Smarty Pants Preschool has officially submitted a Final Site Plan request for its new childcare center, set to be located at the northeast corner of 121st Avenue East and Fort Hamer Road. The project will replace existing structures, which have already been demolished, making way for a state-of-the-art, 5,894 square-foot preschool facility.
The new center will join Smarty Pants’ growing network of locations, with three other established centers in the region: 832 62nd Street Circle East in Bradenton, 904 43rd Street West in Bradenton, and 6325 Initiative Blvd in Sarasota. The expansion marks the preschool’s commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education across the area.
The preschool will have a new entrance on 121st Avenue East, with primary access routed through Fort Hamer Road to ensure smooth traffic flow in the area.
To meet parking requirements, the facility will offer 17 parking spaces, including 13 spaces for staff and visitors, 4 designated for drop-off and pick-up. The building will be designed to house up to 104 students, ensuring a welcoming and well-organized environment for early education. We reached out to Smarty Pants for more information on the teacher-to-student ratio and the planned construction timeline, but have yet to receive a response.
The reputation of Smarty Pants Preschool was marred by a disturbing incident that occurred on October 13, 2017. Dallas Ofria, a 24-year-old female caregiver at one of the Bradenton locations, was convicted of physically abusing a 2-year-old boy in her care. Ofria pled nolo contendere to charges of third-degree child abuse and was adjudicated guilty. She received a sentence of six months in jail, with credit for time already served, followed by two years of community control and two years of probation.
In response to the incident, the child’s parents later filed a lawsuit against both Ofria and Smarty Pants Preschool, ultimately reaching a settlement for an undisclosed amount. At the time, Jillian Serra, the lead director of Smarty Pants Daycare, publicly addressed the situation, calling the abuse an “isolated incident.” Serra stated that the preschool immediately notified authorities upon learning of the abuse, emphasizing the center’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the children in its care.
With the construction of the new facility moving forward, Smarty Pants Preschool aims to continue providing a safe and nurturing environment for young children, while working to restore its reputation and commitment to quality childcare. The center’s expansion promises to contribute to the local community’s educational needs and further enhance the area’s infrastructure.
A02 – PLANNED DEVELOPMENT: SMARTY PANTS – PARRISH
PLN2501-0186 – FSP-25-18 – ADMINISTRATIVE
Address: 6111 121st Avenue East, Parrish, FL 34219
Parcel: 485700009 (1.268 acres)
Commissioner: Carol Ann Felts
Case Manager: Loretta Merrill, 941-748-4501 x3880, loretta.merrill@mymanatee.org
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