Kidsville Daycare Centers in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach must close their doors by next week.
Their licenses have been officially revoked by the Palm Beach Childcare Advisory Council. The revocation goes into effect next Wednesday, which means they need to shut their doors by Thursday morning.
The Palm Beach County Health Department says Kidsville lost their licenses for several reasons.
1. The Department says Kidsville violated county/state rules 6 different times in 2 years, by not having enough teachers for the children.
2. The Department says Kidsville's owners, Marshas Mythril and Jean Benjamin often tried to sell the centers on paper, but in essence remained in charge. Investigators say they did so, because Myrthil was not allowed to run a daycare under state rules, because of a past fraud conviction.
3. Investigators also say Myrthil is not allowed to be around the children at Kidsville, because of the conviction, but was caught multiple times in the centers.
4. The Health Department brought forth a former director of Kidsville who says she witnessed illegal activity at Kidsville. Michelle Spears says "every child in the school signed up for the food program even if they weren't actually receiving the food from the food program." Spears says the owners funded personal parties with the food program money.
Myrthil and Benjamin were not present at the Advisory Council's hearing concerning their license. The Health Department says their lawyer called them late Monday night to say they would not be fighting the revocation.
Anyone who needs help finding new child care should call the Early Learning Coalition’s Child Care Resource & Referral at (561) 514-3300.
The Palm Beach County Health Department says counselors are available to assist.
(Story updated to clarify the number of the Early Learning Coalition.)