ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — In the wake of a sudden shutdown, parents and former employees of a St. Petersburg preschool gathered on Friday to retrieve their belongings, with law enforcement overseeing the process. The abrupt closure of Learning Adventures Preschool earlier this week has left many families and staff members grappling with uncertainty and frustration.

The closure, deemed necessary by the preschool’s new owner, Denice Aviles, was reportedly a measure to ensure the safety of the children. However, it has left parents and employees without childcare or income as they approach the holiday weekend. Aviles explained, “We only had one walkthrough, and it just wasn’t up to the standards that the kids deserve. So, we decided that we needed to make some choices, and we made them.”