Judge wants more information before ruling on Kindertown
By Kathryn Reed
Maria Barrows-Crist was planning a victory party for Friday afternoon. The judge denied anyone a party. Instead, he asked both sides in the South Lake Tahoe day care battle to file more briefs.
June is the soonest a decision will be rendered, unless El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Steve Bailey works over Memorial Day weekend.
Maria Barrows-Crist with attorney Mike McLaughlin after court April 23.
The state Department of Social Services has been trying to put Barrows-Crist’s Kindertown out of business since last summer.
Mike McLaughlin, who is representing Barrows-Crist, said after the 90-minute hearing on Friday that he doesn’t believe the court will shutter Kindertown for one violation.
Although multiple allegations have brought against Barrows-Crist, the three that dominated the discussion April 23 were whether any employee was under the influence of alcohol or drugs while supervising children; the nickel-size burn on a child from spilled soup; and a peanut product given to a child with a known allergy to the nut.
Everyone agrees the child was given the peanut product even though the necessary precautions and warnings were in place. McLaughlin does not believe that incident alone is reason enough to close the center.
Brenda Ray, deputy attorney general with the state Department of Justice, kept up her mantra that she’s been preaching that if Kindertown stays open, there is the strong likelihood a child will be seriously injured or die.
Despite the 8-month-long court fight, Kindertown’s enrollment is increasing. She has 93 children, whereas in February she had 83. However, in September she was at 120.
Tears filled Barrows-Crist’s eyes as the judge said to file the briefs by May 21, with rebuttals to him by May 28.
“I thought there would be a celebration today,” she said.
I was very impressed by Judge Steve Bailey.
I do believe there has been a consistent pattern of harrassment by the state social service agency that governs Kindertown and further believe they will be hammered in court for what they’ve attempted to do.
How in the world did an Ad. Law judge in El Dorado Hills ever side with these power hunger govt folks is beyond me.
Is this still going on. I know Maria and her kids. I find it insane that our tax dollars are paying for this silly hearing after hearing. Did Maria’s daughter use drugs? Yes, so what. No one can prove that was done at work so why don’t they just let it go? I recently met the lady that testified regarding the drug issue and she told me and I quote “I never wanted this to happen licensing called me I didn’t call them” Then why did she testify? I know for a fact that she is undergoing cancer treatment, doesn’t that imapair her ability to properly care for children and keep them safe. You would think that being under the influence of prescription medication would be considered problem but no. Accidents happen all the time at home why would you expect daycare to be any different. This needs to go away. I’m sorry that Maria didn’t get her party today but it will happen.