NEDERLAND, Colo. -- A Nederland preschool has been shut down by the state because of allegations that one of the teachers sexually assaulted a child.

Kristen Carol Barnett, 38, was a teacher at Over the Rainbow preschool when she was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a girl at the preschool. Barnett was formally charged Tuesday with sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, with an allegation of a pattern of abuse.

Barnett had no prior criminal record, but investigators discovered three other employees at the preschool did, with arrests for crimes including child cruelty, public indecency and drunken driving.

State officials said the backgrounds of other employees were not a factor in shutting down the school. Rather, they said, the state has the statutory authority to summarily suspend the license of a facility when one of the staff members is charged with a crime like the one Barnett is accused of.

"It was a safety issue for us," said Liz McDonough, of the Dept. of Human Services.

McDonough said that whenever a child care facility is closed it is terribly disruptive to families.

"We work very hard to balance that disruption with what we believe are significant issues of safety to the children," she said.

On Tuesday evening, 7NEWS received an e-mail from the school's general information e-mail address stating that the board of directors issued a statement saying they were "deeply saddened by the series of events surrounding Over the Rainbow."

"It is a very difficult and sensitive situation for all parties involved. Our thoughts are with the town and all of the families impacted by these circumstances. Please know that the safety and well-being of the children in our community has been, and will continue to be, our top priority," the statement said.

But the state's order shutting down the preschool notes that when law enforcement initially went to Over the Rainbow to investigate, the facility refused to cooperate until officers obtained a warrant.

Police began investigating Barnett after the mother of the victim contacted the Sheriff's Office on Dec. 10, and reported her suspicions that a teacher had been inappropriately touching her child during naptime, according to court records. An arrest affidavit says the victim is a girl and a student and that the assault occurred at the preschool.

Still, some Nederland residents characterized closing the preschool as a rush to judgment.

"I almost feel like it's an overreaction," said Karla Kemp. "The school made a point as soon as they found out about it to suspend this person. They have no further exposure to children, no further endangerment."

But the suspension order states that "On four different Reports of Inspection, Over the Rainbow was in violation of 7.702.51 – failure of facility to have CBI background checks, Trails inquiries for staff members/employees."

"These are willful and deliberate violations," the order states. "To protect the public health, welfare and safety, emergency action is required."

A formal statement was issued Tuesday evening by the Board of Director's of Over the Rainbow Preschool:

"We are deeply saddened by the series of events surrounding Over the Rainbow the past few weeks. It is a very difficult and sensitive situation for all parties involved. Our thoughts are with the town and all of the families impacted by these circumstances. Please know that the safety and well-being of the children in our community has been, and will continue to be, our top priority.

"In reference to the status of our license, we have been trying to speak with the Dept of Human Services in order to exercise our appeal because we feel that they acted inappropriately and improperly. And thus far, we have had no success in getting any of our communications returned."