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On February 21, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that the daycare is transporting children back and forth not in the proper equipment. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jade Stewart-Martin has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(A)., which states: "All children shall be seated in a permanent seat and restrained by seat belts or child restraint devices as required by Missouri law."
On February 28, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted a phone interview with Parent A (parent of Child A and Child B). Parent A had two children that were previously enrolled at the facility. Child A (age 5-years-old) is 32 pounds and Child B (age 4-years-old) is 31 pounds. The facility started transporting his children from The Peanut's Gang Learning Center Inc. Saint Peter's location to the Lake Saint Louis location due to construction at the Saint Peter's location. The facility only transported them in booster seats, but his children were in need of a 5-point harness in accordance with Missouri State law. February 16, 2024, was Child A's and Child B's last day at the facility.
On March 4, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted interviews with office managers Heather McGhay and Justin Beaver. They both transport the children from the Saint Peter's location to the Lake Saint Louis location during the current construction. The parents had to sign a form authorizing their children to being transported during the construction. The children that were being transported to the Lake Saint Louis location are aged 4-years-old to 5-years-old. The center provided booster seats for transport of these children.
On March 4, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin observed the van used to transport kids from the Saint Peters location to the Lake Saint Louis location. CI Stewart-Martin observed the permission slips and letter sent to parents to inform them that their children were getting transported from the Saint Peters location to the Lake Saint Louis location. CI Stewart-Martin observed the van used to transport the children, which had twelve booster seats and one 5-point harness. CI Stewart-Martin observed that all the seat belts in the van worked. CI Stewart-Martin observed the insurance card as well as the plates that were good through July of 2024. CI Stewart Martin observed the Class E license of all drivers that transport children, which included: Molly Hogan, Justin Beaver, Heather McGray, and Susan Dickson. CI Stewart-Martin observed Child A, Child B, Child C and Child D's enrollment form.
On March 27, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted phone interviews with Parent C (parent of Child C) and Parent D (parent of Child D). Child C is 47 pounds and is transported at home by the way of a booster seat. Therefore, Parent C was okay with the fact that Child C was transported to the one location to the other via a booster seat. Child D is 42 pounds but is transported at home via a 5-point harness. When the facility asked to transport Child D, Parent D called the facility and told them that she would only be comfortable with transport if Child D was in 5-point harness since he is autistic. The facility complied and allowed Parent D to provide the 5-point harness for Child D. Both Parent C and Parent D do not recall the facility asking if their child should be transported in a 5-point harness or a booster seat. Child C and Child D are still enrolled at the facility.
On April 12, 2024, CI Stewart-Martin conducted a phone interview with office manger Heather McGhay. She stated director Carrie Backer was not at the facility today. They do have a scale to weigh kids but due to construction the scale is in her car because they did not want the children to play on it. Parent A did come to the facility and express concern about transporting Child A and Child B. She was unaware that Child A and Child B were under 40 pounds and needed a 5 point harness instead of a booster seat.
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