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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Glover conducted an investigation regarding the allegation that the facility was not following staff/child ratios according to the Notice of Parental Responsibility (NPR). After conducting the investigation, CI Glover finds this allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
RSMo 210.254.2. which states: "The notice of parental responsibility shall include the following:"
AND
RSMo 210.254.2.(3) which states: "The staff/child ratios for enrolled children under two years of age, for children ages two to four and for those five years of age and older as required by the department of health and senior services regulations in licensed facilities, the standard ratio of staff to number of children for each age level maintained in the exempt facility, and the total number of children to be enrolled by the facility;"
On February 6, 2023, CI Glover interviewed Director Wendi Fleming who stated that even though she was unaware of any ratio concerns on January 20, 2023, multiple staff had called in on January 25, 2023, resulting in many of the classrooms being over staff/child ratios. She and Caregiver Sara Bennett stated that the 2-year-old classrooms staff/child ratios were not maintained that day due to the weather. Caregiver Joyce Burge stated that her 2-year-old classroom often was over staff/child ratios in the mornings, approximately twice per week for two hours, leaving her alone with twelve children total when the Notice of Parental Responsibility (NPR) stated that she could only have a maximum of ten. However, when she spoke to Ms. Fleming about this concern, an additional support staff member helped in her classroom, and she had observed improvements since. Ms. Burge stated that multiple staff called in on January 20, 2023, and January 25, 2023, making it difficult for many of the classrooms to maintain staff/child ratios. Caregiver Tasha Johnson stated that her 2-year-old classroom was over staff/child ratios for approximately one day each month, sometimes resulting in having seventeen children by herself for two hours when staff member's shifts ended. However, she stated that Ms. Fleming and Assistant Director Chris Kuehnast would provide support in her classroom whenever they were available and did not feel that there were any concerns for the facility not following the NPR.
CI Glover reviewed staff and child attendance records from January 20, 2023, through February 6, 2023, and did not observe any staff/child ratio violations. However, due to the constant movement of staff and children, CI Glover could neither confirm nor deny any staff/child ratio violations.
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