say it aint so Ann bactowar

Anger and lost trust were the themes tonight at a meeting with parents at the Jersey City daycare center where an employee was charged with child abuse and endangering the welfare regarding two babies.

"He is not here any more because of this," said Sofia Avalos of her 20-month-old son and the charges filed Tuesday against Ann Bactawar, 26, of Jersey City, who worked at Sunnyside Academy at Port Liberte.

Avalos said she received an email from Sunnyside Tuesday evening informing her of the allegations against an employee and she stopped at the daycare tonight to pick up her son’s things. "I couldn’t sleep yesterday. I basically handed my kid to (Bactawar) every morning."

Avalos said kids are kids and they fall and get bruises but the charges against Bactawar is making her wonder about every little bruise her son came home with.

"The meeting was completely useless," Avalos said. "When we asked if they (daycare officials) had anything in mind that would make us keep our kids there, they basically said nothing."

Officials with Sunnyside weren’t available to comment.

Michael McGivney’s 4-year-old son has gone to Sunnyside for more than three years and the father said tonight, "They are very good people" and as far as teaching goes, "It’s really unfortunate." He said having the daycare so close to home has been a lifesaver for him and his wife.

McGivney said 40 to 50 parents attended tonight's meeting.

"It’s upsetting to hear of something like this in my community," he said. "They (parents) are irate ... I feel the same way."

McGivney, who lives in Port Liberte, said it seemed that some parents at the meeting had already decided to pull their children out of the daycare center. But he said for many, "The tone in the room is that you have lost our trust. What can you do to get it back."

A man who identified himself as the father of the 16-month-old boy allegedly abused by Bactawar said tonight that his son had been checked out by a doctor and is OK.

Bactawar is also accused of abusing a 19-month-old toddler.

As he left the daycare center tonight, Lugo said, "I really hope it was just our children." 