State Shuts Down Day Care, Owner Speaks Out

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Just days after state officials shut down two day care centers in Warner Robins, the facilities’ owner is speaking out.

Venetta Taylor owns the two Unique Tutoring and Individualized Children Academy locations at Russell Parkway and Evergreen Street. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning issued an emergency closing for the two centers citing that the children there were in “imminent danger”. Now Taylor is disputing those claims.

“They were not in danger here,” Taylor said.

The state found several violations at the facilities including transportation, appropriate supervision of children and criminal records of employees. Taylor said any issues at her facility were handled swiftly.

“We corrected whatever problem we had,” Taylor said, “we took care of that.”

As for the allegations that the children weren’t supervised and employees didn’t receive background checks, Taylor said she was deceived by a former employee who she thought was her friend.

“It was an issue of someone deceiving me,” Taylor said, “it was not that we didn’t have background checks.”

But despite Taylor’s claims, the state agency ordered the day care to close its doors; leaving parents like Lekesha Nelson scrambling for last minute child care. Nelson said she’s heard the allegations and believes Taylor is a good person.

“I know I feel comfortable leaving my daughter here,” Nelson said, “but if there’s an issue that needs to be addresses, I like it needs to be addressed.”

Taylor hopes to clear up the issues and re-open another day care soon.