Meadowlark Academy, La Vista | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

Honestly, I can’t recommend this place to anyone.

It was a huge disappointment this past year.

Many families, including mine, weren’t aware they had to pay an additional $150 food charge. Even when they were Part-Time and the parents provided snacks in rotation. The extra 1K+ per a PT classroom was absurd, there’s no way that each classroom even hit that number. It was a money grab, and a terrible look. It was even hidden in the handbook, and no one I spoke with was aware of it at sign-up. It failed to be pointed out or discussed. I was under the impression there was only $150 non-refundable deposit and the monthly rate.

In addition, communication by the center was almost nonexistent. The former director, who was terminated, sent an unprofessional message regarding parents. It was embarrassing to read and extremely distasteful. Among many other issues that she created herself, with the parents.

A field trip to Bounce-U was turned into a bounce house at the center. The traditional “Wildlife Show” was cancelled without explanation, even when it was on their calendar. Schramm Park bussing was non-existent and kids had to have their parents take them. Oh, and the Christmas Program didn’t have cookies like past years – but they sure collected their “food fee”.

On top of that, come to find out they were shut down for a quick bit. Incorrect records. Failure to document. Receiving an email stating that kids don’t always tell the truth, while I found out a student was being inappropriately touched in the classroom – while in their care.

Disturbing.

I enjoyed my child’s teacher and that’s the only reason I didn’t pull them. The center itself I did not like, or trust after all the light was shed throughout the year.

I cannot recommend them, and I’m constantly hearing more and more problems that others had with them. Behavior. Lack of reporting. Teaching issues. Etc.

Rebranding can’t help all these issues.

Look elsewhere.

The new leadership of Meadowlark (formerly Kidnect) are severely lacking a moral compass. While many small incidents happened while my kids attended after school, the most recent and the reason I pulled them from attending was after my daughter was inappropriately touched by another student and the director, Shelly Welsh, who was filling in for the teacher that day, failed to properly handle the situation, failed to tell me at pick-up, and failed to document it. The executive director, Jonathan Heinemann, and the board member, Tom Pflug, said I was overreacting and it was a matter of “kids being kids”.

Today, they sent out a newsletter to all families enrolled at Meadowlark Academy addressing a recent visit from DHHS noting that it was just “rumors” and mentioned the below “saying” in it and as a parent I would never want my children attending a place that truly believes in such a “saying”:

“In education, there is a wise sayings that teachers have: “I will only believe half of what your student says about you if you only believe half of what your student says about me!”

Disappointment and disgust doesn’t even accurately reflect my feelings about the ‘leadership’ of Meadowlark Academy; Shelly Welsh, Jonathan Heinemann and Tom Pflug. Parents, believe your children. Always.

Kidnect was amazing. So disappointed at what it is now. All the good staff left. My son has had 6 different teachers in 5 months. He was constantly getting hit and bit at school and then developed behavior issues at home. My concerns were not heard, my request for him to transfer rooms was denied. My son was always so happy in the other room at drop off, and they consistently had the same teacher. I honestly couldn’t recommend Meadowlark Academy to anyone, especially for the price!