On March, 19, 2008 in a preschool parking lot, parents, elected officials and parents are gathered to express their outrage with the Department of Social Services, and to save their preschool.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) has shut down the popular San Jose preschool for, among other seemingly innocuous reasons, a parent bringing snacks to the school for a birthday party. The former operator, Charulata Vaidya (an Indian-American), along with parents, feel the refusal of licensing is discriminatory.

Vaidya has worked at Tinytown Preschool for more than two decades and has been a recognized partner with Gayle Davis in the ownership of the preschool since 1992. In 2006, when Gayle Davis sold her share of the preschool to Charu Vaidya, the DSS demanded that Vaidya apply for a license to operate the preschool.

As soon as Vaidya became sole owner of Tinytown, the DSS took on a double standard, asking Vaidya to change the snack menu for the children, which they had approved for the prior Licensee, and requiring her to submit multiple applications and resubmit required documents. The DSS asked Charu to have several extensive and expensive facility repairs made, which were not required of the prior Licensee. Charu submitted the documents as requested, had all requested repairs made, and changed the menu according to the DSS officials’ specifications.

Administrative Judge Ralph Venturino has since upheld the license denial of the preschool to Vaidya, despite her 23 years of experience, dozens of letters of support from parents, and the support of State Assemblymember Joe Coto and County Supervisor Pete McHugh.

Mike Potter, District Director to Assemblymember Joe Coto, attended Tinytown’s most recent administrative hearing: “As a parent of a six-year-old, I have spent time in several preschools in the San Jose area. [I] found the [Tinytown] facility and its recent repairs consistent with the other schools I have visited. This school has far more outside play area then some I had seen.”

Supervisor McHugh has also written in support of Tinytown: “I strongly recommend that the Community Care Licensing Division grant [Charu] a license to operate Tinytown Preschool and Daycare. Our children need more opportunities for education and proper care. Tinytown has operated successfully under a State license for many years [and Charu] has been associated with that successful operation for over 20 years. From a public policy perspective, it does not seem to make sense to close down a facility with such a long track record of success.”

Parents whose children have attended the preschool and preschool staff contend the license denial is based on racial discrimination; a group of parents has written to the Department of Community Care Licensing to petition the decision. Supervisor McHugh has written to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as well, asking for his assistance and support. Members of the outraged South Asian community and the Federation of the Indo-Americans of Northern California (FIA) have sent a petition to the Department of Social Services.

The Vaidya’s and supporters are continuing to try to save Tinytown.

- By Raj Jayadev