The Learning Junction

Review: My family has been loyal customers to this daycare for over 3 years; my two children attended this school since they were young babies for five full days per week. We were never late with a payment or missed a payment. My husband and I both signed contracts for our services received at this school. One of which was the "Expulsion" clause; it stated that if a child was misbehaving excessively or violent to other children they would have three meetings with the parents of that child, if possible they would also be notified in writing one week prior to the expelling of their child. The parents would also receive their deposit back if this were to happen to their child. Neither one of my children is violent in anyway, but they do have a lot of energy like any young child does. On Wednesday December 11th 2013, I received a call that my son was expelled from the school and to come pick him up immediately. Upon arrival, I received no written statements/explanations of why he was expelled or what he did; I received no previous warnings/meetings stating that expulsion was the reason for the meeting. I also never received a deposit back for either one of my children and was later told that I would not be receiving that deposit back for some false and made up reason. Since they abruptly expelled my 4 year old son with no warning or previous notice I also had to pull my 2 year old daughter out of the daycare as well. My son has done absolutely nothing wrong and he has been asking when he is going back to school to see his friends and teachers. As you can imagine this sent my husband and I rushing around to find a school they can attend last minute since we both work full time. It has also been extremely hard for my son, he keeps asking if something is wrong with him and what did he do wrong. They also did and said many other rude things to my family upon leaving, but I will not get into details about that. Just beware with this daycare, they are two face, deceitful, and rude individualsDesired Settlement: I would like to have the reason for my sons expulsion from the daycare signed by both the management and my sons teacher and mailed to me in writing as well as copies of all previous evaluations of both my children. Also, I would like to have my deposit for both my children refunded back to me as soon as possible.

Business

Response:

[redacted] has been a student at our school for the past three years and [redacted]'s sister [redacted] has attended our school since she was an infant. In this past year, September 4, 2013 until December 11, 2013, in addition to verbal conversations between [redacted]’s teacher and either his mother and/or his father, there were at least 8 written notes that went home to Mr. & Mrs. [redacted] which described [redacted]’s aggressive physical, verbal and disruptive behavior toward teacher's, staff and classmates. In addition three meetings were held, one with both parents, the Director/Owners and [redacted]’s teacher, one between [redacted]’s teacher and Mrs. [redacted] because Mr. [redacted] was not able to attend and one on the day that [redacted] was expelled from the school that was to take place with both Mr. Mrs. [redacted], the Director/Owners and [redacted]'s teacher to discuss [redacted]’s behavior again as well as his expulsion from school in which Mr. [redacted] arrived alone at the school. Several minutes into the meeting Mr. [redacted] became quite upset and defensive stating he was removing both of his children from the school. This was followed by an email from Mrs. [redacted] and a phone call from Mrs. [redacted] as well in which she was uncontrollably screaming over one of the owners shouting that she was going to retain a lawyer to sue the daycare. Mr. J[redacted] A. [redacted] who was speaking calmly to try to diffuse the situation and explain the reasons why her son [redacted] was being expelled then told Mrs. [redacted] that if she felt she needed to get a lawyer then that is what she should do and that their conversation was over and Mrs. [redacted]’s lawyer could talk to his lawyer and he hung up the phone. Mr. [redacted] called back to speak to Mr. [redacted] stating to the Director who answered the phone that they deserved to have their holding fee returned immediately and that he did not appreciate the way his wife was treated on the phone. The Director tried to explain to Mr. [redacted] that Mrs. [redacted] would not even let Mr. [redacted] speak and that Mrs. [redacted] threatened him with a lawyer and when the Director tried to talk to Mr [redacted] about his son [redacted]'s behavior Mr. [redacted] became irate and the Director ended the phone call and hung up. Several phone calls were place to the daycare from different phone numbers throughout the afternoon. These calls were not answered clue to the threat of a lawsuit and no messages were left. Not knowing Mr. [redacted]‘s state of mind and to protect the families and the school the Supervisor was asked to return to the school that evening to change the passcodes on the exterior door locks to the school. The next morning Mr. [redacted] finally left a message strongly requesting the return of their holding fee immediately and stating that he would be calling back to discuss this further. Mr. [redacted] called Mr. [redacted] back and tried to explain to Mr. [redacted] one last time the reasons his son [redacted] was being expelled, the reason the conversation with Mrs. [redacted] was discontinued and to inform him of the reason their holding fee would not be returned, that because the school was not paid tuition for both of their children for the week that school was open and they were on vacation. At this point Mr. [redacted] became infuriated and began screaming and calling the owners and their family names, cursing using vulgar language and threatening Mr. [redacted] stating that “IfI [Mr. [redacted]] see you on the street you [Mr. [redacted]] are going to have a problem!” Mr. [redacted] immediately ended the conversation and called the local police department and

filed a police report. In response to Mrs. [redacted]’s statements regarding tuition payments, the [redacted]’s tuition payments have not been in question until June 8, 2013 when they took vacation during a week that the school was open and refused to pay tuition for both of their children for that week at a loss to the school. During registration all parents sign several papers which clearly state our policies on tuition payments, tuition reimbursements and adjustments, our expulsion policy and are given a Parent Handbook including our policies regarding tuition and our scheduled school closing list including holidays and breaks. Those documents will be faxed to [redacted] following the submission of this response. In response to Mrs. [redacted]'s statement that on December 11, 2013 she received a phone call that her son was expelled and to come pick him up immediately, Mrs. [redacted] was contacted by phone only after

she did not respond to the email that was sent requesting a meeting with herself and her husband at the school that day to discuss their son [redacted]'s behavior. Mrs. [redacted] was never told by email or phone that her son was expelled and that he was to be picked up immediately. Shortly after this phone call in which Mrs. [redacted] stated she would be at the school at 5:30pm on

December 11, 2013 to meet with the Director/Owners and [redacted]'s teacher regarding [redacted]‘s behavior Mr. [redacted] arrived at the school alone and already agitated. We are not in the business of expelling children from our school. We have been in business successfully for almost 14 years with many repeat families. In response to Mrs. [redacted]‘s additional statements regarding the character of our school and staff, these statements do not deserve justification by response.