Judge sides with state; Kindertown to close
By Kathryn Reed
The last class of preschoolers may have graduated from Kindertown.
Kindertown Preschool and Daycare is being forced to lock its doors at the end of the day June 24.
Maria Barrows-Crist hands Danika Yuzbick her preschool diploma June 17. Photos/Kathryn Reed
While most of Friday morning was about proud parents taking pictures of their little ones dressed in pink and blue caps and gowns, a meeting afterward had their faces turn almost ashen.
Maria Barrows-Crist read a letter to them and then handed each a copy. It talks about her day in court, the future, who they can write letters to, and suggestions for where to take their children if, in fact, this South Lake Tahoe institution does lock its doors for good.
Barrows-Crist has been fighting the state Department of Social Services since September 2009.
Just when she gets over one hurdle, another is put in front of her.
“I’m not perfect, I don’t do everything right, but I’m not a danger,” she told parents June 17.
Parents receive the news June 17 Kindertown must close.
The state believes otherwise. The biggest issue is a child was able to get out the gate at the center and wander onto the walk along Highway 50. The state has no leniency for this child having a history being an escape artist at other locations.
Barrows-Crist won a stay in February, with the idea she would get her day in court again. With her lawyer Mike McLaughlin and his office trying endlessly to get the court to set a briefing schedule, time kept passing.
On June 2 a management conference was set of June 3. From there the June 16 date was set. Attorney Kara Thiel represented Barrows-Crist in El Dorado County Superior Court in Placerville on Thursday before Judge Warren Stracener because McLaughlin was out of town.
The thinking was Stracener would extend the stay, allowing Kindertown to stay open, and a date set to hear the evidence. Instead, Stracener said close and you can have your say later if you want.
McLaughlin, who called Lake Tahoe News from the road, said he isn’t giving up. He plans to spend the weekend researching options.
Maria Barrows-Crist helps preschoolers to their seats June 17.
“I hope to get before him Wednesday and convince him of the error of his ways,” McLaughlin said of the judge. “I think it would be hard for (Barrows-Crist) to keep up the fight once the doors are closed.”
Barrows-Crist is unable to hold back tears on the phone or in person as she talks about the situation.
“This is not just my business. This is my life. These families are my family,” she told Lake Tahoe News as she arrived at the center Friday.
One thing that might save her is the buyer who is interested in the 30-plus-year-old facility. If the business trades ownership, the doors would stay open.
What a sad tragedy. My son went there for years and Mia has an amazing program. I feel how she must be hurting now. I hope this changes for the better.
A visiting judge from somewhere in ca., makes the ruling.
This has been selective persecution of the owner from the beginning.
Judge Stracener is a sitting judge for the El Dorado Superior Court. He sits in Placerville.
Thats correct.
Outrageous overreach by the injustice system. This is one of the reasons that respect for our institutions is declining. This is a travesty by the same type of bureaucrats who missed Jaycee Lee Dugard for 20 years and left her to suffer. Anyone who knows Maria will find this disgusting. You couldn’t find a more caring person to take care of our children.
Yep. Placerville is in Ca.
This ruling is easier to accept when you realize and understand that we are a country of men and laws, with men predominate. Therefore you never know what will come from a judges mouth or pen.
I am a bit concerned about the attack on our local justice system. The Judge is an El Dorado County Judge, elected by the voters, who has jurisdiction to hear legal disputes. Cal. Social Services determined that a child was put in danger from lack of supervision. The courts usually side with the welfare of the child over other concerns. We were not there to hear the evidence. The Judge has that responsibility. I am sure Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Thief will give the best representation possible to Kindertown, but we must respect the judiciary and it’s function in our government. It is the foundation of our nation as a nation of laws. The alternative is chaos.
Let’s not forget that Judge Bailey previously ruled that personal bias is an abuse of discretion by the state, and that minor violations were not cause for the extreme remedy of revoking a license.
The state ignored his ruling and instead they went and got a different judge and took a second shot at Kindertown.
The alternative is appeal while the go shoping again.
Deb wrote “I am sure Mr. McLaughlin and Ms. Thief”
I am just curious, since there is only two women mentioned in the article,
Maria Barrows-Crist and Attorney Kara Thiel, which one is the thief?
Ms. Palmer states her concern regarding “the attack on our local justice system” and “Cal. Social Services determined that a child was put in danger from lack of supervision.” Assuming for the sake of argument there is no defense for this one “violation,” it happened 2 years after all of the other trumped up charges. While I’m certain there are mitigating factors for this one offense, of course, investigation and corrective measures to prevent a recurrence is not unreasonable. Instead, it’s turned out to be a stroke of luck for the State. Doesn’t that smack of abuse and harassment?
This whole nightmare scenario has taken a huge personal, professional and financial toll and has left a quality child care provider feeling defeated and crushed her confidence. Even in my finest moments would I try to perform perfectly at a job and succeed, without fail, while the boss is watching my every move for 2 hours? What about 2+ years?
I submit…if you’re looking for an infraction and you’re hellbent on it, you’re probably going to find it.