The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) is investigating allegations of child abuse at Southern Academy’s preschool program in Greensboro. The investigation was prompted by complaints documented in the “List of Substantiated Complaints” on DHR’s website. These complaints, filed on April 29 and May 2, include issues related to supervision, corporal/physical punishment, verbal abuse, and rough or harsh handling.
Assistant Chief Keith Burch of the Greensboro Police Department confirmed on May 13 that the investigation is ongoing. He noted that Southern Academy school officials are cooperating with DHR investigators at both the county and state levels. Burch also mentioned that the specific Southern Academy employee under scrutiny has been on administrative leave since the investigation began.
The initial reports, or “Deficiency Forms,” available on the DHR website, detail the allegations. The first document, dated April 29, lists the following deficiencies:
- Staff statements indicate verbal abuse, such as yelling and shouting, is occurring at the facility.
- Staff statements report rough and harsh handling of children on multiple occasions.
- A staff statement alleges that a four-year-old child was left unsupervised for an undetermined amount of time on March 8, 2024.
- The facility failed to report the unsupervised incident to the department within 24 hours and did not follow up with a written report within five days.
Additional concerns related to maintenance, paperwork, and safety drills were also noted.
A second deficiency form, dated May 2, reiterates the previous four items and adds: - Staff statements suggest inappropriate discipline is being used at the facility. Further issues related to training and safety drills are also mentioned in this report. Southern Academy had not issued any statement on the allegations as of press time.
For more details, you can read the documents on the DHR website at DHR Daycare Results. The status of all daycares in Alabama can be searched at DHR Daycare Search.
