State Closes Day Care Surprise Check Finds Children Unsupervised
The state has closed a South Hill day care with chronic problems less than a week after a surprise inspection found the center supervisor lying on the floor, not watching the children.
Kinder College Corner, E1518 29th Avenue, provided care for up to 43 kids before the state shut it down Monday.
“The department doesn’t feel it can insure the health and safety of children at that facility, so we took immediate action,” said Tim Nelson, director of the Office of Child Care Policy. The office monitors child care for the state Department of Social and Health Services.
The South Hill center is the second Spokane day care the state has closed this year in a continuing crackdown on substandard child care.
Nelson said the state is also investigating the quality of care at three other Kinder College day cares in Spokane, all owned by Judith Roberts. The centers are licensed to care for a total of about 200 children.
In a June 27 letter to Roberts, the state chronicled these complaints about her South Hill center:
Last May 7, staff members were intimidating and demeaning to a parent who withdrew her child.
Last March, a child broke his arm while on an unauthorized field trip. The parents were led to believe the incident occurred at the center playground.
On Sept. 5, 1995, two adults were observed supervising about 30 children. Babies were left in cribs too long, and diapers were not changed often enough.
On March 31, 1993, there were confirmed complaints of understaffing and no supervision during nap times. Children were left in infant swings for long periods and baby bottles being propped - not held - for infants.
The letter from the state, obtained by The Spokesman-Review, also indicated financial problems at the center.
Employees weren’t paid on time in May or June, and a bill to Washington Water Power Co. was overdue, the letter states.
Roberts can appeal the state-ordered closure. Attempts to reach her were unsuccessful Monday.
The other Kinder College day cares are located at E1002 North, N12003 Division and E824 Hastings.
, DataTimes