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On February 28, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that the facility is having on-going staff-to-child ratio issues daily. In the mornings, between 8 AM and 9 AM or 10 AM, the facility is over ratio in the infant, toddler, and preschool rooms. The infant room has one teacher to five children, the toddler room has 2 teachers to ten to twelve kids and the preschool room is over ratio but she is unsure of the numbers. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Ian Fyfe has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
RSMo 210.254.2.(3), which states that: "The staff/child ratios for enrolled children under two years of age, for children ages two to four and for those five years of age and older as required by the department of health and senior services regulations in licensed facilities, the standard ratio of staff to number of children for each age level maintained in the exempt facility, and the total number of children to be enrolled by the facility;"
On March 6, 2024, Compliance Inspector (CI) Ian Fyfe conducted an unannounced inspection to Christ Memorial Child Care Center and observed all classrooms to be in ratio in accordance with the facility's Notice of Parental Responsibility (NPR). While present at the facility, CI Fyfe interviewed staff members Ana Irby, Sarah Sabo, Bridget Schanuel, Madeline Schoenberger, Denise Depker, Drake Barton, Janet Brewer, and Bridget Dvorak. Multiple staff members interviewed by CI Fyfe reported that staff-to-child ratios are not being properly maintained during the morning hours, primarily between 7 AM and 9 AM. While some staff members stated that they primarily go over ratio when more children than expected arrive at one time, other staff members interviewed by CI Fyfe reported that their classrooms go over ratio due to improper staff member scheduling for the morning hours. According to multiple staff members, a factor contributing to the improper scheduling of staff members is the lack of management staff present at the facility in the morning hours. There are not enough staff members present at the facility to satisfy staff-to-child ratios because managing staff members are not present to see that it is an ongoing issue.
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