How long to give DC to get it together?

MamaAllison

Overall I am satisfied with daycare, but the last month has really sucked. One of DDs teachers quit but called out sick for two weeks before doing so. I had to call the director to find this info out, nothing was ever volunteered or written in a newsletter. When I did make that call the director and I discussed moving DD up to the next room since she was more advanced then the other kids in her current room. We left the conversation at "let's wait and make the decision soon" but when I walked in the next morning DDs stuff was all moved to another room I had to wander around at 7:15 and try to figure out where my daughter was going to be all day. The new room has been fine and her teachers are fine, but they still haven't replaced her old teacher so they are constantly shuffling teachers and kids to make room. Yesterday DD was in the infant room when I went to pick her up, meanwhile some of her old classmates the babyish ones that the director said were "behind" DD were in DDs new classroom! That just seemed dumb to me. Plus, my kid is kind of rambunctious, so if I were the parent of one of those little guys I wouldn't be too pleased. The last thing is the director is leaving to be a SAHM. I'm NOT looking forward to another rocky transition. Is this too many strikes or should I give them some time to sort it all out??

Thanks.

JenK1108

This is a tough one.  I think I would consider if you feel like the level of care is good, and you feel comfortable, even with all the transition.  If you do still feel ok with the level of care, I might stick out the director transition.  Having been a director at a large childcare chain for 6 years, I can tell you that more often than not, the transition issues and staff turnover are a direct result of the management of the daycare.  If the new director is the right fit, you may find that the place really turns around.  If you feel any hesitation about the level of care your child is receiving, I would go, but otherwise, I'd be inclined to stick it out and see if the new director improves the place.  good luck!

mben1119

I don't consider most of those things to be strikes, personally. Personnel changes aren't typically broadcast, as you don't know the real reasons behind someone leaving, quitting, getting fired, whatever...and 99% of those reasons are not the business of the parents. If you have issues regarding the placement of your child in whatever room she's in, that's a legit issue, but the placement of other children (even as "babyish" as you may think they are), is none of your concern.

Netty_3

mabenner1:

I don't consider most of those things to be strikes, personally. Personnel changes aren't typically broadcast, as you don't know the real reasons behind someone leaving, quitting, getting fired, whatever...and 99% of those reasons are not the business of the parents. If you have issues regarding the placement of your child in whatever room she's in, that's a legit issue, but the placement of other children (even as "babyish" as you may think they are), is none of your concern.

I would agree.  If you want a say in personnel, you need to hire a nanny. However, the transition does seem pretty abrupt, and I'd talk to the director that you would have liked more notice on that, at least a day to be prepared and meet the new teachers, and know where to drop off in the am. If it makes you uncomfortable, I don't think your DC will know you're having issues and able to address them, unless you let them know.  Otherwide they may not "get it together" because they'll assume they're doing fine. If you're uncomfortable, then you should switch. 

katieh1017

I don't particularly like how they seem to have handled things, especially when you show up and her stuff is moved, which wasn't what you discussed. A transition over would have been nice. As far as the more "babyish" kids now in the room, well needs change. I know in the young toddlers room where L is at I was told it's crawlers through 1 year. So when L crawled she was promptly moved over. Now some of the other kids who aren't crawling from the infant room are moved to young toddlers. I know they had some infants on the waiting list so that's why they changed it up a bit. You don't always know what the business needs are.

Sounds like in general they need to get some stuff together with organizing and communicating to parents. Is it your business why they left? Maybe yes, maybe no. But they should be keeping you updated as to who your child is going to be with for the day. I don't care if teachers are out, it happens. But getting an introduction to who is in there is always appreciated.

With all of that said, if you don't "feel" right with them then check out something else. Around here there are waiting lists months long for most centers, so I don't even know if I would have the option to up and move if needed. Good luck!

LoCarb

I would stay. Bring up your concerns to the new Director and hear his/her plan to get the DC in shape. Of course, it could go the opposite way but you never know. Maybe the new change in staff will be an improvement.

mben1119

amy052006:

mabenner1:

I don't consider most of those things to be strikes, personally. Personnel changes aren't typically broadcast, as you don't know the real reasons behind someone leaving, quitting, getting fired, whatever...and 99% of those reasons are not the business of the parents. If you have issues regarding the placement of your child in whatever room she's in, that's a legit issue, but the placement of other children (even as "babyish" as you may think they are), is none of your concern.

See I don't really buy this.  The comings and going of the person in charge of my child eight hours a day are my business. If someone is fired, I want to know that. If they are leaving on good terms, I want to know that. Just walking in one day and finding out the caregiver my kid has a bond with is gone doesn't fly with me.

 And really, it is not to much to ask to know the exact person who is with your kid all day, even if it is a temporary situation -- obviously any business has turnover, and replacements aren't found overnight. 

But what if the teacher just up and quits, and the director does tell you?  What are you going to do, call them and beg them to come back? Leave the DCP just because someone quit? I truly don't understand what recourse you would have, and also, it violates privacy rules in many states. Example, if I'm applying for a new job, and my potential new employer calls up my old boss, they can't tell them why I don't work there anymore, by law. All they can do is verify my dates of employment.

azuremama

The thing that would bother me the most is the moving of your daughter without notice or transition when you'd just talked about it.  But I would think maybe a lot of this would be attributed to the director and if she's leaving, things might turn around.

I think it just depends on what you want to do.  Do you want to look for new care?  Do you have other good options around you? 

1026pumpkin

I would maybe stick it out and wait for the transition to a new director.  As PP said, if the new director is a good fit and staff are happy working under him/her, there will likely be less teacher turnover and things will probably run in a more organized way.

I think turnover is inevitable in most DC situations, as you usually have young employees, being paid small salaries, working a hard and stressful job.  It's not unusual for them to burn out and leave to SAHM with their own kids, move on to a more lucrative nanny position, etc.  I think when they're unhappy, though, it just makes the situation worse and a lot more unstable.  The head teacher and/or the director should let parents know ASAP that a teacher is leaving, although I really don't think they can go into many details for personal reasons.  They should also have a clear plan to let you know who the temporary staff will be, let parents know they're working on interviewing and what the interim plans are, and let you know ASAP when someone is hired.  Shuffling kids around all day and putting them in rooms with kids that are much smaller and could be hurt by them (or much bigger who could hurt them) is completely inappropriate and likely a violation of the licensing laws. 

angelashly

JenK1108:

This is a tough one.  I think I would consider if you feel like the level of care is good, and you feel comfortable, even with all the transition.  If you do still feel ok with the level of care, I might stick out the director transition.  Having been a director at a large childcare chain for 6 years, I can tell you that more often than not, the transition issues and staff turnover are a direct result of the management of the daycare.  If the new director is the right fit, you may find that the place really turns around.  If you feel any hesitation about the level of care your child is receiving, I would go, but otherwise, I'd be inclined to stick it out and see if the new director improves the place.  good luck!

I agree with this. We are moving DCs on Monday, but if the director had left at any point in my decision making time I would have stuck it out. She is just not good at managing the place and it trickles down to the staff.

Angeldish

I would go somewhere else. There are many good DCs and too many bad ones. I've seen plenty of both in my line of work. If this happened to me then I would start calling around. It sounds like this place is going downhill and will likely continue to do so or take a long time to turn around again. I wouldn't want my child suffering as a result of personnel issues at his daycare.  Good luck with your decision.