Angry Parents Continue To Demand Answers About Sudden Close Of Buena Park Preschool

BUENA PARK (CBSLA.com)   —  For the second day, a group of angry parents gathered outside a preschool in Buena Park demanding to know why it shut down without any warning.

It's a story first aired Saturday evening Only On 9.

CBS2's Art Barron was there when a meeting between parents and officials at the Crescent Avenue Christian Preschool was supposed to take place.

The meeting was abruptly postponed and the already frustrated parents -- who have to scramble to find new preschools for their children on Labor Day weekend, no less -- expressed even more frustration.

Many of the parents chanted "Shame on you" when they encountered the school's pastor.

The state's Department of Social Services wants to take away the preschools license for alleged code violations.

Francine Peralta, a parent, has to find a new daycare facility for her 3-year-old son.

"Don't know where I'm going to go. I just went to a local school, right now, but, of course they're closed on a Sunday. So I'm still scattering. [The first day of school is] two days away," says Peralta.

The interim pastor Lat Syprasert had no answers -- just a warning to parents and teachers.

"If anybody come on our premises, at any time..." said Syprasert, with a parent interrupting -- "Are you going to arrest us?"

Syprasert said, "No, I'm not going to arrest you, but I will prosecute you."

After the 11:30 a.m. meeting between parents and the pastor was postponed, Barron reports the anger started to spill over.

For a short time, the pastor was blocked from leaving the school's parking lot.

One parent laid in the middle of the street blocking him in. Police were called the told the protesters they couldn't block his vehicle.

"It scars the community and it affects so many people," said Kelly Muesse, a preschool staffer and church member.

She told Barron she was also kicked out of church services.

"I was asked to leave. I threw myself on the altar. I was picked up and escorted out," said Muesse.

Among the Department of Social Services allegations:
Teacher's aides supervising children without qualified teachers present.
Some staff members allowed to work in a facility prior to clearance of a criminal background check.
Classroom trash cans without secure lids.

Barron reported there is also the issue of money.

One man called out to the pastor, "Where's my money? Where's my money?"

Many parents spent $550 a month per child -- money they want reimbursed.

"We have registration fees and some parents have paid for the month in advance and those have not been refunded although the checks have been cashed," said parent Stephen Davis.

Parents later saw a letter posted on a window at the school. It says, in part, "Prepaid tuition will be reviewed and will reimbursed as quickly as possible."

Both parents and teachers are frustrated and believe the violations were easy to correct.

They believe the church board closed the preschool without giving them adequate notice or time to find other options. Teachers are also waiting to claim their belongings from the classrooms.

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Only On 9: Parents Demand Answers Why Preschool Was Shut At Last Minute