Dozens of parents on Staten Island said the day care they use closed without warning Thursday after they paid for the month.

The parents said they have not heard back from owners of the Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care center in the Great Kills neighborhood despite repeated attempts to contact them.

What You Need To Know

  • Dozens of parents on Staten Island said the day care they use closed without warning Thursday after they paid for the month

  • The parents said they have not heard back from owners of the Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care center in the Great Kills neighborhood despite repeated attempts to contact them

  • Parents said the day care center staff told them the owners are being evicted

“We got a text message saying check your emails there’s an important one,” said Abraham, who is an NYPD police officer along with her husband.

“We received an email that the owners are heartbroken, but they’re closing the doors Nov. 9,” said Samantha McGinn.

McGinn and other parents said the day care center staff told them the owners said they are being evicted.

“But evictions take months, it doesn’t happen overnight,” said McGinn’s cousin, Michael. “When I walked in, all the teachers were in tears, breaking down, apologizing.“

He said his two-year-old daughter, Julianna, had finally warmed up to the place. McGinn said the same goes for her son. Not to mention, they said they just paid this month’s bill.

“I paid them like two, three days ago, and I’m out $1600 now,” McGinn said. “And I have to find a new daycare, find a new place for my son to go. I grew a lot with them and it’s very sad because when my son started here, he had a lot of separation anxiety.”

Not only are parents unsure if they’ll be refunded for this month’s payment, the teachers said they’re unsure if or when they’ll be paid.

“They made sure they cashed all of our checks before they even closed,” Abraham said.

Assembly Member Michael Reilly told NY1 the Staten Island District Attorney’s office is investigating the claims.

“We’re actually looking at whether civil or criminal sanctions can be implemented,” Reilly said. “I know that the District Attorney’s office for Richmond County is actively investigating this. They were contacted yesterday by parents.”

NY1 reached out multiple times to the owners of the facility by phone, email and social media, but has not received a response.

However, in a statement, a spokesperson for Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care’s corporate office said, “The Staten Island Great Kills location was an independently owned and operated franchised business. The decision to close the business occurred without our knowledge and without our consent.”

At least 60 children attended the daycare. When NY1 emailed the owners, we received a response saying the academy we were trying to reach is no longer part of the Kiddie Academy system.