St. Barnabas United Methodist Church Early Education Center

Update: Elizabeth, the Assistant Director argues with clients over the phone, speaking over them, threatening to leave belongings on the curb, and hangs up before giving you a chance to speak. ????????

Issue:
My healthy blessing to my family, a 17 mo. old little boy was literally called to be evacuated from class after a classmate tested “positive” for COVID nearly two weeks ago. The school made no adjustment to his premium and maintained a stance as directed by the “CDC” and other federal institutions. Upon picking him up I was directed to TWO weeks at home quarantine and given no further information. When I called asking about his likely exposure and further details I was given nothing- the kids have no seating arrangements as to limit proximity concerns and the staff had no clue where anyone really was in relation to the child who was sick.

Mind, these are young children and the staff assured us doing our orientation that the EEC was operating a stick operation. Likewise this is a Christian Organization who happens to operate a business adjacent to their worship center. I emphasize this because I have photos showing:

1. Email dialogue:
I did have a concern about my healthy, happy baby being run out of school with no likely exposure confirmations from the staff. I did talk about the possibility of unenrolling him, termination is such disparaging word. I was supposed to take my young child home to “wait and see what happens”. I called the school to voice my concerns earlier today after my little boy went without symptoms or anything and was immediately responded to with an email with end-action. There was no further dialogue just a termination (disenrollment) email.

2. Chip on Shoulder
This “Christian” “Faith Based” organization had a chip on their shoulder. They responded very quickly after I owned my portion of the concerns THAT ANY PARENT WOULD HAVE and was met with a reminder that my wife had concerns regarding the social learning and development hinderance associated with class leaders wearing masks and children. It was thought that everyone’s opinion was valued, but apparently not as I was met with resistance- citing my wife’s earlier concerns. This everyone is not the temperament that our lord Jesus exercised on the cross when confronted by the Roman Soldier. The church is giving away it benevolent nature to business people.

3.Reckless and Intolerant
Wow. Wow. Wow…. This happy little boy’s belongs were simply kicked to the curb. The school was still releasing students to parents and his stuff was bagged up and dropped off on a dusty, lizard infested step on the closed end of the campus. How was this securing his belongings from being taken or the dignity of a little happy baby boy and his possessions. This behavior is very un-Christian. I can own my end of the dialogue about my concerns, premiums, lack of information, but this is not right now, in the past, or in the future.

We have all had to set aside beliefs and live a new normal as first time adult parents and community members experiencing something not experienced since 1914. The level of empathy that these program officials and their confident follow through and notification is appalling.

I ask everyone to become informed and to call the school with concerns regarding how a little baby boys possessions were mishandled after facility leaders became temperamental about very, very human concerns.

Call 817.476.6174 ask for the EEC or the Church. Thank everyone for their support. Disenrolling a baby boy is one thing, tossing his stuff to the curb while the facility is open is another.