A daycare provider for 13 years in Dansville is closed this week after authorities discovered last Friday that children allegedly were left unattended.
Dansville Police Chief Charles Perkins confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon that Shelly Sick, whose daycare is run from her home on Franklin Street, was at McDonald’s when licensors and police officers arrived at her home on Friday.
“There was a concern brought to our attention by social services,” the police chief said. “There seems to have been some validity to the tip.”
“It makes you wonder how many times this happened,” said Brandie Henry, the mother of a child who was at the daycare Friday. “I’m disgusted.”
Henry said she had mostly positive experiences at the daycare and was surprised to learn what had happened. This week, she was able to stay home with her daughter. She will be going to another daycare beginning next week.
“People need to know,” she said. “You always hear about this happening but you never expect it to happen to your child.”
Perkins declined to comment on pending charges or details of the ongoing investigation involving the village Police Department and the state Office of Child and Family Services. However, he confirmed that authorities viewed video surveillance from McDonald’s that appears to show Sick at the fast food restaurant.
Pat Cantiello, spokeswoman for OCFS, said Sick’s daycare registration was suspended immediately and will be revoked unless a hearing finds otherwise. Sick has 10 days to request a hearing regarding the suspension and failure to appeal is considered evidence that the finding is valid.
The revocation must be appealed within 30 days, otherwise it becomes final. A daycare facility is prohibited from operating while its license is suspended and a revoked license forces the provider to close permanently.
Cantiello urged parents and guardians looking for daycare facilities to visit the OCFS website at http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/ for information on what to look for when selecting a child care provider. The website also provides a search page where the public can search for licensed facilities in their area, along with information about suspended or revoked licenses.
The website currently lists Sick's license as suspended, though no details will be listed until after the appeals deadline. Her license, originally issued in 1999, allows for up to six children between 6 weeks and 12 years old along with two additional school-age children.
To report a child care complaint, Cantiello said people can call 800-732-5207.
The Sick family declined to comment about the incident.
A daycare provider for 13 years in Dansville is closed this week after authorities discovered last Friday that children allegedly were left unattended.
Dansville Police Chief Charles Perkins confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon that Shelly Sick, whose daycare is run from her home on Franklin Street, was at McDonald’s when licensors and police officers arrived at her home on Friday.
“There was a concern brought to our attention by social services,” the police chief said. “There seems to have been some validity to the tip.”
“It makes you wonder how many times this happened,” said Brandie Henry, the mother of a child who was at the daycare Friday. “I’m disgusted.”
Henry said she had mostly positive experiences at the daycare and was surprised to learn what had happened. This week, she was able to stay home with her daughter. She will be going to another daycare beginning next week.
“People need to know,” she said. “You always hear about this happening but you never expect it to happen to your child.”
Perkins declined to comment on pending charges or details of the ongoing investigation involving the village Police Department and the state Office of Child and Family Services. However, he confirmed that authorities viewed video surveillance from McDonald’s that appears to show Sick at the fast food restaurant.
Pat Cantiello, spokeswoman for OCFS, said Sick’s daycare registration was suspended immediately and will be revoked unless a hearing finds otherwise. Sick has 10 days to request a hearing regarding the suspension and failure to appeal is considered evidence that the finding is valid.
The revocation must be appealed within 30 days, otherwise it becomes final. A daycare facility is prohibited from operating while its license is suspended and a revoked license forces the provider to close permanently.
Cantiello urged parents and guardians looking for daycare facilities to visit the OCFS website at http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/ for information on what to look for when selecting a child care provider. The website also provides a search page where the public can search for licensed facilities in their area, along with information about suspended or revoked licenses.
The website currently lists Sick's license as suspended, though no details will be listed until after the appeals deadline. Her license, originally issued in 1999, allows for up to six children between 6 weeks and 12 years old along with two additional school-age children.
To report a child care complaint, Cantiello said people can call 800-732-5207.
The Sick family declined to comment about the incident.
