State seeks to close Hicksville school where tot choked

State regulators are drafting an order to shut down Carousel Day School by next week, after concluding that most of the school's programs have been operating illegally for nearly three years, state day care officials said Thursday.

After 2-year-old Olivia Raspanti's death at the Hicksville school in March, authorities initially thought only the toddler program for children under 3 was illegal. Carousel's State Education Department charter authorized a first grade, which exempts a school from needing a separate day care license for nursery schools, preschool and after-school programs. The exemption does not apply to toddler programs.

When Nassau prosecutors investigated Olivia's death, they discovered Carousel had not had an active first grade program since September 2006. Without it, officials say, all its programs - except for a summer camp - must be licensed, subject to staffing ratios and open for inspections.

"We are planning to serve a cease-and-desist order on them," said Edward Borges, spokesman for the state Office of Children and Family Services, which regulates day care.

Borges said the order will be delivered Friday or Monday.

Carousel, its owner, Eugene Formica, and its assistant director, Kathryn Cordaro, were charged Wednesday with felony reckless assault and three misdemeanors in connection with Olivia's death. They pleaded not guilty.

Marc Gann, an attorney for Formica and the school, said he could not comment directly on the shutdown threat because he had not seen the cease-and-desist order.

"It just seems to me that this is more harassment of this school and these people . . . who have devoted their lives to children," Gann said, calling the allegations part of "a political witch hunt" to capitalize on the publicity around Olivia's death.

Nassau prosecutor Diane Peress said Formica was well aware of the state's arcane day care regulations and cited them fluently during interviews.

"In our opinion, this is a child-care center that wanted to remain off the radar screen," Peress said.

Since 2006, the school has reported having between 98 to 150 children, prosecutors said.

Carousel does not necessarily have to comply with the cease-and-desist order. The school can appeal to an administrative law judge in Central Islip in a process that can take up to a month, officials said.

The order does not apply to the school's summer camp because it is regulated by the Nassau Department of Health and fully licensed.

Outside Carousel, where parents have supported the school, several said they may take their children elsewhere.

The lack of a license is "really playing with parents' trust. Morally, it's very, very wrong," said Poonam Kripalani, 34, of Plainview, whose 4-year-old son attends the school.

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Re: State seeks to close Hicksville school where tot choked

what I do NOT understand is how this school is obviously not playing by the rules, yet parents are STILL dropping their kids off there

Re: State seeks to close Hicksville school where tot choked

I am still so shocked by all of this. They have always had a great reputation. I can't believe even the school has not been licensed since 2006. If they had followed one of the basic regulations (all staff handbags must be kept out of reach of children at all times, which is stricly enforced. You will be written up for having your bag out even if all the children are sleeping and it is on your lap) Olivia would still be alive. The fact that they owners take none of the blame is simply horrible. I wonder if they staff knew they weren't licensed?

Re: State seeks to close Hicksville school where tot choked

Posted by CouponMom

what I do NOT understand is how this school is obviously not playing by the rules, yet parents are STILL dropping their kids off there