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Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an unannounced investigation of the allegation that on Monday, June 19, 2023, Child A (5 years old) was left behind on a field trip to the park. The allegation is substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states, "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent adult supervision."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states, "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(A) which states, "The provider shall be responsible for the care, safety and supervision of children on field trips or at any time they transport children away from the facility."
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5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(L) which states, "Head counts shall be taken before leaving the facility, after entering the vehicle, during a field trip, after taking the children to bathrooms, after returning to the vehicle and when back at the facility."
On June 21, 2023, Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer interviewed Director Salina Morehead, who stated on Monday, June 19, 2023, Child A (5 years old) was on a field trip at the park with his class. Caregivers Trinity Keesler and Jasmin Boos were present with the class. 14 children, all school-aged, were present for the field trip. Caregivers Boos and Keesler lined the children up to go to Price Chopper grocery store to get ice cream. Caregiver Boos conducted a headcount and there were 14 children present. Caregiver Boos and Keesler led the children across the park and parking lot to the van. No face to name or head count were conducted at the door to the van. No face to name or head count were conducted once everyone was in the van. Caregiver Keesler drove the van to Price Chopper and arrived at approximately 11:00 a.m. Caregiver Boos and Child B (11 years old) went into the facility to get ice cream. Caregiver Keesler conducted a head count in the van and counted only 12 children. Caregiver Keesler realized Child A was not present in the van. Caregiver Keesler called Caregiver Boos and said Child A was missing and they needed to go back to the park. Caregiver Keesler called the facility and informed them that Child A had been left at the park. Once everyone was in the van, Caregiver Keesler drove back to the park and were met by officers from the Raymore Police Department. Officers asked Caregivers Keesler and Boos if they were missing a child. Caregivers Keesler and Boos stated they had left Child A behind when they went to Price Chopper. Caregivers Keesler and Boos only did one head count when lining up.
On June 21, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Trinity Keesler, who stated on June 19, 2023, she was on a field trip to the park with 14 school age children. Caregiver Jasmin Boos was also present. The group decided they wanted to get ice cream and were going to go to McDonald's. She and Caregiver Boos lined the children up and counted 14 children. They walked across the playground to the van and got in the van. She decided it would be more cost effective to go to Price Chopper and get popsicles. A count was not conducted at the door to the van nor once in the van. The van left the park at approximately 10:55 a.m. She drove to Price Chopper which is approximately 3 minutes away. Caregiver Boos and Child B (11 years old) went inside the store to get the popsicles. She counted the children in the van and realized Child A was missing. She called Caregiver Boos who was checking out. Caregiver Boos and Child B quickly came back to the van. The van arrived at the park at approximately 11:10 a.m. She observed police officers present at the park. She spoke with a police officer. Parent A arrived at the park to pick up Child A. She knows she should have done a count at the door to the van and once in the van but she didn't.
On June 21, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Jasmin Boos, who stated this was her first time going on a field trip with the facility. The kids wanted a snack, and the decision was made to go to Price Chopper. She remembers counting 14 children at the park. It took about 4 minutes to walk across the park to the van. She and Child B went into the store to get the popsicles. Caregiver Keesler stayed in the van with the other children. She believes she was inside the store for approximately six minutes. The plan was to go back to the park and eat the popsicles. She received a call from Caregiver Keesler stating a child was missing. She and Child B went to the van quickly. Caregiver Keesler drove back to the park where she saw cop cars present. An officer came up to the van and spoke with both caregivers. Caregiver Keesler told the officer she was calling the director.
On September 8, 2023, CI Greer received a copy of the police report from the records office of the Raymore Police Department and observed on June 19, 2023, at approximately 11:04 a.m., Officer Bradley Beeghley was dispatched to Hawk Ridge Park, 701 N Johnston Pkwy, in regard to an abandoned child. Officer Beeghley arrived on scene at approximately 11:10 a.m. Officer Beeghley spoke with two adult females who found Child A and said he had been left at the park. At approximately 11:13 a.m., a large white van entered the parking lot. The two adult females stated that was the van they had seen earlier at the park. Officer Beeghley approached the van. Officer Beeghley inquired if they were part of a daycare. Caregiver Keesler and Boos stated their names and that they were with Little Folks Daycare. Officer Beeghley asked if they were missing a child and they said no. Officer Beeghley asked if they had a child with Child A's name and they stated yes. Caregiver Keesler stated they were only gone for five minutes while they went to McDonald's and Price Chopper. Officer Beeghley stated it would be impossible for them to be gone only five minutes. Caregiver Keesler stated it was maybe 10 minutes. Officer Beeghley obtained video from Hawk Ridge Park. The van left the park at approximately 10:51 a.m. The video shows the child was left unattended for approximately 20 minutes before law enforcement arrived, and 23 minutes before the day care van returned.
On October 24, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Parent A, who stated on June 19, 2023, Raymore Police Department called and said Child A was left unattended at a park. Approximately 30 seconds after the call with Raymore PD, she received a call from Director Salina Morehead. Child A had been left at the park because the caregivers present did not count properly. Director Morehead did not offer any further explanation as to why Child A was left at the park. Parent A went to the park and picked up Child A. The caregivers present with law enforcement did not offer any explanation.
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