Gingerbread House Preschool

MCL 722.118c License; issuance to specific person or organization; location; nontransferable; property of department. ................................................. ............ .......... A license shall be issued to a specific person or organization at a specific location, shall be nontransferable, and shall remain the property of the department. 4

On 08/12/2022, I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at Gingerbread House Preschool, I interviewed Angela Cooper, licensee 2. Ms. Cooper indicated the center is currently not open. She purchased the corporation from Ms. Amy Simon, Licensee 1. They used lawyers, and accountants, and she has a copy of the purchase agreement. They had been in contact with licensing and notified them of the pending sale of the corporation. They were not told the license could not be transferred from one individual to another. Her accountant advised her to keep all the same EIN numbers and to maintain everything as it was. She is here just getting things ready for the upcoming school year, which is slated to start in September after Labor Day. They had an open house last week, with all the parents and children, so they definitely know ownership has changed. Ms. Cooper provided her contact information and was advised I would reach out next week with additional information. On 08/12/2022, I received a text message from Ms. Cooper, providing the last page of the purchase agreement and asking for clarifying information regarding complaint as she wanted to make sure she understood exactly what was being said. I provided a short narrative advising a complaint had been received indicating she had purchased Gingerbread House Preschool, not notified parents, marketing it as under new ownership and has not changed the license number. On 08/12/2022, I sent an email to Lansing seeking clarification on selling of corporations in regard to the license number being transferrable within that sale of the corporation. On 08/15/2022, I received an email from Lansing, indicating the license number is nontransferable and a new license number would need to be applied for. On 08/15/2022, I received a text message from Ms. Cooper, licensee 2, asking for an update. On 08/16/2022, I attempted to call Ms. Cooper, licensee 2. A voicemail was left asking for a call back, to date I have not received a call back. 3 On 08/16/2022, I spoke with Lisa Gundry, child care licensing consultant. She has been in contact with Ms. Cooper, licensee 2, and Ms. Simon licensee 1. She is working with Ms. Cooper to apply and get all the required items completed to open a new license for Gingerbread House Preschool by the opening date of 09/07/2022 if possible. She will continue to work with them regarding the needed items. In the past they have had previous centers who sold corporations and did not change the license number she is not sure when this change happened. On 08/16/2022, I emailed area manager Crecendra Brown regarding the current investigation. On 08/24/2022, I interviewed Amy Simon, licensee 1, via telephone. She did not sell her license number: she sold her corporation. Everything for Gingerbread House Preschool was contained in the corporation, and they sold it as an entity. They had reached out to licensing and believed what they were doing was the correct procedure. There was notice to the parents. She has provided notice she was retiring, and going to sell the business, and when she and Ms. Cooper, licensee 2 had finalized their agreement, she was introduced to parents and children. There have not been any children in care this summer as they run a school year program. She has been in contact with Lisa Gundry, child care licensing consultant since I went out to the child care last week. If a new license needs to be completed, it needs to be completed as soon as possible. She is frustrated and has not liked it for many years, that people can make a complaint to licensing and not have to provide their name. I did advise her the complaint source is confidential whether named or anonymous. She understands in cases of child protective services the need for anonymity but not in a child day care complaint. Ms. Cooper has been advertising she is the new owner. she is doing way more advertising than she ever did but that is okay. She was very clear with her parents she was retirin

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