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Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an unannounced investigation of the allegation that on September 1, 2023, around drop-off time (8:30 a.m.), Child A (4 years old) got out of the facility and was in the parking lot. 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."
AND
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."
On September 6, 2023, CI Greer conducted an unannounced walkthrough and observed an infant room with three children, ages 8 months old to 13 months old, had no caregiver present in the room from at least 2:35 p.m. to 2:43 p.m.
On September 6, 2023, Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer interviewed Caregiver Tara Sheibert, who stated she believed Caregiver Holly Robertson was stepping into the infant room. As Caregiver Sheibert was walking to the bathroom Caregiver Robertson was standing in the doorway to the infant room. She did not realize that Caregiver Robertson did not step into the infant room. She has never left infants alone in a room before.
On September 6, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Holly Robertson, who stated she did give Caregiver Sheibert permission to use the restroom. She was with a class of 3-year-old children at the time next to the infant room. She should have asked another caregiver to step into the room. She was not thinking clearly and made a mistake.
On September 6, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Director Jenifer Dalberg, who stated she was not aware that Caregiver Tara Sheibert had stepped out of the room and left the infants unattended today September 6, 2023. She was out of the building running an errand. She had appointed Caregiver Holly Robertson as being in charge of the facility while she was gone. On Friday September 1, 2023, at approximately 8:30 a.m., she was in the preschool classroom waiting on Caregiver Mackenzie Berg to arrive. Caregiver Jonathan Gutierrez was in the pre-kindergarten classroom with nine children, including Child A. Child A was not being kind to his friends and Caregiver Gutierrez asked Child A to find another activity. Another child was being dropped off and was upset that her parent was leaving. Caregiver Gutierrez helped the child to calm down and turned around and saw Child A was missing. Caregiver Gutierrez asked Director Dalberg if Child A had come back to the cubbies. Caregiver Holly Robinson stepped into the preschool classroom and Director Dalberg started to look for Child A. Director Dalberg checked the copy room, bathroom, and kitchen. While searching these areas Parent B (Parent of Child B) walked into the building with Child A.
On September 6, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Parent B (Parent of Child B), who stated on September 1, 2023, she was pulling into the parking lot of the facility. She is unsure what time she was pulling in but believed it was close to 8:30 a.m. She saw Child A trying to hide behind a tree next to the facility. Child A was not upset or crying. She walked Child A into the building and was met by Director Dalberg.
On September 6, 2023, CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Jonathan Gutierrez, who stated on September 1, 2023, he was working in the pre-kindergarten classroom. There were nine children present including Child A. Child A was at a table with some other children and was pushing them and bugging them. Child A was instructed to go to another table. Child A sat down and started playing with some toys at the other table. Another child entered the classroom which put their room total at 10 children. The child was very upset, and Caregiver Gutierrez went to console the child. When Caregiver Gutierrez turned around, he noticed Child A was missing. He informed Director Dalberg, and she began to look throughout the building. About a minute later Parent B entered the front entrance with Child A. Caregiver Gutierrez believes it was approximately two minutes that Child A was out of his sight.
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