Parents React After Bartlesville Daycare Announces Sudden Closure

Parents all over Washington county are trying to find a place for their kids to go after three daycare facilities announced they're closing this week. The Washington County Child Care Foundation operates two centers in Bartlesville and another one in Sperry. Nearly 160 kids across the three facilities will have to find new childcare centers after all the facilities close this week.

"When they called me and told me they got in, I cried happy tears," said Rachel Swindell. Swindell waited a year and a half to get three-year-old Lucas into her dream daycare: Ivy Academy West in Bartlesville. She and her husband both work full time jobs.

"The people there are wonderful, she said. "I have nothing bad to say."

However, Monday she got an email from the director saying the centers would be closing on Thursday. The Washington County Child Care Foundation operates the centers. A source from the foundation said they've worked hand in hand with the Delaware tribe 25 years and that's how the foundation is funded.

But they say the tribe decided to cut those ties. Now, the foundation said the tribe owes them more than $4 million. However, the Delaware chief said they don't believe the tribe owes any money and said the daycares were primarily serving non-native children, which was against the tribe's federal contract. He also said their audits of the foundation showed it was spending money unwisely.

"I'm learning that I'm losing childcare for my son," said Swindell. Swindell said regardless of why it happened, she wishes she had more notice. "I was frustrated at the situation, but my heart broke for Lucas," she said "His friends and teachers and his daily routine."

60 employees will also be losing their jobs. Swindell said she's relying on her family members until she can find a new daycare.

The foundation said it is working with families to find those kids a new place to go.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Hoskin issued the following statement: "Ensuring that our youngest tribal citizens have the care they need is of utmost importance to the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation has no involvement nor makes any decisions regarding the partnership with the Delaware Tribe and the WCCF. Cherokee Nation facilitates federal funding for childcare for the Delaware Tribe through a longstanding agreement between the two tribal governments. It was discouraging to read comments from the Foundation attributing the foundation's closures to any action or inaction on the part of Cherokee Nation, which is simply inaccurate. As for the Delaware Tribe, Cherokee Nation very much values the relationship we have with the Tribe, which is built on trust and respect, and fully support the Delaware Tribe's ongoing efforts to improve child care resources in the region."

Delaware Tribe of Indians released this statement: "The Delaware Tribe of Indians has been informed that the Washington County Child Care Foundation has decided to close its doors on March 31, 2022. Unfortunately, the Foundation is placing blame partly on the Tribe, but this is not true. At no time would the Tribe take any action that would purposefully cause needless disruption on the lives of children and families who rely on the important daycare services provided by the Foundation. While it is true that the Tribe and the Foundation are trying to resolve a dispute so that the Foundation can be reimbursed for services, the Tribe finds it regrettable that the Foundation would abruptly shut down and blame the Tribe instead of focusing on resolving the dispute in a timely manner for everyone's benefit."