Noah's Ark Day Care Announces It Will Close

A staff member has confirmed to Patch that Noah's Ark Child Development Center on College Park Road will be closed by the end of the month.

The move comes less than a week after a 2-year-old was found in the middle of the road after allegedly wandering off from the site.

Parents were notified Tuesday in a letter by owner representative Harriet McLaurin, who cited "the economic downturn." 

The incident last Wednesday by the state's Child Care Licensing Division and the Out of Home Abuse and Neglect Unit.

State standards requires that child care facilities supervise children at all times. When under investigation for a potential violation, a childcare facility is allowed to operate as long as immediate action is taken to address whatever issue prompted the investigation, according to DSS spokeswoman Lenora Reese.

In an interview with The Post and Courier on Friday, Jeanette Jacobs said she was driving down the road when she found the little girl in the middle of the road.