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Saturday, May 18, 2013
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State citing Watertown day-care center with violations

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The director of Punkin Patch Daycare, 320 W. Lynde St., says she is addressing violations cited in an unannounced inspection May 22 by the state Office of Children and Family Services, but she soon will be informed of additional issues.

Mary A. Haigh, director of a facility that opened in December and provides day care for up to 85 children, said Wednesday that she is correcting problems cited May 22 that she said were training issues. She could not predict when she will bring the center into compliance with the state agency’s requirements.

Meanwhile, Susan Steele, spokeswoman for OCFS, disclosed Wednesday that there was another unannounced visit at the center June 14, in which more violations were found. She declined to elaborate because Mrs. Haigh had not received official notification.

The inspection May 22, which Ms. Steele said was prompted by a complaint, resulted in seven violations which, as of Wednesday, had not been corrected:

■ The center must establish a planned program of activities appropriate for the children in care to encourage normal progress in development.

■ Children can’t be left without competent direct supervision at any time.

■ Written disciplinary guidelines must be established and provided to all staff and parents, with discipline aimed at helping each child to develop self-control and assume responsibility for actions.

■ Corporal punishment is prohibited.

■ Staff must report any suspected incidents of child abuse to Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

■ Precautions must be taken to eliminate conditions posing safety or health hazards in areas accessible to children.

■ The center must review and evaluate backgrounds of all applicants for employee and volunteer positions with the potential of having contact with children.

The business is in the former Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church day-care center and is operated separately from the parish. In May, it received a $40,000 loan from Watertown Local Development Corp. for the purchase of new equipment and to pay off some debt.

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