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On March 12, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that teachers at Little Sunshine's Playhouse and Preschool were often left out of ratio while management was in the office. Around mid-February, former staff member Daelyn Nilges arrived to work and overheard the assistant director tell director Jennifer Kostecki that a preschool teacher was well over ratio; the two continued talking and left the teacher out of ratio. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1), which states the following: "Staff/child ratios shall be maintained at all times."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A), which states the following: "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On March 14, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed teachers Kylie Pashia and Julie Winograd were present with seventeen children ages 2-years-old to 3-years-old, including one child aged 3-years-old.
On March 28, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced reinspection of the facility and observed correct staff-to-child ratios in all classrooms.
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