Elk River Day Care Closes Abruptly, Doesn't Tell All Parents
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Parents are looking for a new daycare and employees are looking for work after a child care center closed out of the blue.
The owner of Learning Blocks Child Care in Elk River notified some parents and employees over the weekend, but many others found out when they showed up at Learning Block Monday morning.
Janelle Payment worked at Learning Blocks Child Care ever since it opened six years ago, but on Monday it was for free. She was helping break the news to parents that the center had closed.
"An email had been sent out to some parents," she said, "but not all the parents are on email. Some didn't get it, so we've been here since 6 a.m. talking to parents who didn't know their daycare is closed."
"I don't really know what happened," said parent Kelly O'Brien. "I know it would have been nice to have some notice."
Parents are looking for options, and ways to say goodbye.
"I know they would have probably liked to say goodbye to their teachers who loved them," said Kelly O'Brien. "These girls are like second parents."
Amid the hugs, Payment said she'll miss the kids even more than the paychecks.
"Very disappointed," she said. "I worked in the infant room, and they were my babies."
WCCO-TV called owner Tina Erickson, at home and at work, and we visited her home. She has not responded to any messages.
