’Very emotional’: Single mother goes on strike; tired of delayed pay, struggling to feed family

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) - A mother who says she is tired of struggling to get her paychecks on time is among the employees of a Tennessee day care who are not reporting to work this week.

Danielle Hall, a single mother of five children, has worked at Franklin Springs Academy for nine months. In that time, she estimates about three delayed payroll payments.

Hall along with 19 workers called to strike at the day care that started Monday over payroll concerns.

Hall said she’s been struggling to feed her family.

Finances are so tight that she only buys dinner meals at the grocery store since her children get free breakfast at school.

“So, when they say, ‘Mommy, I’m hungry’ in the morning, I tell them, ‘You’ll have to wait ‘till you get to school.’ My food stamps only go so far,” Hall said.

Hall has relied on family to help pay rent and has received food from GraceWorks in Franklin.

“Thank God for my network. It’s been a very emotional rollercoaster,” she said.

Former employees of the now-closed Chapel Hill Franklin Springs Academy also reported similar issues.

Liliana Trejo Sabanilla said she received at least eight bad checks during her seven years working at Franklin Springs Academy.

“Checks started bouncing and it was like whoever could make it to the bank first was able to get their money,” she said.

State records show Franklin Springs Academy received multiple federal grants worth more than $500,000 in 2023 to help pay for things like employee wagers. It was all part of the American Rescue Plan Act designed to support childcare centers during and after COVID-19.

“That’s not fair,” Sabanilla said.

Franklin Springs Academy closed its Chapel Hill location on Sept. 27, citing a loss of lease as the reason.

Franklin Springs Academy owner Rebekah Proctor hasn’t immediately answered questions from the media but did respond to workers over text message when asked about their paychecks.

Employees said she told them that she was planning to come up with the cash to pay them.

They also shared an email from August that said the following:

“The construction delays we’ve experienced at our Franklin location have put us 18 months behind schedule and have made things difficult. If you have had check issues, please let me know directly with a screenshot or image so I can take care of it after the holiday weekend.”

Hall said late payroll has also been compounded by another problem, a drop in enrollment after the owner’s husband, Corey Proctor, was arrested on charges of incest and rape.

According to the District Attorney’s office, the charges involve someone older than 13 but younger than 18.

Owner Rebekah Proctor said that kids at her day cares were not in danger regarding that situation and that when her husband was released from jail, he would not be allowed near either facility.

However, Hall said Corey Proctor came to the Franklin location after his release and parked in the parking lot.

Some workers took their complaints to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development last November, but the investigation did not continue when follow-up details that were requested were not completed.

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