Ex-employees allege culture of negligence at Wolf Creek Child Care

 Amidst an ongoing criminal investigation into former director Dana Brown, at least five former employees of Wolf Creek Child Care and Preschool in Conrad have charged that Brown routinely neglected her duties and that the facility’s board of directors failed to adequately address complaints.
           
“Preschool should have a set routine, and that was not followed,” said Debra Heath, who worked at the daycare until March of 2017. “I’ve worked in human services, law enforcement, jail, service coordinating and counseling, and (I) was so aware of what she did wrong. But (Brown) didn't want anyone to tell her different.”
           
The board, currently comprised of President Julie Katzer, Vice President Kathryn Bartling, Treasurer Janice Juchems, Secretary Donna Adelmund, and Dale Walters, elected to terminate Brown last Monday night and held a meeting with staff members the next day to discuss the changes.  At press time, a final determination on criminal charges had not been made as the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office continues to interview children who attended the center and their families.
           
In addition to previous claims of child abuse and neglect, Heath told The Grundy Register that Brown regularly searched for state grants and funding sources, and the money was often unaccounted for: in one instance, she received a $500 grant for a garden, and according to Heath, spent “about $25” on what amounted to “a weed patch.”
           
Despite the alleged infractions, inspectors from the Iowa Department of Human Services, the state agency that oversees child care facilities, have visited the center on 18 occasions since 2006 (a period in which the daycare has had seven different directors) and recommended a full license renewal every time but once: in 2007, when Stacey Hennings was the director, an inspector issued a provisional license after discovering 26 code violations during an unannounced visit. 
 
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