Petition for safe daycare gets hundreds of signatures in just days

A petition circulating for just days has more than 500 signatures – all trying to get the University of Missouri to move what some parents call a dangerous daycare.

The Student Parent Center at University Village has been a cause for concern since the walkway collapse at an apartment there killed Lt. Bruce Britt.

Parents tell ABC 17 News they’ve contacted the university numerous times trying to get the daycare moved — but got no response.

So they formed a petition on Friday. By Monday, it reached 500 signatures, from Mid-Missouri and even many other parts of the country.

“This petition makes the university accountable to the whole community,” Claire Schmidt, a mother at the daycare, said.

Schmidt is one of many parents who want answers about the future of the daycare.

“If we have a lovely cafeteria and a beautiful rec center, why can’t we have a safe daycare?” Schmidt asked.

A Facebook page for the petition has also been created to garner support. The page reads, “Babies shouldn’t need to wear hardhats to daycare.”

The petition is gathering more support than the parents originally say they expected.

“People have come out of the woodwork saying how important the Student Parent Center was so important to them and how upset they are,” she said.

Schmidt said they’re trying to reach 1,000 signatures and then plan on taking it to university officials.

“That will be a big challenge — trying to get a meeting with them. Because they’re not answering us,” Schmidt said.

Everyone from students to faculty to former employees at the daycare have reached out in support.