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Orange Park day care shut down without warning parents

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Orange Park families were left scrambling to find child care after their day care reportedly shut down without warning.

Kreative Kids Learning Academy is on the same campus and run by the same founder as Orange Park Performing Arts Academy, the private school Action News Jax reported suddenly moved out last week without notifying parents.

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Former preschool teacher Jennifer Newsom said she found out by text message that she was losing her job and child care for her two kids, immediately.

She said the day care where she had worked for two months notified parents and staff it was closing on the same day it shut down – June 10.

“I’m actually still not working right now,” said Newsom. “I’m on welfare for the first time in my life.”

Another mom shared Action News Jax's story on Facebook, saying Kreative Kids "didn't tell any of us that the day care was closing until we picked our kids up."

Action News Jax asked founder Dr. Alesia Burse if she was back in town because we had questions about her day care.

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“Now you want to share inaccurate information about the day care that received five 100s inspections and reviews in a row. Please leave us alone,” said Burse in a text message.

Action News Jax asked her what which part of our story she found to be inaccurate, but she didn’t address our questions.

Burse said last week she’s relocating Orange Park Performing Arts Academy to a more affordable facility, saying she does not plan to notify parents until she selects the new location.

Orange Park Performing Arts Academy gets tens of thousands of dollars from the state each year for scholarships but has had financial difficulties since 2018.

Action News Jax reported in March the school was being evicted for not paying rent.

The school’s water was shut off five times in less than two years because of unpaid bills.

The school is also being sued by a fired employee, who said she wasn’t paid for several weeks of work.