NOT A GOOD DAYCARE PROVIDER

NOT AS WONDERFUL AS YOU THINK

THE TEACHERS ARE NOT THAT GREAT & THE SCHOOL IS NOT THE BEST ONE AROUND. YES, THEY HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS, FINGERPRINT TECHNOLOGY, & ALL THAT WONDERFUL STUFF. WHAT GOOD IS IT IF THEY DON'T PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR CHILD OR CHILDREN?

MY DAUGHTER WENT THERE FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE I REMOVED HER. EVERYDAY WHEN I PICKED UP MY DAUGHTER SHE WOULD CRY UNCONTROLLABLY & BEFORE WE MADE IT HOME SHE WAS FAST ASLEEP & WOULDN'T WAKE UP UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS JUST TRIED SINCE SHE WAS NOT USED TO BEING AWAY FROM ME & BEING AROUND KIDS ALL DAY. BUT THIS HAPPENED EVERYDAY, SHE WOULD JUST CRY AND CRY THEN SLEEP FOR ALMOST 13 HOURS (13 HOURS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION EITHER) WITHOUT WAKING TO EAT (NOT NORMAL FOR A BABY).

I ASKED THEM IF ANYTHING WAS GOING ON & I WAS TOLD OH NO SHE'S JUST OVERWHELMED BY THE OTHER KIDS AND BEING AWAY FROM YOU SO SHE JUST HAPPY TO SEE YOU IS WHY SHE'S CRYING,YEAH RIGHT.

SINCE MY DAUGHTER WAS ONLY 13 MONTHS AT THE TIME I WASN'T ABLE TO ASK HER WHAT WAS WRONG. ALTHOUGH I NOW KNOW SHE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING FROM DAY 1, I WILL ALWAYS REGRET THAT I DIDN'T LISTEN TO MY GUT.

A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I PICKED HER UP I COULD TELL SHE HAD BEEN CRYING, I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED & BOTH TEACHERS SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW. WHEN I LOOKED AT HER I SAW THAT SHE HAD A STRING OF BEADS THAT HAD BEEN PULLED OUT OF HER HAIR. WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT THEY SAID OH MY GOSH WE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY BEADS MISSING.NO OTHER EXPLANATION WAS OFFERED. I DECIDED TO LET IT GO & SAID THAT THINGS DO HAPPEN & IT'S A DAYCARE & THEY HAVE OTHER CHILDREN TO WATCH ALSO.

THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN & THEY STILL COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. AGAIN I LET IT GO.

THE NEXT DAY SHE HAD A HUGE SCRAP ON HER KNEE THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CLAIM THAT THE BIG KIDS WERE RUNNING OUT TO THE PLAYGROUND & SHE FELL DOWN.WHY ARE THE BIG KIDS PLAYING WITH 1 YEAR OLD BABIES??

A FEW DAYS LATER, WHEN I CAME TO PICK HER UP HER BOTTOM WAS WET, I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED? I WAS TOLD THAT SHE SAT IN A POOL OF WATER OUTSIDE & THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WET THERE WERE GOING TO CHANGE HER BUT DIDN'T. WHY WOULDN'T THEY CHANGE HER SHE HAD EXTRA CLOTHES, SO THEY JUST LET MY BABY SIT IN WET CLOTHES LIKE SHE WAS NOTHING. BY THIS TIME I AM BEYOND FRUSTRATED WITH THEM, BUT I SAID 1 MORE WEEK.

THE LAST STRAW WAS A FEW DAYS LATER.(EVERYTHING WOULD HAPPEN JUST A FEW DAYS LATER) I CAME TO PICK HER UP & SHE WAS SITTING IN THE TEACHERS LAP & HAD DRY TEARS ON HER FACE & WHEN SHE SAW ME SHE BEGAN TO SOB LOUDLY. I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED & AGAIN THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. WHEN I PICKED HER UP I LOOKED AT THE TOP OF HER HEAD & NOTICED THAT A PIECE OF MY CHILDS HAIR WAS MISSING , YES MISSING. SOMEONE HAD PULLED A PLUG OF HER HAIR OUT!! I WAS FURIOUS! I WANTED A EXPLANATION & THEY HAD THE NERVE TO SAY THAT THEY DID NOT NOTICE IT. WHAT? HOW CAN YOU NOT NOTICE A CHILD PULLING A FULL BRAID OUT OF ANOTHER CHILDS HAIR. I'M SURE MY BABY CRIED OUT! MY DAUGHTER HAD A BALD SPOT ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD BUT THEY DIDN'T NOTICE? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. HOW IN THE HELL CAN YOU NOT NOTICE THAT?

I WANTED ANSWERS THEN BUT THE DIRECTOR MRS. PAYNE WAS NOT IN. ON MONDAY I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH HER & SHARED MY CONCERNS. THE ONLY THING SHE SAID TO ME WAS IM SORRY ABOUT THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE LOOK ADORABLE IN THEM MAYBE SHE SHOULDN'T WEAR ANYMORE BEADS TO SCHOOL.

EXCUSE ME? MAYBE YOUR STAFF SHOULD WATCH THE CHILDREN MORE EFFICIENTLY. I THEN TOLD HER I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED SINCE NO ONE NOT EVEN SHE COULDN'T OFFER ME ANY EXPLANATION ON WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. SHE REFUSED. I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WOULD REFUSE TO LET A PARENT LOOK AT A VIDEO CAMERA THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR THE CHILDRENS SAFETY AS WELL AS THE STAFFS.

THE $130 THAT WAS BEING PAID EVERY WEEK PAD FOR THAT DAMN CAMERA & SHE WOULDN'T LET ME SEE THE VIDEO. SO I TOLD HER THAT I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HER DAYCARE SERVICES & THAT LAST FRIDAY WAS MY DAUGHTERS LAST DAY. ALL SHE COULD SAY WAS I UNDERSTAND. AFTER 3 WEEKS OF MY DAUGHTER BEING MISTREATED BY THE OTHER CHILDREN OR STAFF (I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON), & HER SLEEPING FOR ALMOST 13 HOURS STRAIGHT & YOU JUST SAY, I UNDERSTAND? I DON'T LIKE A BETTER CHOICE CHILDRENS ACADEMY AT ALL.

MY DAUGHTER NOW GOES TO A VERY WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN ORIENTED DAYCARE WHO ALSO HAS CAMERAS IN EVERY CLASSROOM & WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM AT ALL SHOWING ME FOOTAGE IF A PROBLEM WERE TO ARISE. BELIEVE ME THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT I ASKED.

SHE'S BEEN THERE ALMOST 2 YEARS & SHE LOVES IT I CAN TELL HOW HAPPY SHE IS THERE. SHE HAS NEVER CRIED WHEN I PICK HER UP FROM SCHOOL NOT EVEN ON HER FIRST DAY BACK WHEN SHE WAS STILL TRAUMATIZED FROM A BETTER CHILDRENS CHOICE ACADEMY, NOR HAS SHE GONE TO SLEEP AS SOON AS SHE GOT IN THE CAR & SLEPT FOR 13 HOURS.

THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD DAYCARES. I KNOW THAT ALL DAYCARES ARE NOT PERFECT BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A NAME LIKE A BETTER CHOICE CHILDRENS ACADEMY YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE UP TO THE NAME.

I WOULD NEVER TELL ANYONE TO ENROLL THERE CHILD THERE AT ANY AGE ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT.

Comment On This

"we address any complaints to the best of our abilities. We are pleased to be among the best of the educational facilities in our area."

From The Highlands Today July 9, 2009

Gut feeling is best judge of suitable daycare

Anne Bouhebent says parents should ultimately trust their gut when deciding on a daycare facility for their children.

Do you feel comfortable with the facility? said Bouhebent, the executive director of Early Learning Coalition of Floridas Heartland.

That question has perhaps been on the minds of local parents in recent weeks following the indictment of a daycare owner and employee on a misdemeanor charge of failing to report suspected child abuse. The charge against Linda Payne and Sara Vasquez stemmed from the investigation into the death of 22-month-old Kaedyn Short, who was allegedly severely injured by her mothers former live-in boyfriend, Avon Park police office James Parker.

Payne, the director of Sebrings A Better Choice Childrens Academy, entered a written plea of not guilty at her Wednesday arraignment. Vasquez will next appear in court July 23.

On June 24, the coalition decided no to renew its school Readiness contract with the daycare for the upcoming fiscal year, according to Bouhebent.

The facility had been on probation since April 3 following consistent low scores on a rating scale and ongoing citations issued by the Department of Children and families, an earlier Highlands Today report stated.

Thirty-two children from 24 low-income families who attend Better Choice and receive the School Readiness subsidies had until July 6 to find another daycare enrolled in the program.

It is also important that there is sufficient staff available to handle the children, especially if they are younger.

Over the course of 17 inspections since August 2007, the DCF found student-teacher rations not being observed at least eight times, according to inspection reports.

So I wonder how those 24 parents who had 32 children enrolled at this facility would feel about the comments being made that about people who receive assistance always seem to complain the most. I bet they took up more than 50 percent of your entire daycare. Shame, shame, shame, on you Linda Payne and A Better Choice Childrenss Academy. Where is your license now and all the glory and high marks about being the best facility in town. Karma is a BITCH!!!!!

Comment On This

THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST RESPONSE TO THIS POST BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO GO TO OTHER COMPLAINT WEBSITES & SHARE MY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE WITH A BETTER CHOICE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY NO MATTER WHAT RESPONSE I RECEIVE IT IS MY EXPERIENCE & I WILL SHARE IT WHENEVER I WWOULD LIKE TO.

1. YES I AM STILL VERY UPSET, AND WILL ALWAYS GET UPSET WHEN MY CHILDS SAFETY IS AN ISSUE.

2. WHEN YOUR CHILDS NORMAL SLEEP PATTERN IS 6 HOURS OF SLEEP BEFORE SHE WAKES UP FOR A BOTTLE/CUP, TURNS IN 13 HOURS WITHOUT WAKING TO EAT OR DRINK, THAT IS CONSIDERED ABNORMAL. I DON'T CARE HOW SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD SLEEPS, ALL I CARE ABOUT IS MY CHILD.

3. EVERY ISSUE I HAD I SPOKE ABOUT IT WITH THE TEACHER THAT DAY, SINCE THE TEACHER IS THE ONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE CARING FOR HER AND NOT THE DIRECTOR I DIDN'T SPEAK WITH THE DIRECTOR. ARE THE TEACHERS NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING ISSUE THAT HAPPEN IN THERE OWN CLASSROOM, WHAT THE USE OF HAVING TEACHERS IF THEY CAN'T HANDLE SITUATIONS, I GUESS THERE SHOULD PERMANENTLY BE A DIRECTOR IN EVERY CLASS

4."THERE IS NO WATER LOCATED IN ON THE PLAYGROUND" YES THERE WAS AND IT'S CALLED RAIN, AND THE SPOT WHERE SHE SAT WAS CLEARLY WET.

5. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BEADS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED ON DAY ONE, BECAUSE WHEN I CAME TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE FACILITY I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER WITH ME AND SHE HAD BEADS IN HER HAIR THEN AND NOTHING WAS EVER SAID.DID THEY FORGET WHAT WAS IN THERE OWN HANDBOOK SINCE I DIDN'T WRITE IT I WOULDN'T KNOW IT WORD FOR WORD. ALTHOUGH I DID SIGN IT, SO I GUESS THAT ONE IS ON ME. SEE I CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I WISH A BETTER CHOICE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.

6. THE DAY MY DAUGHTERS HAIR WAS EXTRACTED FROM HER SCALP WAS ON A FRIDAY & THE DIRECTOR HAD LEFT EARLY. SO I CAME BACK IN PERSON ON MONDAY MORNING BUT SHE HADN'T ARRIVED. I WAS ON MY WAY BACK WHEN SHE CALLED ME AND WE DISCUSSED WHAT HAPPENED. SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NEED FOR HER TO SPEND "DAYS" SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING THAT IN FACT HAPPENED AT HER FACILITY.

7. THE THING IS, IF YOU ARE SO SURE THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T HAPPEN AT YOUR FACILITY THEN WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO PROVE ME WRONG AND CLEAR THAT ACCUSATION UP? (THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM)

8. I TOO FIND IT AMUSING HOW IT SAYS THAT I DIDN'T PAY FOR CHILDCARE SERVICES. DID I HAVE HELP FROM A CHILDCARE AGENCY? YES (SO DOES PLENTY OF THE OTHER CHILDREN THAT ATTEND THAT DAYCARE) DID THEY PAY THE ENTIRE BILL? NO. I STILL WAS GOING TO PAY $120 OUT OF MY POCKET EVERY MONTH. I STILL SAY THE MONEY I PAID AND EVERY OTHER PARENT WHO "DOESN'T PAY" HELPED KEEP THOSE DAMN CAMERAS AND FINGERPRINT TECHNOLOGY IN THE DAYCARE. WHETHER I PAID $5 OR $500 A MONTH I PAID IT AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT A BETTER CHILDRENS ACADEMY WAS A FACILITY THAT I THOUGHT I TRUSTED TO PROPERLY CARE FOR MY CHILD. (IT'S SO PATHETIC THAT SOMEONE WOULD GO THAT ROUTE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES)

9. I HOPE THAT ANY OTHER PARENT WHO HAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS DAYCARE DOES NOT GET DISMISSED AS QUICKLY AS I WAS. IF THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL AND A WONDERFUL DIRECTOR, WHEN I REMOVED HER FROM THE FACILITY, THE RIGHT THING WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR HER TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE SHE WAS SORRY THAT I FELT THE WAY I DID AND THAT I WANT TO REMOVE MY CHILD & IF THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING TO BE NEGLIGENT IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL AND BEST WISHES. THAT'S WHAT A GREAT BUSINESS OWNER DOES WHEN THEY WANT TO KEEP A GOOD REPUTATION WITH PEOPLE THEY DO BUSINESS WITH. TRUTH BE TOLD IF THE DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A SINCERE APOLOGY I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO ANGRY, I STILL WOULD HAVE REMOVED HER BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN THIS COMPLAINT. IT'S ALL IN HOW YOU DO BUSINESS.

10. THE COMMENT IMPLYING THAT MY DAUGHTERS HAIR BEING EXTRACTED FROM HER SCALP COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HOME. TST TST TST, SHAME ON YOU A BETTER CHOICE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY FOR TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK. IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT THE FACILITY DROPPED THE BALL AND DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO PICK IT UP.

ALSO, THE COMMENT ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. IT'S TRUE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT MY COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATOR DIDN'T SEE THE CAMERA FOOTAGE WHERE ALL THE PROOF WAS. ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE IT DID SAY THAT THE STUDENT TEACHER RATIO WAS NOT UP TO STANDARD SO I GUESS A BETTER CHOICE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY ISN'T COMPLETELY UP TO PAR AND IT ISN'T "99.9%" AS WONDERFUL AS THEY THINK IT IS.

A BETTER CHOICE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY IS STILL A LOW GRADE FACILITY IN MY OPINION AND THAT'S ALL THE WILL EVER MATTER!!

GOD BLESS..

Comment On This

We have had hundreds of wonderful parents and children at our facility over the years, and while most are extremely happy with the education and care of their children, there will always be a small percentage that will not be happy with all aspects of our school, as in every childcare facility throughout America. All complaints are handled in a professional manner and most are resolved easily.

I would like to address these complaints, as it is obvious that this parent is still very upset (despite being 2 years later). I would like to note that this parent only complained to the director upon withdrawing her child. We would certainly have been happy to address her concerns had she spoken to the director about them when they occured.

Her child was very happy at our facility during the short time she was here. In fact, she loved playing with teachers and toys, that she simply didn't want to sleep at nap time. Some children are like that, and it would make sense that her child would sleep all night at home. And, it is perfectly normal for children to sleep for many hours at night. I am currently the parent of a one year old, and he sleeps 11-12 hours at night, with an hour nap in the afternoon. This is completely normal for children this age.

I do remember this woman's child crying on one particular occasion, when the teacher held her up to see "Look, there's mommy coming to pick you up." Mommy disappeared from view as she came in the front door, and the child cried. Sometimes children cry when they see their parents. Sometimes they cry out of happiness, sometimes out of fear, sometimes they are over tired. Her child was extremely happy each and every day of attendance.

There is no water located on the playground, and never has been. Also, one year old children are not on the playground at the same time as other children. Is it feasible to say that her child received a scrape on her leg? Absolutely. Children new to walking, as well as experienced walkers fall, as do adults. Sometimes they receive scrapes or cuts. We clean and bandage their boo boos, give them lots of TLC, and let parents know what happened. It is a normal part of all childcare facilities.

The only time this parent complained to the director was upon the child's termination. She stated a strand of beads was missing from her child's head. The director apoligized and explained to the parent that beads were not permissible in the first place (and clearly stated in the parent handbook, and signed by the parent upon enrollment), as they are colorful and other children love to play with them, and they also pose a choking hazard to all children, including her own. The parent demanded to see the video footage of the exact situation. Video footage is not available for parents to watch at their discretion, and never was specified that it was. If the director would like to show a particular situation to a parent, and is able to isolate the date, time and precise camera location of the event, then she is able to do so. There were no dates and times of events, as parent had not complained before, and it simply wasn't feasible for the director to spend days searching for something that may or may not be there. The strand could just have easily been missing from an event that happened at home. Of course, it's easier to blame the school. An investigation was done, and our center was found to have done nothing wrong, and followed all policies and procedures.

To deem our facility as mistreating her daughter is simply a farce. Our teachers are some of the most caring people in the world, and do everything possible to care for and love the children in our care. We have been rated one of the highest preschool facilites in the state of Florida, and are very proud of our staff, administration, school, and children.

We also find it amusing that the parents who do not pay for their children's care are the first to complain.

We are thrilled that she and her daughter found a facility that she is happy with, and wish them nothing but the best. We hope that if she has concerns in the future she will address them with the administration.

As for our school, we are very proud of all of our children, parents and staff. We have the highest Kindergarten preparedness rate in the state, (www.vpk.fldoe.org--Kindergarten Readiness Rates for 2007-2008) and are very pleased with all of the happenings at our school. Are we perfect? No, of course not, and don't claim to be. Neither are any other preschools, elementary schools, high schools or colleges. 99.9% of our parents are very happy with our services, and we address any complaints to the best of our abilities. We are pleased to be among the best of the educational facilities in our area.