Lawsuits Target Troubled Beverly Daycare Center

BEVERLY, MA -- The Cummings Center and at least one parent are in the early stages of filing lawsuits against the Learning Zone in Beverly, the daycare center that stunned parents and employees when it said earlier this month it would close on July 13. Since Patch first reported about the Learning Zone's planned closing on Monday, more details have emerged that suggest the problems run deeper than the lengthy commute owner Melissa Ananias cited as the reason for closing in her email to parents.

Ananias has not responded to requests from Patch for comment. Ananias also runs Learning Zone daycare centers in Belmont and Framingham

In addition to the more than 70 violations the Learning Zone has been cited for violating by the state Department of Early Education and Care since the start of the year, managers of the Cummings Center filed a demand for payment against Ananias earlier this month seeking tens of thousands of dollars in back rent. And at least one parent has taken a similar step because the Learning Zone's refusal to return his deposit after he removed his children from the school after learning about the numerous violations.

The failure to pay rent, coupled with financial problems previously reported by Patch, have some parents worried Ananias will file for bankruptcy when the daycare center closes, leaving the status of their deposits uncertain. In addition to the back rent, employees told Patch about other problems that suggest the business is struggling.

One employee said several of the staff members' paychecks bounced in recent months. Another time, W-2 forms showed that taxes had not been withheld so employees had to wait until the problem was corrected before they could get paid. When one parent threatened a lawsuit, Ananias said he "was crazy and had nothing better to do," according to one of the former employees that contacted Patch.

Morale started to dip after Ananias took over day-to-day operations in January, with several employees quitting. That prompted sweeping reassignments of both teachers and students to classrooms. Staff complained that their assignments were constantly being changed and that kids were being moved from room to room "like pawns."

The state has twice blocked the Learning Zone from taking on new enrollments since the start of the year. The 30-day enrollment freezes in February and May were not disclosed to parents, and when parents asked about enrolling children into the daycare center, Ananias told them the school was full.

Related Stories:

• Violations Preceded Beverly Daycare's Decision To Close
• Parents Scramble After Beverly Daycare Abruptly Announces Closing

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Patch file photo of Cummings Center in Beverly.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).