ORLANDO, Fla. – A judge ruled Thursday that an unlicensed Orange County day care should be closed after the Department of Children and Families said it was an “immediate, serious danger.”
The day care, located in a shopping plaza on East Colonial Drive, displayed a “pattern of repeated violations,” according to DCF, including no background checks on some employees, improper supervision and improper staff-to-child ratio.
In addition, according to DCF, the day care owner allowed her 15-year-old daughter, who does not have a driver’s license or permit, to drive children from an elementary school to the day care in a van.
A statement was released on behalf of the day care, saying, "Our client was cited for certain specific violations that led to their license to operate their day care facility being suspended. After the Department of Children and Families suspended their license, our client requested a hearing. That hearing will be held in September. While awaiting the hearing, our client was of the impression that they received a religious exemption from the Florida League of Christian Schools to operate their day care facility. It was not until they were contacted by the Department of Children and families on August 3rd that our client learned they did not qualify for the religious exemption. Our client never intended to circumvent the Department of Children and Families. The Florida League of Christian Schools advised our client that they did not qualify for the religious exemption on August 4th. Our client has been providing child care services and serving the community for 15 years. They recently received recognition for outstanding service and commitment to the community and also received a school’s choice leadership award for 2016. They are devastated by the events that have occurred and our firm is in the process of ensuring our client and the facility are in proper compliance with all regulations and applicable Florida Laws.”