I am writing this review almost a year after my child's disenrollment because I wanted time to…read moreprocess what happened and ensure I was sharing this experience thoughtfully. During that time, my family genuinely loved and appreciated the teachers and staff. We intentionally built positive relationships with staff and regularly showed our appreciation through small gifts.
My 17-month-old child was disenrolled effective immediately following a disagreement between Ashlee and me regarding paperwork that I was told needed to be returned the following day. After 14 months of enrollment, I was informed that the center did not have paperwork on file, including documents containing my child's medical history, emergency procedures, and other important information. I expressed confusion and frustration because this was the first time we had ever been told anything was missing. I was then informed that if the paperwork was not returned the following day, my child would not be allowed to attend. As a parent, I found this concerning because the missing paperwork was not something we had knowingly withheld, nor had we previously been informed that it was missing. When I questioned the situation and expressed my concerns, Ashlee responded by saying, "Maybe we're not the right fit for you. I can go grab your kid's things and we can disenroll right now." My husband and I looked at each other in complete disbelief. I told her I felt that response was excessive and respectfully asked if I could wait to speak with Megan or Christina as they had historically been the individuals we were directed to when questions arose. Ashlee told me that the decision was final because she was also in charge. The conversation continued for approximately 30 minutes. I repeatedly tried to understand the rationale behind the decision. I even apologized if I had offended her by referencing Megan and Christina as the individuals in charge. I explained that my understanding came from prior interactions in which Ashlee herself had deferred questions to them when she was uncertain. I also sat down & began completing the paperwork. Despite my efforts to resolve the situation, I was repeatedly told the decision was final. During the conversation, Ashlee stepped away several times to make phone calls & also referenced a prior misunderstanding I had with Megan regarding medication, claiming that I had previously been "warned." This characterization was surprising to me because Megan had never approached me in a manner that suggested I was being reprimanded or warned. Every interaction I had with Megan was respectful, and understanding. The same was true of my interactions with Christina. It is also important to note that I was 8 months pregnant at the time, and this occurred around 6:00 PM on a Monday. Most daycare centers in the area were already closed for tours, yet I was suddenly being told my child no longer had childcare because I questioned a situation involving missing paperwork. What made the situation especially upsetting was that Ashlee stated she had been having a hard day. To this day, it is difficult not to feel that an uneqquiped lead had an emotional reaction and played a role in a permanent decision that significantly impacted my family. The following day, I spoke with Christina and confidently asked that they review the security footage because I knew I had never yelled at Ashlee, despite being told that was reported to management. While frantically touring new childcare centers and taking unexpected PTO that I had hoped to save for my upcoming maternity leave. Christina did call me back after watching the surveillance footage & she didn't see my yell at Ashlee either (no audio just visual clips) but understandably like any professional company, they had to go through with the decision. It would look very poorly on them to backtrack/ not support a teammate. At that point, I informed Christina that even if my child had been welcomed back, I would not have returned. The trust had been broken, both by the immediate disenrollment and by the allegation that I had yelled when I had not.
Fortunately, all four childcare centers I toured with all the same perks as this center, accepted my child. Three were prepared to enroll us for the very next day. Several administrators I spoke with expressed concerns with how poorly the situation had been handled.
Today, both of my children are thriving at their current daycare. However, I feel compelled to share this experience so that other parents can make informed decisions. My recommendation is that any communication, questions, or concerns be directed to Megan or Christina ONLY.
Lastly, I was informed that I would receive a follow-up call from corporate customer service regarding the treatment my family experienced and the circumstances surrounding the disenrollment. Despite being told there would be further investigation, I never received that call.
This whole experience was extremely traumatic.
