LOUISVILLE, Ky. — State officials have temporarily shut down a Norton Commons daycare amidst a criminal investigation into one of its employees.
In a letter sent to parents, The Vanguard Academy Director Madison Snyder said the State Licensing Department issued a Temporary Emergency Shutdown of the building and that the building will be closed on Friday.
Snyder said the shutdown is because of an incident in September, where a daycare worker allegedly abused babies at Vanguard Academy.
In another letter sent to parents on Friday, the Vanguard Academy said they submitted their Plan of Corrections that the Department of Regulated Child Care requested.
However, that plan won't be reviewed until Monday at the earliest.
The letter continues by saying the building will be closed at least Monday Nov. 14, and Tuesday Nov. 15.
According to police, Rachel Flannery was seen handling infants in a violent manner, at one time dropping a baby and leaving them on the floor.
Flannery appeared in court on Oct. 10 on three counts of criminal abuse of a child 12 years old or younger.
One Louisville parent who didn't want to be identified said his family is left without daycare, but also questions why the state didn't intervene sooner.
"We didn't know about the multiple violations that had occurred at Vanguard until this worker was arrested, and these things came to light. Even then, got on the phone, tried to find the website, and it's hard to navigate too, I will say, to pull those reports," he said.
Snyder said another update will be sent out on Friday, and that another space, Braxlyn, is open according to the letter.
The Vanguard Academy has been facing abuse allegations spanning nearly a decade according to findings detailed in state inspector reports from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (KCHFS).
A former employee, who also wished to remain anonymous, said she resigned following continued pushback from management for, in her words, calling out unacceptable behavior by other employees at the daycare.
"It disturbs me that its physical abuse, yes which is terrible, but also mental abuse," she said. "Children have went through that I've seen first hand. It's, it's terrible."
The KCHFS Office of Inspector General confirmed they've suspended the childcare license for the Vanguard Academy.
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