Kim Daniszewski taught and nurtured children at the Mercyhurst Child Learning Center for 30 years.
Now Daniszewski is suddenly out of a job and seeking answers as to why.
“I think it’s the suddenness of this that has really hurt everyone,” Daniszewski, 52, said of the abrupt closure of the center, 2703 Ash St., which has operated in Erie for decades.
The center’s board of directors notified its employees and parents served by the center of the closure, effective immediately, via letters sent on Dec. 27.
A private Facebook group was created for parents/teachers affected by the Mercyhurst Child Learning Center’s recent closure. Courtney Moore, a parent whose child attended the center, is the group’s administrator.
Those letters said the center was closing in large part because of “recent challenges, including but not limited to financial and operational concerns.”
The letter to families also mentioned that various “challenges” and “pressing operational concerns” led to the closure and stated that the center’s board, after consulting with the center’s attorney, concluded that “reopening the center is not feasible at this time. We encourage families to begin making alternative childcare arrangements.”
‘Out of a job’
Daniszewski believes she and others affected by the closure deserve more.
‘You have employees out of a job and sixty to 70 kids who have to find a new center,” Daniszewski said. “That is just heartbreaking.
“The place has always been more than just a day care center to a lot of us,” she continued. “It’s a school. And after 30 years, I got 15 minutes to pick up all of my belongings, with a security guard there. That’s what makes me angry. And ‘angry’ is an understatement.”
The center, which is not affiliated with Mercyhurst University, serves children aged two months to nearly 5 years, according to Pennsylvania Department of Human Services information available online.
The Mercyhurst Child Learning Center at 2703 Ash St. has closed.
The child care center provided “developmentally-appropriate activities in math, science, reading, art, music and language. Daily schedule also includes structured play and indoor and outdoor free play,” according to Winnie.com, an online marketplace that includes information on childcare and early education providers nationwide.
The center can serve up to 106 children, according to DHS, and its state-issued license was active at the time of the closure.
Craig Dressler, a member of the Mercyhurst Child Learning Center’s board, previously told the Times-News that the center has 22 employees and serves 67 children.
A board statement on the center’s closure states in part: “After multiple decades of service to the community, the Board of Directors of the Mercyhurst Child Learning Center has made the hard decision to close the facility. While we recognize the difficulties that this decision presents for the families who have grown to know and love our community, we believe it is the only viable option given the operational challenges we have faced for several years. We regret that this disruption is taking place during the holiday season.” The board issued no further comment outside of the statement.
Seeking context
Courtney Moore, 43, has a 2½-year-old son who attended the center. She created a private Facebook group for parents affected by the closure.
The letters sent to parents and employees in late December from the center’s board of directors “was all we were told,” Moore said. “There was no other response to us at all. We’re asking the board to be transparent and tell us what’s going on.”
Moore said she is organizing a “goodbye party” for parents, teachers and children to get together one last time. She recently found a new day-care center for her son.
“I have Christmas presents for some of these teachers that I didn’t get to give them,” Moore said.
Kristin Edwards, 35, was a toddler teacher at the Mercyhurst Child Learning Center and has had three children enrolled at the center over the years. At the time of the closure, her 1-year-old son was in day care there.
“I’ve been there 11 years in total. I just feel like we deserve answers,” Edwards said.
I think it’s ridiculous to close the center with no notice,” Edwards continued. “And if there were issues, they should have been (explained) to us months ago.”
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Parents, teachers ‘angry’ with day care center’s closure