Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

Kiddie Academy

Some of the article:

Kiddie Academy of Riverhead has had its license suspended after being slapped with 79 violations of state child care law, the News-Review has learned.

The day care center’s violations range from numerous safety and fire hazard infractions to children being left without direct supervision, to not notifying the state that a child with a serious injury of infectious illness was at the facility. The citations also include violating the law which states “Methods of discipline, interaction or toilet training which frighten, demean or humiliate a child are prohibited.”

26 alleged violations were not corrected in the time allotted to address those issues, according to state records.

Kiddie Academy of Riverhead, owned by Krista Donnelly under JJC LI Enterprises, Inc., was visited by state inspectors on Aug. 26, Aug. 15, July 14, June 29, June 17, June 16, June 10 of this year, and Nov. 8, 2010. It was found with code violations on all those visits. The pre-school, located in the Kroemer Avenue complex that also houses Planet Fitness and Saf-T-Swim, was last inspected on Aug. 26 — and shut down.

Message edited 9/8/2011 12:25:44 PM.

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

That IS scary, because when I worked in daycare, the boss knew when someone was coming to check up on her business and we all ran around making sure everything was PERFECT. If they had all those infractions when they KNEW someone was coming, or was THERE already...that's insane.

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

That is scary, I go to that gym and would always hear the kids playing outside and would never have though anything of it...

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

WOW!

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

that's awful!! crazy and awful.

I wonder if someone was also complaining about them.

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

Yes, very scary! But I have to say I'm not all that surprised. I lived in the area & was looking for a daycare facility for DS. I went there & it was NOT a place I would bring my child!

It was July - every room had a full closed door. I walked into the toddler room, and the room was very stuffy and warm. It was "nap time" and no child was laying down. I know that not every child naps, but I later came to see (at 2 daycare centers that DS ended up going to), almost all children are laying down or are sitting quietly during "nap time". There was also an odor of urine thru the entire facility.

I can't recall other things that bothered me, but I had a bad vibe from the moment I stepped in the door.

We went to another facility (Kiddie Academy of Wading River) and fell in LOVE. It was night & day! Clean, organized, welcoming, etc- I could go on for days about how much I love them!

When I went to visit wading river, they asked what other facilities I had seen, when I said I had been to the Riverhead Kiddie Academy- they were quick to point out that each location is independently owned/operated and they have NO affiliation with that location.

I have run into other families who had similar experiences with the Riverhead location.

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

I, unfortunately, used this place. I just signed up in August - went 2 times and then they were shut down. My DD was supposed to do her pre-K there through the school district, but luckily I was able to get her back into the disctrict. I'm out the money, though & some of her clothes, etc. I had gone there in April and looked around, etc and it was very nice. I wasn't going to need to use them until Aug/Sept. so, I didn't go back again - well, things went very bad since then. Apparently, the owner has had money problems and there was lack of staffing which created a lot of the violations. Now, I have to take her to small claims to try to get my money back - what a pain.

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

does anyone know if once they are closed by the state, is it permanent, or can they "work" to get their license back?

Just curious really....?

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

I had spoken with the State when they were first closed - they were working with them to re-open. I don't know if the owner has the money, thouh. They can correct the violations. I was told, though, the violations, though numerous, were not, "horrible" nor "detrimental" to the children. And, when looking through the numerous facilities on the state's websites for daycares, you will find that most, have had violations. The state randomly comes to all the daycare facilities and checks them. According to the rep from the state, the main reason they were closed was due to the lack of lighting in the hallways, which was due to non payment of the LIPA bill!

Re: Scary - Riverhead Kiddie Academy closed after 79 violations of state child care law

Message edited 9/14/2011 5:01:55 PM.