Local News

Actions

UPDATE: Southern Highlands preschool shut down after leaving child outside

Posted at 6:50 PM, Jul 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-10 00:24:05-04

UPDATE: The Division of Public and Behavioral Health has shut down a Southern Highlands preschool after they left a toddler outside in triple digit heat for 90 minutes. 

13 Action News received the order of Summary Suspension and Revocation of License that was given to Kidz Kidz Kidz located near Southern Highlands Parkway and Valley View Boulevard on July 29. 

Documents show the school had 6 violations when it came to the incident that happened on July 21 after a 20-month-old was left unattended on the playground. 

Some of the violations included negligence that lead to harming a child and not having an approved division director at the school at the time. 

The report also points out, the people at the preschool failed to notify parents of what happened in a timely manner. Officials did not call parents until 43 minutes after the toddler was found. 
 
13 Action News also received public records that outlined the history of Kidz Kidz Kidz. 
 
Records show the school has had at least 6 violations since 2009. The latest violation was in October of 2015 when they were fined $118 for not having working air conditioning in a toddler room. 
 
According to records, none of the previous violations had prompted a shut down. 
 
The toddler's parents have filed a lawsuit against the school. The school has rescheduled their first hearing which had been set for Wednesday.
 
It's unclear when they will reopen. 

ORIGINAL STORY: 

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Parents are furious after their toddler was left outside at a preschool in Southern Highlands. 

According to the boy's father, who wanted to remain anonymous, his 19-month-old son Kayden was left outside at Kidz Kidz Kidz Preschool for over an hour and a half. 

"It was probably the worst moment I've every had to deal with as a parent,," said the child's father. 

The video starts right around 10:30 in the morning and after three minutes Kayden eventually walks out of view. His parent believe he went to lay down in a shaded area. 
 
"He was probably wondering why am I left alone and he was thirsty and probably wanted his mommy and daddy," said Andrea Adams, the toddler's grandmother. 
 
One thing is clear, a look at a different video from his classroom shows Kayden missing. 
 
It's not until 12:03 p.m. when a teacher walks outside that you see her frantically spot the young boy. 
 
13 Action News reached out to the preschool to see how something like this could have happened. 
 
They released this statement: 
We are very sorry this incidence occurred and are very thankful the child is ok.  The teachers involved were immediately terminated for not following strict policies.  Administration immediately followed proper procedures and called authorities, reported to the proper agencies & are       co-operating completely with all agencies involved. 
 
We have increased our already stringent policies to ensure this doesn't happen again and for the safety of all the children in our care. 
We at kidz preschool sincerely care for the safety of all our children and take this matter very seriously! (Kidz Preschool Corporate Offices) 
Kayden's parents said they have taken him out of the school and will seek the advice of a lawyer, but don't want this to happen to any other family. 
 
"Really have your kid taken care of, really know if he is good hands and really do your research," the child's father said.