Dear Oregon Childcare Coalition,

I, Aymee Narvaez, a co-founder and former board member as well as a long-time citizen of Salem-Keizer, along with many members of the Salem-Keizer community, are concerned in how the board is operating. We also are concerned that Ramiro Navarro still holds a seat on the board with the protests and other accusations coming to light:  protests about payroll bouncing, as well as a community sharing the hardships he has created, it is disappointing to see announcements from the board not even acknowledging the hardships caused to their staff or a plan to resolve the matter.

Do you not realize those staff members are there doing the hard work to ensure the mission of your organization sees fruition. Yet, you all divert the attention to a probable cause instead of stating an apology to staff, families, and the community you serve along with how you plan to fix it. You insist the member of the protest are just stirring things up and blaming cause what more can we do? This is not what the community expects when an organization that commits to HIGH QUALITY in childcare and family services, especially when the focus is on the underserved groups of the community. This is not high-quality care. This barely meets basic care levels. In your actions and responses, you have even called the very community you serve of little mind and ignorance!

The community asks the board to please hear us. This is not coming from a disgruntled employee. This is not coming from a disgruntled ex-board member. This isn’t even coming from any overseeing agency that your organization is required to follow. This is coming from the communities you state to serve who you have now offended; The community is appalled at how the organization is handling this matter. Some of us, have seen this organization come from an idea and see it come to life: We do not want to see this fail. It is a BEAUTIFUL vision and mission.

Your president, Director Ramiro Navarro, is not acting in the best interest of everyone: Oregon Childcare Coalition, Amiguitos and Family Center, and the community. He has caused the financial hardship you see today. He has single handedly caused the upset staff members and community members.

What we know as a collective:

Financial: After review of Director Navarro’s past, and other community members sharing their experiences they had with Director Navarro, it is not uncommon for him to rack up debts and make unsound financial decisions. It is also not uncommon for him to silence others in extreme measures when they question him or point out issues that he was the direct result of enable to “save” himself.  It is also not uncommon for Director Ramiro to hire others with questionable pasts, such as hiring a pedophile for his campaign manager.

The community is curious why does the Oregon Childcare Coalition have 2 staff members for administration when they can barely pay their daycare staff? Director Navarro chose to do it is the only answer we here. But it is not a board decision? Past board members claim otherwise: he goes rogue and excuses it as "it could not wait" or refers to a past agenda from a long time past. 

Staffing: After community members coming together and sharing their experiences, and past board members sharing theirs, it is not uncommon for Director Navarro to set expectations of employees and then suddenly change it. It is not uncommon for him to say one directive then suddenly change it. It also is not uncommon for him to become unhappy and take over duties with no real conversation of the issue, the impacts, and finding a solution so the employee can improve. No real guidance, all demand and no directions: this allows no one to learn and grow and creates unneeded/unwarranted hardship in the workplace. Overtime, we have seen it has created fear and hostility as there are open cases with BOLI and the EOC. These actions have also been toward fellow board members. This has created a toxic environment where no one really knows what is what and who can do what, etc. And is the direct result in productivity plummeting. It was advised to do a job breakdown for each, and train where was needed, but all was ignored.

Payroll: Your Board President has issued checks without ensuring there will be enough in the bank to clear all said items. TWICE. After talking with the community and past board members, it was advised to have a longer gap from pay period ending to payday enable to ensure corrections are made (if any) and money is there. So why is there a 4 -5 day gap? Why was this advice ignored? You ask anyone in the childcare industry, especially those who serve the lower income communities, they would advise against this short of a gap, unless you had a savings to back it up. We are all supportive of paying staff quickly, but at the same time, we are more supportive of ensuring payment to staff clear and does not affect their financial obligations or ability to provide for their families! What sort of financial damage has your employees endured? What sort of sacrifices did they have to take on because your Board President refused to listen?

Do you all not care these impacts are happening? 

General Finance: Why was there parenting classes being conducted, at no cost to the community, but you cannot pay your rent? Why were extra positions added but you couldn’t pay rent? Why could you not pay rent? Even a portion? No fiscally responsible organization that is supposedly receiving general funds grants and has a decently sized program over the summer should have $20k in back due rent in September.

Where are the grants? At the board meeting on September 28th Director Navarro stated that the organization received approximately $20,000 year to date of grant funding but could not produce that information from where, when, and what rules for reporting. It was stated at the same meeting from Director Narvaez that this was not found in the banking statements. According to the general report Director Narvaez presented at the meeting the organization was also rolling an average of $4k at the end/beginning of each month.

Other concerns and questions from the community: Why is Director Navarro holding most officer positions and at the same time being the Executive Director at the same time. And until Director Narvaez was present and did her report, why is Director Navarro the only person making financial decisions? Did the grant funding pay his wages? 

Why is Director Navarro retaliating on unpaid staff for protesting? Why is he stating people have criminally trespassed for minor things and no one else agreeing with such a statement? No charges were even served? No court hearing, nothing. 

Why has Director Navarro denied others stepping into roles they request to do? Why did he deny thoughts shared by other board members to remove him from so many spots and share the workload? Why does Director Navarro refuse to give any power to anyone else or attempt to figure out how to balance it, even though the DOJ stated it was not okay?

Do you know who is leading you? Director Navarro has past convictions for drugs and coercion. It is also believed by many members of the community that Director Navarro was also charged with Child Endangerment in the past. YOU ARE A CHILDCARE AND FAMILY SERVICE center and you have a convicted felon with possible child endangerment issues leading you! We are concerned on what sort of background processing the board has in place and we are concerned he has been around children!