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On February 27, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on February 21, 2024, Child A (5-years-old), was left in a classroom, unsupervised for roughly nine minutes at East Missouri Action Agency, Inc. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1., which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent 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 March 5, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed video of the incident, dated February 21, 2024. The video shows an overhead angle of a classroom with an open doorway. Several children cross the doorway and Child A enters the classroom. Child A lays down on a cot behind a table to the left of the doorway; Child A covers themselves with a blanket. After approximately thirty seconds, teacher Danielle Soste enters the classroom carrying another cot. Ms. Soste stacks the cot on a third cot and exits the classroom. After approximately two minutes, additional children cross the doorway. After approximately five minutes, cook Porshia Williams enters the classroom and Child A sits up from under their blankets. Ms. Williams takes Child A by the hand, and both exit the classroom. Child A was alone in the classroom for approximately 9 minutes.
CI O'Malley conducted interviews with Ms. Soste, Ms. Williams, director Esther Shutters, teachers Brittney Kimble, Sierra Thompson, and Child A. Ms. Soste stated that on February 21, 2024, the class went to the cafeteria at 10:30 a.m. for lunch. A name-to-face count was done before the class left the classroom. The class stopped at the hallway restrooms to wash hands. The children lined up along the walls after they exited the restroom. Ms. Williams counted the children once they reached the cafeteria. Ms. Williams asked where Child A was; Ms. Williams left the cafeteria. Ms. Williams re-entered the cafeteria with Child A a few minutes later. Ms. Williams reported that Child A was hiding in the classroom next to the restrooms.
Ms. Thompson stated that name-to-face checks were supposed to be done whenever the class left the classroom and again when the class arrived at the cafeteria. Ms. Thompson was a floater and forgot her class attendance sheet for the day. Ms. Thompson should have performed a count after the children used the restrooms, but she did not. Ms. Williams discovered that Child A was missing after the class got to the cafeteria.
Ms. Williams stated that she counts the children when they arrive at the cafeteria for the subsidized food program. Ms. Williams was Child A's aunt and realized that Child A was missing right away. Ms. Williams walked back along the hallway, checking classrooms as she went. Ms. Williams found Child A hiding under blankets on a cot in the classroom next to the restrooms. Child A reported that they hid on purpose.
Ms. Shutters stated that she was informed of the incident involving Child A on February 22, 2024. Ms. Shutters reviewed video footage of the incident; Child A hid under blankets for approximately nine minutes. Ms. Shutters informed Parent A (parent of Child A) of the incident via phone on February 22, 2024. A class count is now done after the children line up in the hallway after washing their hands. Ms. Shutters informed CI Jessica Spencer of the incident via email on February 27, 2024.
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