Dozens of parents who sent their kids to one Vernon day care are trying to find an alternative after the Apple Tree Learning Center abruptly closed its doors.
Parents and staffers left the Apple Tree Learning Center in tears Tuesday, saying they were blindsided by the closure. Now they don’t know where they’ll work, or who they can trust to care for their children.
“We’ve seen these children from birth to four years old. They’ve become a big part of our family, So seeing them walk out the door a little upset kind of broke my heart,” said Erin Osuna, director at Apple Tree Learning Center.
Staffers said the news that the facility was closing down immediately came without warning.
“They told me, and all my employees and the children that attend here that they can no longer come with no warning, no 30 days. Today’s the last day,” Osuna said.
Osuno said a power crew arrived Tuesday afternoon to shut off the electricity for nonpayment while kids were still inside. Then a fax came from attorneys representing the estate that owns the center, saying it was unable to maintain the business or find a buyer to keep it going.
Parents are now scrambling to find alternatives.
“To know that they’re not going to be here tomorrow, they’re not going to be with my kids tomorrow, they’re not going to be the ones to hug my kids in here… it’s just sad,” said parent Andrea Boria. “You couldn’t even give us a little bit of notice? It’s literally, I’m sorry…tomorrow.”
NBC Connecticut reached of the Romano Parker, the firm handling the estate of former owner Kerry Hills, but has not heard back. We also reached out to family members who work at the business, but those calls either went unreturned or those relatives refused to speak on the record.
Parents said they had the same experience.
“The minute they pick up, they just hang up. They don’t even want to talk to you. They won’t even deal with you,” said Daniel Lester of South Windsor.
There are three more Appletree locations with the same ownership. There is no indication of what this means for them.
“I hope you can do better for your other centers and your other families,” Matthew Stark of Vernon said. “Let this be a warning for them… you never know when that door is going to shut.”
The staff said they got no communication from anyone in charge, and their next step is to return tomorrow to hand over the keys to the building’s landlord.
