of Human Services spokesperson told KCRG-TV9 News the agency did not ask or force the day care center to close.

Monday morning, from seven to ten, parents can pick up their children's personal belongings at the center.

Russell released this statement to TV9 on Sunday evening:
“My deepest apologies go out to the families, the staff and children that were affected by the abrupt closing of Lit'l Russellers Child Development Center! With the unstable economy and the financial status of the business, it was evident that no other choice could be made. The business forecast indicated that we would no longer be able to provide the business with the necessary staffing and supplies essential for the children, as we have done for many years. The primary concern of Lit'l Russellers and it's staff is, and has always been, that the children are allowed to grow and learn in a safe and loving environment. I know and understand the devastation that families and staff are feeling, as I am feeling it myself! This closing was not taken lightly and my heart breaks to have to bring to an end the place where children have learned and prospered for the last 9 years. I am forever grateful to all of wonderful and devoted Lit'l Russellers team members whom have volunteered their time to assist families with their childcare needs. I am truly thankful for all of the support that families have provided me in getting through this extremely difficult situation. I am honored that they had entrusted me to provide for their children for the past several years! I am hopeful that our community of child care providers will be able to provide loving care to the children that we have had the pleasure to watch grow.”

With heavy heart,
Jamie Russell
Owner
Lit'l Russellers Child Development Center

A group of former Lit’l Russellers Staff Members issued this statement to KCRG-TV9:
“Though we cannot speak for every staff member at LR we truly feel that LR has been a wonderful place to work. The closing of the center was a shock to us all, including the owner and if the situation could have been handled differently we truly believe it would have been. It is unfortunate that families are left without care but we are hopeful that with the help of LR staff and other providers in the community they will all be able to find alternative care. We are all trying to make the most of an extremely difficult situation.”

Iowa Department of Human Services Report (July 2009)

E-mail Mark Geary at Mark.Geary@kcrg.com or follow him on Twitter.

Next Article Asbury Man Pleads Not Gulity to Attempted Murder

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.