Lakeside Academy Lisa and David Oliver Hand and foot disease Mission Viejo California

As a parent of two Lakeside children for well over a year, I was googling the venue's address for Lakeside's upcoming holiday performance when this ripoff report showed up in my search results. I couldn't help but read the lengthy report and after doing so, I felt compelled to clear Lakeside's reputation. I sympathize with the complainant's childcare issues and understand that finding the right care for ones child is definitely a process that doesn't always work out the way we wish for it to. I've had a very different experience with the owner and Anne Marie of Lakeside Academy and don't have any evidence or experience to support the complainant's accusation that either of them are dishonest people. To the contrary, they have been incredibly honest and forthcoming with me and my husband.

There is behavioral policy in the school's enrollment package that indicates that when a child is having behavioral issues, they will meet with the parents, try to resolve the issue, and if the situation doesn't improve, the child will be asked to leave. I remember reviewing this policy well because I was surprised that behavior could ever escalate to that point and I was concerned my son could one day be kicked out, as he's a textbook brute. Having read the complainant's report, it sounds as if protocol was followed. Assuming the complainant's credentials are legit and she has an educator background, I'm not sure why she's so surprised that the owner is busy and the behavioral sit-down must occur at a date that worked for the owner. Specifically when the complainant complained that she had to take time off of work to meet with her son's school...it sounds like a pretty straight forward obligation that comes with being a parent. It's not as if the owner rescheduled with and flaked on her three times, so why is she so upset? Silly. Every person has their own schedule and finding time to fit things in is always a challenge, welcome to life as an adult. I also found it strange that the complainant complained that her child was removed from school prior to the holiday performance and how heartbreaking and sad that was for the kid.

My rebuttal for that is that it's odd that her child even knew about the performance considering the complaint is dated October 30th and parents weren't even made aware of the play until November, and the kids didn't start practicing until mid-November. I'd like to add that it's odd that the complainant feels entitled to a certain level of treatment to the extent she expects the school to stop operating as a business in order to prove how "Christian" it is. When my kid misses school, I don't receive any tuition reimbursement. I am aware that Lakeside has a policy stating that they will discount weekly tuition by 50% after the second week of missed school, but to expect a business to refund or credit tuition when school is missed due to behavioral issues is unfair to the business owner. No one wants a child to miss out on school, or having to discharge a child or remove them from a classroom, it's always a last resort. I don't think this is merely a difference of opinion. Why should a school waive tuition for behavioral issues? The costs involved in running the school are predetermined and each child represents a portion of those costs, if a child has to be removed from the classroom, those costs still exist. That child is taking up a reserved spot and until that reservation is terminated, the costs are still there and they need to be paid. No one wants to kick a kid out of school, look at the headache it causes everyone. You think anyone wants to deal with a disgruntled former parent on the internet, shouting liar on ripoffreport.com? No, it's easier to work things out. So the school should prove it's just as Christian as you by eating the costs of running because a child had behavioral issues and had to be kicked out? It makes no sense.

Your kid was warned, nothing changed, and unfortunately the parent has to pick up the tab for their kid's issues. Again, sounds like the downside of life as a parent. Sometimes things cant always be worked out. Some children are more difficult than others and I hope this parent finds the tools she needs to help her son, who clearly does have a behavioral issue. My son at lakeside has had his share of problems. He's kicked a kid before, he took off a kid's glasses and tossed them on the floor- these things happen. They're kids.

So I understand her frustration but want to relay that my experience at Lakeside is very different. Much like in this complainant's complaint, Lakeside spoke to me as the incidents happened and I worked with them and my son to make sure behavioral changes were made. The only difference is my situation worked out instead of my son acting out. For this reason and all of those specified above, I felt compelled to come to Lakeside's defense. Thank you.