Precious Memories Child Care cleared of wrongdoing in November incident

PARROTTSVILLE-Precious Memories Child Care was cleared of allegations after a child was dropped off at the childcare center earlier this month, during an investigation by the Department of Human Services. The daycare though was cited for three minor violations, which were not related to the reported incident.

A complaint was filed on Nov. 11, after a Parrottsville woman said her 6-year-old child was dropped off, via bus, at Precious Memories Child Care while it was closed on Nov. 10. The mother alleged that the childcare staff did not send out any notifications that the facility would be closed on Nov. 10, which was the observed date for Veterans Day.

According to the complaint, the mother stated her child rides the school bus to Precious Memories Child Care two days a week. On November 10, the mother received a call from her son's school stating he got off the school bus at Precious Memories and as he started through the door, he noticed it was dark inside and there were no cars in the parking lot.

At that time, the school bus was gone and the child was left alone, and he was "scared to death."

Several minutes went by when the child decided to walk to the nearest store in order to call his mother, and a teacher from the child's school saw him and took him back to his school.

The mother told DHS employees that she was given no notice that the daycare would be closed, despite November 10 was observed as a federal holiday. The mother also stated she did not receive any calls, notes, and claimed she saw the owner of Precious Memories Child Care in her place of business, and was still not told anything.

On November 16, DHS conducted a visit at the daycare.

"The following violations were cited Ownership Organization and Administration: for confidentiality, posting of report, and policy handbook," the DHS report stated. "The agency did have a list of holidays that were given to parent and parent had signed receiving policies."

Precious Memories Child Care did not face any penalties for the child being left alone at the daycare.

The center though was cited for three unrelated violations as a part of the investigation. Those violations were that the center failed to have the current report card or Star Rating information posted, as that information was posted from a previous license year; the agency policy failed to include all required ownership and administration information; and that the owner of the agency posted a sign in and sign out see on a social media site showing parent and children's names.