Parents and teachers are stunned after Sonnets Academy locations in Lincoln Park and West Loop abruptly closed last week.
The locations ceased operations on Friday, leaving parents scrambling to try to find child care at the start of the new work week.
In an email to parents, officials at Sonnets cited “serious ongoing financial issues, including low fall enrollment” for the sudden closures.
Many parents, some of whom had only recently made full-year deposits for the daycare, found out by reading a letter taped to the door of the academy, with a note indicating assets had been turned over to a bankruptcy trustee.
Luisa Lewis, a parent with a child at the Lincoln Park facility, said she was forced to stay up until the wee hours of the morning trying to make arrangements.
“Figuring out schools, locations and firing off emails until four in the morning,” she said. “Then there are all these teachers and staff members who are out of work as well.”
Teacher Emma Holzhauer said her healthcare was abruptly canceled by the closure.
“We found out our health care was taken away, and everyone was scrambling to get doctor’s appointments in,” she said.
NBC Chicago’s Randy Gyllenhaal reached out to the bankruptcy trustee and officials with Sonnets Academy, but did not receive a response.
Sonnets did give recommendations to parents for daycare in the area, including L&L Academy, Kensington School, The Goddard School, and others.