By james art 
Onalaska, wis. (WKBT) – The decision for a child provider is one of the most important elections that parents make. State laws tell licensed suppliers how to deal with their work.
But News 8 has now revealed a loophole in state legislation, which parents say it allows a local business not to unnecessarily put children at risk.
Wisconsin child providers fall into two licensed groups: if you have 4-8 children under 7 years old, it is a “family care for children”. Nine or more children are “Child Care Centers”.
The Department of Children and Families regulates suppliers both – everything from directions for nutrition, attendance, reporting injuries and staff qualification. DCF also conducts unannounced checks.
“You could get another spelling, you can be fined. If the violation is serious enough, you can be closed until this is adjusted.”
The rules are different for “private schools”.
State legislation says that the private school simply needs an educational purpose, a curriculum that covers the basic subjects and a minimum number of hours of teaching.
Sarah Shift is a 20-year-old teacher who knows the rules of both types of facilities. She once managed her own licensed kindergarten. In the fall, she took directorial work at the Day School in Three Rivers in Onalaska.
On the first day, she said she knew something was wrong.
“The teachers did not have a plan for their day. It was that the children did their own thing and the teacher somehow stood aside,” Shift said. “The staff also said they had not received or completed the background check forms. This is concerned.”
She asked owner Aymi Vit what rules are the business.
“In the end, the answer was: we have no rules.”
The online company is described as a game school. She does not use the words “kindergartens” or “childcare”, although childcare appears on the sign of the company on the theatrical path.
The company does not appear in any DCF child rearing register. But he is registered as a private school in the Department of Public Instruction.
Shird says she didn’t see much school while she was there.
“The ultimate goal was that she had children to the older elementary, like fifth grade, but also [Witt’s] Children, I think the biggest child was five years old. “
So, if a small school is performed and most students are babies and young children, why is it registered as a school and not for kindergarten?
A look in the past can help:
News 8 has already discovered that Witt manages licensed in home days before opening three rivers. DCF records show a handful of minor violations related to the documents in this facility, but another incident took the cake.
“She told me that Highchair, in which my baby had fallen, but that my baby had not hit her head and was not hurt,” said a parent who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of revenge.
She said that four days after Vit claimed that her daughter had not hit her head, a blow appeared.
“We took her to an emergency, where they did a brain computed tomography that showed that she had a skull fracture. Far books.”
Vit closed at his home at home, and a year later he opened three river school.
“It was clear that her motive was to use the door, so she had no supervision of it,” said another anonymous source with knowledge of the operation.
This is a completely legal door. According to DCF and state legislation, private schools should not comply with any child rearing provisions and DCF cannot study complaints against one.
“Very disturbing to the staff and the children because he will not watch,” Shift said.
Many ex -employees and parents have turned to News 8 now anonymously with such concerns.
“Everyone says they have no jurisdiction. This is a completely unregulated operation,” one said.
This, while employees’ salaries come from unorthodox sources such as Venmo or personal checks that they would often not win in days.
“The next salary really made the staff say enough,” Shift said. “They also have families.”
Other anonymous former employees tell News 8 now all staff came out after the New Year, but it seems that working hours have not changed.
“Messages incoming from the parents concerned about who their child had dropped. They saw a man. This is her ex -husband,” said an anonymous source.
“I think [Witt] hoped to open a school that could take care of 80 children, leading to a significant increase in income without having to comply with the rules and regulations and documents of the department for children and families, “another source said.
News 8 has now turned to the state legislators for the door, but have not heard of any potential changes.
In the meantime, parents say that families need to understand exactly what they come into when choosing a supplier.
“I also think it is very important for parents to do your research. Not only do this, but also step into the daily function of things and watch,” said an anonymous parent who previously enrolled in a child in three rivers.
He said another, “I think if you have a feeling in your stomach, do not reject it.”
It is important to note that nothing that is claimed to have happened in the daytime school in three rivers is not illegal. Now the News 8 asked the parent place, the local La Crosse resource resources network, what should be careful when exploring.
They say they ask about the education and training of the staff, the daily schedules, whether there is a guide for parents, outlining procedures and regularly dealing with the provider.
News 8 now talks to owner Aimee Witt about worries. She declined to interview and only said the record. We made additional calls to the business, but the voicemail is complete.
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