Some parents keep children home, others express concern as kids return to Lindenhurst day care where teacher was arrested
Megan Marchena, 26, pleaded not guilty to assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges over the weekend.
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Some parents say they are pulling their kids out of Tutor Time in Lindenhurst following alleged assault of 18-month-old.
Megan Marchena, 26, was arrested Friday for allegedly pushing an 18-month-old's face into a cot at the day care, causing the toddler to go to the hospital to get stitches.
Laurie Lucas says she won't be sending her 1-year-old son Joey back.
"He's not just my child, he's my everything," she said.
Marchena and the program director are now on administrative leave.
Victim advocate Laura Ahearn says the law requires child care providers to go through criminal background checks and take mandated reporter trainings.
News 12 found multiple violations issued by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Tutor Time in Lindenhurst had seven violations found during inspections from October 2022 to July 2024, ranging from staff not using acceptable techniques for problem solving to walls having chipped paint.
Two claims were substantiated, two unsubstantiated, two were found during unannounced visits and one during an application for renewal.
"If violations are substantiated that's of great concern, and if they're not substantiated but you have a large number of them that's of concern as well because that could indicate a pattern," said Ahearn, executive director of The Crime Victims Center.
Check state inspections and any potential violations for your child's day care here.
Tutor Time sent News 12 the following statement:
"The safety and wellbeing of the children in our care is our highest priority. All of our staff members are expected to uphold our high standards of care, and we do not tolerate any deviation from these standards. The staff member involved has been placed on administrative leave, pending the results of the investigation. Additionally, prior to employment, Tutor Time completed required background checks for this staff member, including a review of state-maintained child abuse and neglect registries, which did not reveal anything that would preclude this staff member’s employment. We remain committed to providing a safe, nurturing learning environment for all children in our care and will continue to assist authorities in any way we can."
