Daycare owner where toddler died shuts down remaining daycare centers

Katie Muhammad, the owner of Katie's Kids Learning Center, has decided to shut down her remaining three daycare centers across South Florida. The sudden move comes just over 11 months after a toddler's lifeless body was found in the backseat of a Katie's Kids daycare van in Delray Beach.

Since the baby's death, Muhammad claims she's lost everything and simply can't go on.

"My house is in foreclosure, I've lost my car. I've pretty much lost everything," she said during an exclusive interview earlier this week.

Muhammad made the decision to close her remaining centers Wednesday night after months of financial and personal turmoil. The closures include a Katie's Kids Learning Center on SE 2nd Street in Boynton Beach, another location at NE 3rd Avenue in Delray Beach, and the Wexford Academy in Margate, which is in Broward County. The shutdown leave 211 children looking for child care elsewhere.

It was August 5th, 2010 when 2 1/2-year-old Haile Brockington's body was found in the backseat of a Katie's Kids daycare van. According to investigators, the child had been left in the van for approximately, 6 hours before another child, boarding the bus to go home, discovered the little girl.

State investigators have charged the daycare's former driver, Amanda Inman, and former director, Petra Rodriguez, with aggravated manslaughter charges. According to local and state investigations, the death was the result of protocol that was in place but not followed by these employees. The death forced Muhammad to close that daycare center but she was hoping to keep her remaining three opened.

"We provide a really good service. We help the community a lot. The parents know if they need anything, even food will be dropped off at their homes," said Muhammad. 100 percent of those enrolled were low income families who were subsidized by the government.

Muhammad claims in addition to her personal loss, her business wasn't making any money. Her enrollment, while steady, wasn't enough to keep her paying the bills. She said she didn't have the money to pay her employees. In addition, her insurance company is in the process of finalizing a 7-figure settlement with the Brockington family. Muhammad claims her insurer was threatening to drop coverage after the settlement. Muhammad said her ultimate decision to close the centers came on the advice of one of her bankruptcy attorneys.

Since the toddler's death, Muhammad's daycare centers have failed a series of health inspections. Her Boynton Beach and Delray Beach facilities have been cited for a number of safety violations including peeling paint and dusty vents, to issues with employee background screening. At Wexford Academy in Margate, an April 2011 inspection detailed how a toddler's teacher had her boyfriend at the facility, "all the time" who, "has a record." During an unrelated complaint investigation, an inspector observed a driver transporting children who were not wearing seatbelts and standing up in the back of the van. Muhammad claims the children had unbuckled the belts themselves and the driver couldn't pull over on a busy street. As of Wednesday, Muhammad had appealed the finding.

NewsChannel 5 broke the news about the center closings to Andred Yaffa, an attorney representing the Brockington family. "I'm sure parents will feel comforted knowing no other child will be subject to what Haile went through,"said Yaffa. I hope that other daycare owners will have learned from this," he said.

Source: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/daycare-owner-where-toddler-died-shuts-down-all-remaining-daycare-centers

Fix age for nursery admissions: HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Government to fix, within three months, the maximum age of admission of children in nursery. "To clear the confusion with regard to the maximum age of the child to be admitted to different classes, the DoE is also directed to take responsibility to

frame specific and clear guidelines within a period of three months, so that the object of the Right to Education (RTE) does not get mired in uncertainty," Justice Kailash Gambhir said.

The court order came after the DoE said that though it has fixed the minimum age as three years — for admisison to the pre-school class — the maximum age limit has not been fixed, as the issue is left to the wisdom of schools.

Justice Gambhir was hearing a petition filed by a man whose son, belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS), was denied admission in the nursery by a private school, on the ground that he, being over four years of age, was ineligible.

The father of the toddler took the plea that the DoE has only prescribed the minimum age limit for the admission to nursery and the denial of admission to his ward would jeopardise his career.

"This court is of the considered view that for attaining the non-negotiable objectives of the RTE Act, DoE is, henceforth, directed to take steps to help the petitioner to see if any seat at the pre-school level or pre-primary level is available in any other aided or unaided school in his neighbourhood," the court said.

"It is imperative for every parent to be vigilant and watchful to seek timely admission of their children at the pre-school level or at the pre-primary level on the fulfilment criteria and any discretion by the court — in favour of one student — will not only create an anomalous situation but will also disturb the entire admission system," it said.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Fix-age-for-nursery-admissions-HC/Article1-701640.aspx

Pre School in Delhi Parent's Experiences

What Parents say about Anubhav Learning Center Pre Nursery School Delhi:

Day care concept was not something I was comfortable with but I happened to visit Anubhav Learning Centre by chance after visiting other day care centre. However, after 4 visits and talking to Dr. Gulabani, I finally realized and decided to put my kids at Anubhav with a heavy heart, full of guilt and unsure as to how they would respond
The first three months was pure torture for me, but full marks to the teachers and staff at Anubhav which made the transition so comfortable for me.
To cut the long story short, at Anubhav the kids have found a home away from home in terms of hygiene, food, attention and most importantly love and patience. The staff and Dr. Gulabani are always open to suggestions, ideas and even criticism.
In the last 8 months, I have seen an attempt to strive for improvement of infrastructure, organization and innovation. This is a sign of an healthy institute. My family and I would like to thank the staff and teachers for all they so lovingly do and for being so transparent, truthful and honest to the parents. A special thanks to Dr. Gulabani for making “Anubhav” truly an “Anubhav” for a life time for these little kids.
I wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year 2009.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Shweta K. Javali
Mother of Nachiket & Amogh
Students of Anubhav Learning Centre

Dear Ma'am, " Brilliant" is the only word which aptly describes our annual day functions held on last Saturday at ISCKON Auditorium. Every minute detail seemed to be taken care of and perfectly organised , and this kids were amazing
Coming to the newsletter, it was indeed very refreshing and this is a milestone for Anuhav. We look forward to more. May I once again express my deep appreciation for you and your team .
Incidentally , I'm reminded of a Latin phrase " Res Ipsa Loquitor" which means " Thing speaks for itself " - this show is a "res ipsa loquitor " by Anubhav .
Deep Regards,
Smitha Sehgal
Mother of Simran Sehgal
Student of Anubhav Learning Centre

This is to inform you that Naomi will not be continuing at Anubhav Learning Centre (ALC) from February 2007. We will be leaving for Kerala in March & before we start preparing for the new arrival, we would like to spend some quality time with her.

We would even like to take this opportunity in thanking you and everybody at ALC for everything you have done for Naomi. ALC has always been her "Second home". Every morning, she looks forward to going to school & when she gets back, she keeps talking about Arushi, Maisah, Adu-padu, Sohani, Nidhima & all her friends. She even has her set of imaginary friends at home... not surprising, all with the same name as in the school.

We as parents will never forget her first day at ALC (it still brings those tears back) but in the same breath, we would even say, every time she left for school with a bag smile on her face... that made our day! Thanks for your wonderful day, in no team she adjusted so well. As she grows up, she may not really remember her 2 years at ALC but all that she learnt here is definitely going to take her a long way.

We may not know everybody at ALC, but we have heard so much about Vasugi Didi, Meera Didi, Nirmala Didi, Anu Didi, Kapil bhaiya, Van Bhaiya, Shikha maam, Priyanka maam, Neeru maam, Nandita maam, Sonal maam, Neena maam & of course all her friends. Thank you all for loving Naomi so much. She is going to miss each one of you.

Great going ALC!!!

Yours Sincerely

Alex & Liz

Parents of Naomi

Student of Anubhav Learning Centre