DeKalb daycare center owner plans to fight to open

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County business owner is vowing to fight the closure of her daycare.

The state ordered Julia Edmondson to close the New Jerusalem Christian Academy by Dec. 20.

"We have tried to follow every rule and regulation that has been given to us by the state," Edmondson said.

State officials cited the facility for failing to properly fill out transportation paperwork. Edmondson plans to petition the state and ask to reopen. She added that if approved she will not offer bus service.

In the meantime, she's worried about her staff and the 90 or so children they care for.

"I would say 75 percent of our parents have not found childcare services," Edmondson told Channel 2's Erica Byfield.

Edmondson added it breaks her heart to tell parents they have to find somewhere else to take their children so close to Christmas.

"I can understand and feel the grief in our parents. They've cried and they don't know what they are going to do," Edmondson said.

One teacher told Byfield she now needs to find a new job and a daycare for her children.

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point. This is a Christian school and I wanted my children to stay in a Christian school," said Shawaenda Lamer.

Edmondson plans to submit her petition next week.

"This is a community. That is all we are asking. That's all we are asking to help our parents and to help our staff," she said.

WSBTV