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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Graham investigated the allegation that Child A (4-years-old) was restrained by two teachers, then drug into the restroom by his wrists and barricaded in the restroom for two minutes. This allegation is substantiated based on the following rule violations.
5 CSR 25-500.182 (1)(C) 3. which states: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8. which states: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On October 13, 2023, Tiffany Rickman, caregiver, said she was in the classroom with Child A on October 11, 2023. Child A did not like attending school and would throw tantrums. He was brought into the room by Parent A and he said he was going to whoop Child A because he was acting out then Parent A left. The caregivers tried to get Child A to calm down but he was knocking over the computer, trying to push over the file cabinets and throwing toys towards the children. Tiffany was holding Child A's hands so he couldn't throw things. She was scared that he was going to hurt one of the other children. She then put Child A inside the bathroom to see if he would calm down. She stood in front of the door (outside of the bathroom with the door closed) for a few minutes. Once they let him out of the bathroom, Child A was acting the same way.
Aminda "Mindy" Rice, caregiver, was in the classroom on October 11, 2023 also. She said that Child A did not want to be there and was throwing the computer monitor. She was trying to keep the other children safe. Child A was screaming, tearing things off the walls and trying to push over the filing cabinets. Tiffany was trying to use conscious discipline with him but it was not working. They didn't know what to do with Child A so she took a chair out of the bathroom and Tiffany put Child A in the bathroom. She didn't know that Tiffany was going to shut the door and leave him in there but she did. She told Tiffany to let Child A out of the bathroom and she did.
Danielle Davis, caregiver, was in the classroom next door and could hear Child A screaming. She knew that Tiffany and Mindy needed help with him but she was dealing with things in her own classroom and could not leave at that time. Once she was able to go into the room she sat with Child A to try to get him to calm down.
CI Graham reviewed video footage of the incident while at the facility. Child A is seen knocking over the computer monitor, pushing on the filing cabinets, tearing posters off the wall and throwing buckets of toys. Tiffany is holding him by the hands while he is pulling away and having an tantrum. When she lets go, Child A starts throwing toys again. After a struggle with Child A, Tiffany takes Child A to the bathroom, Mindy removes a chair in the bathroom, and Tiffany shuts the door with Child A in the bathroom. The light is still on. Tiffany leans against the door of the bathroom holding it shut. There is no audio on the footage to hear what is going on. After a few minutes (undetermined time) Tiffany moves and lets Child A out of the bathroom.
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