 | Hi, I had two children in a Tutor Time daycare on Long Island, NY. My children attended the daycare full-time for 1 1/2 years when I found out that only 100 feet away was a toxic waste site. A site that was listed on the EPA's Superfund list (for federally funded cleanup) TWO YEARS prior. It was also considered one of the worst of the worst in terms of contamination (in that it was listed on the National Priorities List). I and all of the other parents had no idea!!!! The air quality in the daycare was compromised (it had PERC in it). We were leaving our kids in toxic waste each day. The daycare manager was aware of the proximity of the toxic waste site, as well as the department of health and EPA, long before parents were ever told. The daycare was also sited for multiple violations (see other postings), which were kept from the parents until we all read about it in the paper...!!!! The daycare center is currently closed (after the mass exodus of families). My advice to you, before picking a daycare center is three-fold: 1) Ask the director whether there are any known toxic waste sites in the area (the director should know this), and then check on the EPA Superfund website; 2) Ask the director whether the center's HVAC system brings in air from the outside, or whether the air is simply recirculated within the building (this will directly affect how sick your child is while attending the daycare!!!!); and 3) Ask the director about substantiated and unsubstantiated violations against that particular center within the past two years, then call the Office of Children and Family Services in your state to verify what the director has said. I've learned that these are important questions. Don't even CONSIDER a daycare until you have answers to these. Good Luck!! |
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