NORTH MANKATO, Minn. -
A North Mankato Daycare is under fire after state investigators documented suspected abuse.
Now Trinity Daycare and Preschool is slated to have its license fully revoked later this month.
The person who runs Trinity Daycare and Preschool, Renee Thomas, didn't want to appear on-camera to respond to News 12's questions, or allegations listed in a Department of Human Services investigation.
Documents from that investigation claim abuse against patrons at the facility including "slamming children onto the floor"
Parents whose kids attend the facility say they're taken aback.
"Surprised at it. I've personally never heard or seen any of those accusations," said Jennifer Domas, a North Mankato parent who sends two of her children to Trinity Daycare & Preschool.
The report also says an administrative staff person was observed handling children in a forceful manner such as "grabbing children by the arms, swatting, slapping, or spanking" children on the bottom."
Domas says the allegations in the report make her think twice about sending her kids to the daycare.
"It does because you drop them off, you pick them up and you don't know, but I personally haven't seen it, so it's very hard to say what is the truth," Domas said.
According to the state report, the alleged abuse was not only physical, it was verbal.
During the investigation of multiple licensing complaints, it was determined through interviews with employees that an administrative staff person at the facility engaged in name-calling."
The report says the administrative staff person called children a number of names including: "evil, the devil, psycho, and chow chow." The documents go on to say toddlers were also asked to say an expletive.
"My daughter who's turning 10 has been here, and I asked her this afternoon if she'd ever seen or heard anything and she said 'no'," Domas said.
While she declined to go on camera today, Thomas says she disagrees with the findings by the Department of Human Services and says she plans to appeal.
Other citations against Trinity Daycare include not having equipment and furniture in good repair, and not maintaining required staff-to-child ratios.
The daycare's license is slated to be revoked on September 21st. That's done to provide parents adequate time to find other day care facilities.
Trinity Daycare can stay open during the appeal process. Renee Thomas told News 12 that she sent off paperwork for that appeal.
