EXCERPT FROM: Argus Leader
By Megan Luther
A city policy that prevents parents and others from seeing complaints made against day cares could change under Mayor Mike Huether's administration.
Huether said Tuesday that some of the complaints should be made public, but only those showing a trend toward problems at a day care.
Two new City Council members also say they want more information made public, which could signal a new push to allow parents to see complaints about day cares in the city.
"I think that parents need as much information as possible in determining who is going to care for their children," new City Councilor Sue Aguilar said.
Under Mayor Dave Munson's administration, the Argus Leader asked for copies of complaints, but city officials refused and the files remain secret.
Since then, little has changed. Sioux Falls regulates day cares with fewer than a dozen children but refuses to allow the public to see any complaints.
The state, however, allows parents to see complaints against the day cares it regulates.
"It's for the protection of the children," said Emily Currey, a spokeswoman for the South Dakota Department of Social Services.
Huether, who took office May 17, said he hasn't had time to look into the issue. But he thinks in some instances, the records should be public.
"I would rather lean toward protecting the kids of Sioux Falls and letting other parents know that there is a day care provider that has some issues," he said.
The city Health Department, which oversees the registration, hasn't modified its policies.
"We haven't made any major changes," said Judy Buseman, director of the health department.
The Argus Leader investigation in October found: