SOUTHINGTON -- After a local daycare closed abruptly, parents of about 50 kids don’t know if they’ll get to go back.
On Friday, when Therese Kelly went to pick up her 1-year-old granddaughter at Cheshire Country Day School in the Milldale section of Southington, there were tears.
She said, “I was like 'what do you mean he's closing the daycare? What are we supposed to do?' As far as I know, he let go all of the staff.”
Kelly says unlike some other parents, she and her daughter never got an email. “Even though they have our emails and I know other parents did not, so we never saw any indication of that. The place was always clean, no problems,” said Kelly.
The State's Office Of Early Childhood confirmed there were two complaints filed last week.
Kelly learned from other parents that daycare owner, Asher Sussman, first warned parents on Friday that they were closing for maintenance and registration. Later in the day, parents were told it was mainly due to mouse infestation and paperwork issues.
When FOX 61 stopped by the daycare Tuesday afternoon, the building owner's son said there was no evidence of mouse infestation and that in reality Sussman hasn't paid his rent in months. He's been the owner for over a year.
We called Sussman for a comment, but he wouldn't take our call.
Kelly and one of Sussman's former co-workers say he also owns two other daycares, Foundations For Learning in Glastonbury and South Windsor.
Kelly is hoping all these parents at the Southington daycare get their money back for this week and that they all find places for the kids. “You need at least 30 days before you shut down a daycare.”
A parent emailed this letter to FOX 61, but we have not independently confirmed that it came from the school:
We would like to inform all the families that we will be formally closing our doors effective as of today December 6, 2016. When we made the decision to close due to health and safety concerns that we felt were serious enough to warrant closing, we anticipated opening again with renewed energy, resources, and support. In lieu of feedback that we have received from parents with regards to their future plans for childcare we decided it would be best to close the center permanently. In anticipation of further parent issues and concerns, we have notified the state of our intentions to close permanently. They have verified that no further notice or information is required.
If you need to collect any of your belongings from the premises, please contact the landlord, Marge Lessard, at 843-685-2002.
