BRANDON, Fla. — The childcare crisis in Florida continues, as Amazing Explorers Academy Mariposa closed its doors, leaving dozens of families searching for new childcare in the middle of the week.
So this childcare center indicated that they will be closing this upcoming Friday," says Dr Fred Hicks, CEO of Early Learning Coalition: Hillsborough County, "We were told about it last week, so it is their responsibility to let the parents know because the parents and the children are there with them on a regular basis. We, as the Early Learning Coalition, can't help those VPK parents until after the center is officially closed."
Watch report on Riverview area daycare closing doors
Now, former employees and parents spoke with ABC Action News, saying that the original timeline of closing, which was slated for Friday, July 11th, changed abruptly.
"They said it was a teacher shortage because when they dismissed me, two other teachers had left prior that day, and one didn't come into work prior that day because she didn't agree with the conditions that she had to teach in," says Aimee Bennett, a now former teacher at AEA Mariposa.
Shawn Booker had pulled her daughter from AEA before the school closed, but says the quickness in everything was not good for her child.
Just when everything ended, it just made us a big problem, which is just tarnishing, you know, because she has to like start over again," says Booker.
The childcare debate in Florida has been pushed into the light more and more, with a new report from Florida TaxWatch saying the average wages for childcare workers sit at around $16.63 per hour. Compared to other occupations in Florida, which average around $30.29 per hour.
Dr. Hicks says that is part of the larger issue in Florida.
"Sometimes parents have to go in and visit a childcare center where a teacher might only make $12.50 an hour on average. That is absolutely devastating because that teacher is also struggling to make ends meet," says Dr. Hicks.
Another issue is the loss of income for Florida parents who have to take time off for their kids.
The same report shows 64% of Florida parents miss 19 days of work a year, totaling $3.3 billion in lost wages for families. And that trickles down to the overall state of the economy.
"There's a trickle-down effect on parents who decide to quit their jobs to take care of their kids," says Dr. Hicks, "All of a sudden, those dollars stop going back into the economy that the parent would be earning in their job, and then that trickles down eventually to the daycare providers. So there is a way to generate more money."
ABC Action News did reach out to AEA, but did not hear back.
If you are affected by the closure of AEA Mariposa, you can search for more childcare options here or reach out to your nearby Early Learning Coalition.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
