I was working for this preschool and it was the first year running. The owner and teacher was terrible, rarely there, never had a plan, basically let the kids rule the place, no structure, no schedule. I think parents really started to see that and know a lot of them won't come back next year. However, I'm having this issue about a government grant she was issued to start up the business. I'm not sure of how valid the info is, but in doing research there is a few grants she could have qualified for, so I believe her when she says she got at least one. She claims she got $20,000 and it's all been spent. I know the business itself cost her $7000 to buy, and there is probably $500 worth of stuff within the preschool. The toys are mostly from the previous owners, and used from garage sales. There is no way that the place is worth $20,000, and we only make $12.50/hour so it's not like the grant went to us.
I'm choked about this and I don't know what to do or who to contact. I want it to be known she has obviously used this money for herself or her family. The place hasn't even been opened a year yet, where could it have all gone???
Please someone help me. Should I report this person, and if so how!?
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
File a report at your poliece station, ask them to investigate it. I sure hope she didn't use that money for herself :/
It is not a legal issue. So since no laws were broken, the police would not do anything. Hire a lawyer to investigate? Do you have THAT kind of money? I don't think so. From what you've said here, the owners are probably just poor day care providers. The worse case scenario is that parents recognize this and remove their children.
Do you honestly know what security deposits are required by the electric and gas companies? How about water and sewage? Do you know how much their INSURANCE is to run a pre-school? Don't let your paltry salary be the determining factor as to the money being wasted. Trust me, $20,000 is NOTHING to open a business, especially a day care. The owners are entitled to a salary too, or did you even know that. Unless you have access to their accounting books AND know the name of the organization that gave them the grant, there is really nothing you can do except gripe about it. My guess is every dime of that $20,000 went for SOMETHING dealing with opening and running the day care, which may or may not include a salary for the owners for which they are ENTITLED! By the way, have you calculated YOUR yearly salary? If you only worked 20 hrs a week, that alone is $13,000. You say there is a TEACHER???? Do you think she makes at least that amount. It costs waaaay more than $20,000 to open and run a business.
When grant money is disbursed, the granting agency oversees the use of the funds. They ask for receipts to substantiate how the money was used. They usually come in several times and ask to see items purchased, review the books, etc. to see how their money is being used. Don't assume that just because she is not very good at her job, she must be doing something illegal. Running this type of a business is not easy. Maybe she's better at the business administration end of it than at the teaching end. Grant-writing is taught in college classes and it's not easy to do successfully, so she must know something about that. What can you do to help? Are you more experienced in the classroom? In the state I'm in, there are very inexpensive trainings available to help workers learn more about these kinds of jobs. Also, do you have time to go to a high quality classroom and observe to find ways to make it better? Tell her you are interested in making her program successful. Build your skills. If the business grows and develops, she may reach a point where she just wants to run the business end of it, and then she will need loyal, skilled people who can run the education end of things. Maybe you can be that person! Look at this as an opportunity to learn and grow yourself! You are seeing how NOT to run a preschool classroom. Try to learn how to do it right and see if you can help her make the business a success.
If you are concerned the money was misappropriated (not used for the intended purpose of helping fund the preschool) I would contact a lawyer who would know the legal steps needed to file a concern/complaint.
If you feel comfortable enough, you might ask her to explain the financial aspect of it. I.e. tell her you are interested in how to do this and if she will explain where the money goes. She could be legitimate. In addition to salaries, there are usually agency fees to register and license the school, are meals served, if so that costs money, renting the facility/building costs money,insurance-which she should have costs money, paying for electricity, water, etc. all cost money so perhaps she is not doing anything illegal.
File a police report asap
emplyer & moral issues r common so we neeed to resolve it with humanity in job culture