Two Weeks Notice

[Jmom27]

My child started this daycare at a church in February. It is now spring and hundreds of bees are outside the church from the sidewalk to the door and they swarm around us when I'm trying to walk her inside in the morning. There is an alternate entrance in the back, and its just as worse. I just cant deal with that. My husband mentioned he had a problem with it last week but I hadn't been through what I went through today. I emailed the director and expressed my concerns. Am I going to be liable for the last two weeks notice for leaving the daycare due to safety concerns for myself and my daughter?

Jmom27

[TwinKristi]

Yes, you are bound by a contract. Maybe you can recommend that they get a beekeeper there to deal with the problem or a tree trimmer to trim the tree they're after. Bees are kinda protected right now so good luck with that but yes if your contract requires 2wks you have to pay for 2wks even if you pull her out now.

[jmom27]

I was just wondering ...

Thanks.

I wonder if they would let me make payment arrangements. I do have to find another daycare. I am allergic and I work as a 911 dispatcher so its very important for my child and I to remain in good health.

[NightOwl]

That's understandable, but there must be a way to manage the bees. They're protected because so many have been dying for unexplainable reasons. I agree with TwinKristi that the trees/shrubbery should be tended to and a beekeeper consulted. This, however, isn't a good reason in my opinion for terminating care. Do you have some other issues with the place? I just think that, if you really loved it there, you'd be trying to find a solution and only terminating as a last resort.

[TwinKristi]

My son is allergic as well so I totally get it, but you have to give them a chance to remedy it first. Like Wednesday said, if you really like the place you should contact them and explain the danger in having them at entrances especially if you're allergic.

[JoseyJo]

I am not allergic to bees, but I would not continue to go through, and take my child through, a bee infested area.

As a parent I would pull my child and expect a refund. I would take them to court if they did not refund me.

As a child care provider I would have taken care of this issue immediately-regardless of cost, apologized profusely to the parents, and refunded if they pulled. It is not the providers fault that there are bees, but parents can't be expected to continue to bring their child into a dangerous situation.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am not allergic to bees, but I would not continue to go through, and take my child through, a bee infested area.

As a parent I would pull my child and expect a refund. I would take them to court if they did not refund me.

As a child care provider I would have taken care of this issue immediately-regardless of cost, apologized profusely to the parents, and refunded if they pulled. It is not the providers fault that there are bees, but parents can't be expected to continue to bring their child into a dangerous situation.

Exactly this, except that I am allergic. There is simply no way I would walk through that risking my life. If you love the place I would ask that they fix it first.

[Heidi]

If they are licensed by the state, I'm pretty darn sure they'd BETTER fix it!

yes, you're liable for two weeks, I would try to work it out, but I wouldn't want to risk it, either.

[dalman]

I think there are some liability issues there on behalf of the church. They need to provide a safe environment for your child. They are not able to do this with the bee issue in the entry areas. In my opinion, they have broken the contract by not providing a safe environment, therefore, I do not believe that you need to give or pay for a two weeks notice. There is no court in this country that would say that you have to walk through a life threatening situation to drop your child off at daycare. And being that this is a church run daycare, I would expect them to understand. Just my opinion after doing this for thirty years.

[Cradle2crayons]

If they are licensed by the state, I'm pretty darn sure they'd BETTER fix it!

yes, you're liable for two weeks, I would try to work it out, but I wouldn't want to risk it, either.

I agree, I would give them ONE chance to fix the issue. If they didn't, I would pull and report them for safety violations. Get the bees on camera for proof if you need to.

As far as the deposit.... I think you are still required. But I'd call licensing and ask first. They may give you some advice.

[Blackcat31]

I think there are some liability issues there on behalf of the church. They need to provide a safe environment for your child. They are not able to do this with the bee issue in the entry areas. In my opinion, they have broken the contract by not providing a safe environment, therefore, I do not believe that you need to give or pay for a two weeks notice. There is no court in this country that would say that you have to walk through a life threatening situation to drop your child off at daycare. And being that this is a church run daycare, I would expect them to understand. Just my opinion after doing this for thirty years.

I agree. I don't think you can be held liable for the last two weeks if the environment was deemed unsafe.

I would call and discuss the matter with them first though but I would fight tooth and nail to not pay if it was because of something unsafe and as serious as that.

[sharlan]

BE SURE to take pictures to prove your point, if necessary.

[Leigh]

I had a parent furious with me last year because we didn't go outdoors to play for a few weeks. The entire city was infested with bees-you couldn't go anywhere without being attacked. I've never seen anything like it. My own backyard, the parks, just walking down the street. I had a kid get stung, and after that we stayed indoors until the bees went away.

I would think that they would attempt to remove the bees, but it's not always easy, especially if they are living on another's property.