DOVER — It wasn't an April Fools' Day joke. Parents were overjoyed by the reality Smart Start Learning Academy opened its doors Monday to returning students and staff of the former Honey Tree Learning Center day care, which closed with little warning in March.
Stephanie and Zack Blauvelt, parents of a child at the former center, pulled off a minor miracle, opening Smart Start at 36 Olive Meadow Lane after receiving a permit just in time from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
"So many people were counting on us, and we are so glad we didn't let them down," said Zack Blauvelt, shortly before Monday morning's opening. "It is so relieving. We left the building last night with such a sense of relief. Today, we are excited and can't wait to see everyone arrive."
The Blauvelts say they are very grateful for all the support they have received since deciding to take on this venture.
"We had so much help from everyone," they said in a written statement. "There were donations, people working alongside of us. Teachers were setting up their classrooms. Parents were making sure we were ready. It was wonderful."
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The owners of Honey Tree were evicted from the Olive Meadow Lane location, and parents were informed with just 10 days to figure out what to do for day care for their children. Staff wondered where they would find jobs.
Neither group was left out on the cold. Blauvelt said all of the staff stayed on, with Jaime Baxter assuming the director position she held at the former business. Students enrolled are returning at a rate of 95%, and Blauvelt said they even have a few new enrollees.
"These teachers are like family to me so I’m just so happy I get to be back with all of them and excited to be part of the future of Smart Start," Baxter said.
Following last month's news that Honey Tree Learning Center was being evicted , proposals started coming to building owner Matt Hawkins from people who wanted to see the center's operations continue.
Zack and Stephanie Blauvelt, a married couple with a 2-year-old daughter attending the center, were among them.
"I got 13 proposals," said Hawkins. "Zack and Stephanie were the first, and from the start I had a good feeling about them. They had what I was looking for, the community they were a part of, the continuity they could bring to the center and the commitment to make it happen."
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Zack and Stephanie Blauvelt's daughter, Maya, who will be 3 in May, is enrolled in preschool at the center. After an outcry on the imminent closure of the Honey Tree Learning Center, and the bonding of parents and staff, their campaign to keep the center open with a new business venture is a success.
Hawkins, who bought the building six months ago, said he is not affiliated with the company that filed the eviction notice to Honey Tree in April 2023. He said he is thrilled to work with the Blauvelts and hopes to see the day care and preschool become a model of excellence for the Seacoast and Tri-City areas.
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"The day the closure was announced, last Tuesday, Zack called me," said Hawkins. "I have tenants with kids and four kids of my own. I had thought to start a daycare but had not found the right building. I immediately started making phone calls on my own. This just seems fated to be the answer. I feel really good about this. I think Zack and I speak the same language, and we all want to fix this situation. Daycare is hard, and we will make this the best on the Seacoast."
On Feb. 24, the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling evicting Honey Tree Learning Center.
Court documents showed the eviction case (Muccio LLC v. Honey Tree Learning Center LLC) began in Dover District Court in April 2023. The daycare center was issued an eviction notice on April 7, 2023. The eviction notice alleged HTLC failed to comply with terms of their lease by failing to secure a required $1 million insurance policy, creating a breach of contract..
Honey Tree had 10 days to appeal the Feb. 24 high court decision, but did not.
Parents with children attending Honey Tree Learning Center were informed Tuesday, March 12 that the center would close March 22.
Zack Blauvelt said he has more than 10 years experience working in luxury hotels, as a director of finance. He said he knows how to make this new venture work.
"I have never been an educator, but I know how to run a business," he said. "We are working to retain staff, because they are loved, they love our kids, and are the very best at what they do."
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Stephanie has a background in occupational therapy and most recently is working in business development with Wentworth Home in Dover. The couple had previously considered opening a daycare center, and also feel this was meant to be.
"Stephanie called me at work and told me we had no daycare in 10 days," said Zack. "Our daughter has been there since she was 16 months old. She loves the school. She loves her friends. Matt gave us this opportunity, and he will not regret it."
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According to information provided by staff, the center has classrooms for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and pre-k. There are two infant rooms, two toddler rooms, two preschool rooms and one pre-kindergarten room. There are currently 73 children enrolled, with more who were planning to come back for a summer program and after-school care.
Andrew Mitchell is the parent of a 3-year-old boy enrolled at Honey Tree Learning Center, and he and his wife have a 5-month-old girl who was slated to start at the end of the month. He is thrilled with the outcome.
Daycare centers often have long waitlists, so this new development is putting many parents' minds at ease. Parents had been commiserating in social media after learning the center would close, and were actively looking to assure their children do not lose touch with each other, before learning they don't have to move their children.
Anyone interested in learning more, or seeking information on openings can email info@smartstartlearningacademy.com
These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.
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