RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFLA) — Amazing Explorers Academy was scheduled to shut down on Friday. However, the daycare informed parents that it would be closing on Wednesday because of staffing shortages.
A sign on the front door read, “Amazing Explorers Academy is closed today.” There was a U-Haul van in the parking lot.
“We were expecting it to stay open for at least the next few days. My husband had to take the day off from work because I can’t,” said Shelley Holland, a parent. “The news was sudden, and it felt very dismissive.”
Both closure dates caught parents off guard.
“I already pulled my daughter out but what if I didn’t? I have to work, and I would’ve been like struggling,” said Ananda Johnson, another parent.
Parents said they are still disappointed about how all this played out. Johnson said the rumors she’s heard for months turned out to be true.
“What is still troubling is that they charged the amendment fee for fall,” Johnson said. “Summer camp costs $290 a week, and we are required to pay a $25 deposit each week.”
She said the amendment fee was due in May and wants to know if parents will be reimbursed.
The AEA team told 8 On Your Side in part on Tuesday that, “We’ve also heard concerns about possible reimbursements. Because the school continued to operate and provide care during this period, we fulfilled our commitment to families through the end. We recognize the inconvenience caused by the short notice and have done everything we can to support our staff and families through this transition, including offering priority placement at other Amazing Explorers locations in the Tampa area.“
A commercial real estate website said the daycare was listed for sale or lease back in April. The AEA team said, at the time, this was not a signal that the daycare would close. Though not many parents said they buy that.
“As a parent, it looks like you were just trying to get your money until you knew everything was finalized,” Johnson said.
In the message sent to parents Wednesday, the daycare said families would be reimbursed for the two remaining days of the week. Holland said, considering how everything has played out, it may be best they are closing.
“At the end of the day, like they kind of showed us like their true colors,” Holland said.
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