ABC 123 Daycare in Roundup, once a vibrant part of the community, was closed by the state public health department earlier this month due to allegations of child abuse and neglect.
“A lot of the kids got screamed at. They got grabbed around the arm, like yanked on, got screamed in the face. There was a lot that happened,” said Kayla Carlson, a former employee who also had a child in the program.
Carlson was employed at the daycare for approximately two years, beginning in 2021, while her young daughter participated in the program concurrently. She expresses that numerous experiences troubled her sleep, and she felt apprehensive about departing due to concerns for the children’s safety.
“There was also another little boy who had his leg cut with scissors by the director. That’s when the elementary school called CPS (Child Protective Services),” she said.
In this specific situation, Carlson reported that the young boy intentionally lowered his trousers at school. A worker warned the boy that she would “cut off his privates” if he misbehaved again, while brandishing a pair of scissors close to his leg. According to Carlson, the incident occurred when the boy attempted to shield himself, leading to the worker unintentionally cutting the boy on the leg.
Carlson reached out to CPS on two occasions while she was employed, including once following that incident. She claims that she raised her concerns with Dotson-Armstrong, but they went unacknowledged.
On October 7, the facility was closed by The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), and Dotson-Armstrong’s license was revoked.
Carlson stated that during her two years at the daycare, that situation occurred because her child was with different caregivers. She mentioned that on every occasion she brought her child to work, Carlson would be the one to take care of them right away.
Two additional parents expressed their worries to MTN News regarding potential abuse and neglect, with one of them taking the step to confront the director directly.
“I’ve heard of them punching a boy in the stomach, kicking him,” one parent, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid possible backlash in the community, said in an interview with MTN News.
The parents described this child as approximately nine months old, making him the youngest participant in the program.