Abilene — An Abilene child care center has been closed after video footage showed toddlers tied to chairs, one child flung against a wall and another child stuck under a sink for not being quiet during nap time.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment suspended the license of Learn and Grow Depot Child Development Center on Tuesday, a day after the center’s operator, Memorial Health System, temporarily closed the center for “an internal review of services.”
The center had a live Web cam that parents could access on their computers. In its emergency suspension order, the state health department said video footage from that camera showed several examples of “prohibited punishment used against the children in care.”
The order says toddlers were tied to chairs during meals, and one child was seen “being shoved and flung, still tied to the chair, against a wall with such force that his feet sway briskly in the opposite direction upon impact.” It notes that the child was tied to the chair for 40 minutes.
Abilene resident Betty Nebelsick said one child tied to a chair was her 16-month-old grandson. She said that after she saw him on the Web cam Nov. 25, she went to the center to pick him up and he hasn’t been back.
“I just saw him tied to this chair, up against the wall,” Nebelsick said. “At that time, I didn’t know how long he’d been there, or how he’d gotten there. That was enough for me.”
The Web cam video also shows a preschool teacher using her leg to hold a child on a nap cot and forcing a child’s head down on the cot face first, the order reads.
The order also says one child was pinned under a classroom sink for not being quiet during nap time.
“The child was thrown under the sink with such force that she hit her head on the pipes,” according to the order.
Ann Brussow, a spokeswoman for Memorial Hospital of Abilene, which also is owned by Memorial Health System, said the company “self-reported” problems to KDHE. State officials dispute that contention.
“The facility did not self-report,” said Mike Heideman, KDHE spokesman. He said the suspension order was the result of an investigation initiated by a citizen complaint.
The Web cam footage has been turned over to Abilene Police Chief Bryan Dunlap, who said he will review the video with Dickenson County Attorney Keith Hoffman. Dunlap wouldn’t say whether any charges would be filed.
“We understand that the KDHE has initiated an investigation,” he said. “What may be a regulatory violation may or may not be a criminal violation.”
The center, which is licensed for 100 children from 6 weeks to 12 years old, has 122 enrolled, Brussow said. It had been open for a little more than a year.
The center has 15 days to file an appeal, after which a hearing date will be set, Heideman said. If the center doesn’t appeal within that time, the suspension will be indefinite, he said.
Many parents learned of the center’s closing when they showed up Tuesday morning to drop off their children and found a sign taped to the front door.
“I had a few choice words,” said Kathy Reitz, who had been taking her 2-year-old daughter to the center for less than a month.
She said she was surprised that care center staff members would do the things reportedly contained in the video footage, and said she had no complaints about the way her daughter was treated.
“The cameras are out in the open,” Reitz said. “They knew they were being watched.”
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
bondmen (anonymous) says…
This is indeed alarming! Parents - it's time to decide which one is going to stay at home and raise the next generation! Work all day and pay it all out in taxes, daycare costs and car payments just does not make any sense at all. Your children are young for only a short while and the most important time to influence them and nurture them is in the first 5 to 7 years - so reorganize your responsibilities, love, cherish and rear those kids at home before it's too late!
gdsacco (anonymous) says…
bondmen - go f--- yourself.
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
Wow! Talk about tragic and it occured right here in Ks.On top of it all this is a hospital run program. I hope they are prosecuted to the fullest.
TacoBob (anonymous) says…
Agreed Bondmen - if parents have any option, they should stay home with their children. Many don't, but all efforts should be made. Having seen the results of two of my children in early age daycare, vs. two that were not, it does make a difference. Tough choices have to made, stay with your kids if you can.gdsassco - nice coarse comment. Zero class.
mindylogan83 (anonymous) says…
I agree with bondman why must all these parents have kids just to get them killed or hurt in daycare spend your young days working then have kids and stay home you dont have to give your self or kids everything but food a house and love and clothes and last disipline thats it stop working so hard and be home with your kids if they are young stop living like the jones and save are kids from beatings or worse death live simple then one parent can work and one stay home it is better for the child i have been a stay at home mom for 10 years since my first child and I wouldnt change being home with him for all the money in the world and that great big house or whats in style car love your family even if you are homeless they are all you have and god and yes i have been homeless when i was a child but I had both my parents and when i got older they both worked I took over the house and I am a very strong woman today for it and I will be there for my three sons also god bless everyone and be home with them if you can