Parents disappointed as Troy nursery closes

TROY, Ala. (WSFA) – Some parents were shocked to see the Troy First Baptist Church Day Care and Early Learning Center, a church-based daycare, closing.

Although a letter sent to parents said this was due to financial and staffing issues, information shared with church members suggests otherwise.

On Halloween, parents whose children were enrolled in the program received a letter stating that they would be closing in May of next year due to staff shortages and financial problems.

One parent, who remains anonymous, says he didn’t see this coming.

“I’m a little surprised, to be honest with you. How did this meeting go? No one told anyone,” the father said. “Depending on their age, it’s a little harder to get them in because they’re a year and a half or two years old. And when you finally get that call saying, ‘we have an opening,’ you’re like, ‘I’m so glad.’

In many cases, parents must join a waiting list before their child is born to secure child care.

According to this year’s data Kids Census Data BookProvided by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Alabama currently ranks 44th in America for family and community care, six spots away from worst, stating that in order for a child to succeed, he or she must have quality education and quality support services.

This closure makes it much harder for parents to find care.

“We can go back to work,” the anonymous parent said of daycare services. “We don’t have to worry about taking our kids to our jobs or things like that.”

Despite what was described in the letter to parents, an email sent to church members cited additional issues leading to this closure, including “pending issues with DHR and current and potential renovations.”

The decision to close was made by the Day Care Advisory Committee, according to the email.

The parent WSFA spoke with said she was told the renovations would not affect the daycare.

WSFA 12 News reached out to the daycare and First Baptist Church of Troy, but they declined to comment.

Troy First Baptist Church Day Care and Early Learning Center is exempt from the church, is not licensed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, and is not required to comply with DHR guidelines.

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