My new center has an unfenced play area. It has been approved for health and safety for years. They did an inspection with a new health and safety rep (different from licensing, not sure if it's the same out of NY) and he failed the center because it needed a fence. There is NOTHING in the regulations about this. The outdoor play space is well defined and the children are well supervised. It backs up to a park/playground the children frequent (with proper permissions)
After talking it over with the owner, we decided not to fight him and just install the fence. He wrote that they had until 5/31 to complete it (OUCH!) but he didn't write a size regulation on the form (I wasn't there for the inspection, obviously, as I am not acting director yet, although licensing has approved me as the director when the old one leaves this month). Anyway, the old director didn't ask . I emailed him Monday. NO response. I called and left a voicemail, too. NOTHING. Our licensar said she wasn't exactly sure on the height requirement since health and safety regulations are different from our center regs. Said not to do anything until you hear from him. I email him Tuesday. NOTHING. Meanwhile, owner and I are obtaining quotes, speaking to the town about a permit, etc.
He emails me back Tuesday and says "I don't know, I'll look into it and get back to you." WHAT!!!? How does he NOT KNOW!? Even our licensar is shaking her head at this point because it's a LARGE playground and we have to do this NOW or the center is shut down or faces huge penalties.
I email and call Wednesday.
I email and call Thursday.
I email and call today. Today I get a response. An AUTO RESPONSE. He's out of the office until 5/31.
My center is CLOSING after Wednesday, with almost no notice to parents and refunding tuition paid for next Thurs/Fri to parents.
I called his boss today after the licensar gave me the supervisor's number and left a voicemail to file a formal complaint.
The town will NOT approve a 6ft fence. 3.5 ft or less.
There are over 200 kids in this center and very, very few licensed providers in the area (4). Parents are going to be MAD (and honestly, rightly SO!)
and I might be out of a job before I even formally start.
After talking it over with the owner, we decided not to fight him and just install the fence. He wrote that they had until 5/31 to complete it (OUCH!) but he didn't write a size regulation on the form (I wasn't there for the inspection, obviously, as I am not acting director yet, although licensing has approved me as the director when the old one leaves this month). Anyway, the old director didn't ask . I emailed him Monday. NO response. I called and left a voicemail, too. NOTHING. Our licensar said she wasn't exactly sure on the height requirement since health and safety regulations are different from our center regs. Said not to do anything until you hear from him. I email him Tuesday. NOTHING. Meanwhile, owner and I are obtaining quotes, speaking to the town about a permit, etc.
He emails me back Tuesday and says "I don't know, I'll look into it and get back to you." WHAT!!!? How does he NOT KNOW!? Even our licensar is shaking her head at this point because it's a LARGE playground and we have to do this NOW or the center is shut down or faces huge penalties.
I email and call Wednesday.
I email and call Thursday.
I email and call today. Today I get a response. An AUTO RESPONSE. He's out of the office until 5/31.
My center is CLOSING after Wednesday, with almost no notice to parents and refunding tuition paid for next Thurs/Fri to parents.
I called his boss today after the licensar gave me the supervisor's number and left a voicemail to file a formal complaint.
The town will NOT approve a 6ft fence. 3.5 ft or less.
There are over 200 kids in this center and very, very few licensed providers in the area (4). Parents are going to be MAD (and honestly, rightly SO!)
and I might be out of a job before I even formally start.
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