Parents whose children attend the Happyworks Daycare in Cleveland were both surprised and shocked that the state renewed its license after learning it failed to request a background check on a convicted felon. State records that were reviewed by Channel 3 news in Cleveland found the state is in the process of revoking the licenses of 16 daycare centers in Ohio this year, and several of them have been cited for hiring employees with criminal backgrounds.
One of the employees at Happyworks, custodian James Ballinger, was found to have guns and knives following a stand-off with police. Of course, as one would expect, Ballinger no longer works for the daycare. Parents who spoke with Channel 3 news expressed concern, surprise and shock that this could happen.
“That’s like putting the kids in danger, I mean, they need to do background checks when they hire somebody,” Waymon Donat said. But another parent, Jamey Jones, said she didn’t object to the state renewing the license. The people who do take care of the children bring the utmost care to the children,” Jones said.
Ballinger had lived in a second-floor apartment above the daycare. It was news to Jenny Lozano that Ballinger was hired without undergoing a background check.Administrator Lisa Janik told the Investigator Tom Meyer that she requested a background check on Ballinger, then rushed inside the daycare and shut the door.
Daycare centers aren’t required to inform parents verbally if they are out of compliance, but they do have to post the information someplace inside their facility. Administrator Lisa Janik told the Investigator Tom Meyer that she requested a background check on Ballinger, then rushed inside the daycare and shut the door.
Records show the state is revoking licenses of daycare centers that employed criminals, including Little Feet preschool in Broadview Heights, All His Angels Child Care in Cleveland, and Looney Toons Child Care Center in Cleveland Heights. Administrators for Looney Toons contacted Channel 3 News and said it planned to sue the state because they feel their facility is in compliance.
State Sen. Dale Miller thought it was “outrageous and surprising” that the state didn’t move to revoke the license of Happyworks. But the state said it revokes licenses primarily for serious, repeated violations, including the hiring of felons. The state said it considers the failure of Happyworks to request a background check on Ballinger a “serious” violation.
While it decided to not yank its license, the state is proceeding to revoke the license of a daycare center in Cleveland that doesn’t have any serious violations.
Every so often a crime so heinous, that it casts doubt on the sanity of people, occurs. Often times they are associated with quiet people or neighborhoods where absolutely nobody saw it coming (yes I realize that’s a stereotype, but it illustrates a point). It also seems that extremely violent crime is on the upswing, which has also been illustrated by past articles.
