HYDE PARK, Vt. (WCAX) – Community members say they had concerns about operations at a Hyde Park child care facility before its owner was charged with child cruelty this week.
The Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department announced Thursday that Savannah McKenzie, 34, of Hyde Park, was charged with four counts of cruelty to a child connected to her work at Savvy Family Childcare in Hyde Park.
Regulators with the state’s Child Development Division pulled owner McKenzie’s license on September 24 after several alleged safety violations.
“The immediate focus is to make sure that these kids are safe,” said Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux.
According to the Department for Children and Families, those violations included not practicing emergency drills, not meeting child-to-staff ratios, and not letting children take water bottles outside during the summer, as well as covering the faces of sleeping infants on multiple occasions.
Marcoux could not comment directly on Kid Savvy’s incidents, but he says investigations like these are complex and require cooperation between police and child welfare investigators.
“I don’t think that some of these people set out to be malicious, but things happen. They still have a tremendous responsibility to care for our loved ones,” Marcoux said.
DCF declined to comment on the incidents or the investigation, but health experts say it highlights the importance of sleep safety for newborns and the potential health risks.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies sleep on their back, on a firm, flat surface, without objects like pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals.
“We don’t want anything in that sleep environment that may impact baby’s ability to breathe. Loose bedding can be a hazard as well as loose blankets, pillows, and other items,” said Julia Sarrasin with the Vermont Department of Health.
The closure of Kid Savvy has left some families scrambling for child care. The Lamoille Family Center is assisting the 19 families affected in finding new options.
McKenzie is scheduled to appear in court in late November. She could not be reached for comment.
