Our Expanding World in Takoma Park -- reopening

[Anonymous]

Has anyone seen the latest about Our Expanding World in Takoma Park, the day care that closed suddenly in June? They are opening under a new director with new teachers, and we're trying to decide whether to go. Any feedback from others deciding to send or not send their child there?

[Anonymous]

Did you look at Takoma Montessori? They are opening in September and last I heard (on the Main Street Facebook page I think?), they still have some space. I hadn't heard that Our Expanding World is reopening, I was never clear on why it closed in the first place.

[Anonymous]

I think it's the same shady owner who repeatedly lied to parents prior to closing. And they ramdomly stuck signs advertising their reopening in neighbors yards without permission.

[Anonymous]

Our child attended OEW, and the last couple of weeks prior closing, and they were emotionally draining, stressful and not good for the kids and teachers. Parents and teachers were informed of the closure via a flyer in which we had 3-weeks to find other arrangements as the center was going to close. One week before closing, we were told by Ms. Lois that it would remain open under new management as she wanted more time off. We were also assured that not much would change. Then it turned out that it was not just 'new' management but the new director was also becoming part-owner of the daycare until full ownership could be acquired (daycare licenses are not transferable, and so they needed time while paper work went through).

Teachers were not spoken to, neither introduced to the new director and her team until 2 days before closing, and only to be stripped off paid sick leave, paid snow days, and worst: federal holidays! This is not taking into account that they had no health insurance coverage. Also, they would not receive any salary increase! They were demanded not to speak with each other about these new changes, and much less talk to parents about it.

We had a one-on-one conversation with the owner and the new partial owner, and they kept on contradicting each other about the new direction of the center, schedules, about % of tuition increase (which supposedly would go to increase the teacher's salary), and told us that ALL the teachers had agreed to stay, when it was not true. We were also told that the new director would be present every day, and 3 minutes later it would not be her but her representative, as she has 3 other daycare to be at. I do not understand why they could not be transparent and stop lying about everything. Unnecessary secrecy!

Our child was a bit confused as we told him that the center would close, then it would remain open, and then close again! Our last day was Friday, June 16, 2017. The week after, only 2-3 kids (out of 43) decided to stay - the center closed 2 days later, on Wednesday 21, 2017.

There used to be a feeling of community and home-like at the daycare, the relationship with the teachers was close and warm. It was not a drop off/pick up type of place, we knew about their family, as much as they knew about ours.

If you enroll your child in this new center, please keep in mind that the new teachers might not be enjoying benefits like paid federal holidays, sick leave, etc. We did not stay because we could not be part of a place that did not treat properly the teachers that spent more time with our child than us; teacher that nursed and taught our child in so many ways.

There is a shortage of daycares in the area, so I am sure the center will soon have new kids attending as many parents would not be aware of what happened...

[Anonymous]

I also want to add that they were sneaky...during the new 'partial-ownership' phase, parents discussed through a listserv ideas and options on how to approach the new management, including asking for a general meeting that included all parents, teachers and management.
They were able to evade this as they knew all along what was being said in the listserv because the daughter of the original owner was subscribed, and most of us were not aware of this...

[Anonymous]

Hi, I just wanted to pitch in in case any mom is looking for affordable daycare in the Takoma Park area and wants more info about OEW. I didn´t know about the previous administration and staff from OEW, but we moved to Takoma Park in June and my two kids (21 months and 5 years old) started there in June. We have had a great experience until now, staff is very nice and sweet with the kids, they seem very flexible to parents´needs and my 5 years old has expressed she feels teachers are really nice with all kids. The price is really affordable for families with financial restraints (we have one income as I am studying) and until now my kids stay very happy and have become very fond of all staff there.