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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD - CHILD CARE COMPLIANCE

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION OF SUBSTANTIATED STATUTE OR RULE VIOLATIONS
Facility Information
Date of Report
4/1/2024 12:00:00 AM
DVN
002648826
Facility Name
PLC KIDZ
Facility Address
5505 GATEWAY DR
City
JOPLIN
Zip Code
64804-8244
Phone
(417) 499-4398
County
NEWTON
Assigned Specialist
MERTZ, CAYLIN
Rule/Statute Violation(s)
ViolationViolation Description
5 CSR 25-300.090 (1)(E) Ammunition, guns, hunting knives, bows and arrows, or other weapons shall not be on the premises unless stored in a locked cabinet or closet.
Conclusion Summary
On April 1, 2024 the Office of Childhood received a report alleging "A 9mm handgun has been on the premises today in the childcare center with the safety off where all the kids can touch and grab." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violation: 5 CSR 25-300.090 (1)(E) which states "Ammunition, guns, hunting knives, bows and arrows, or other weapons shall not be on the premises unless stored in a locked cabinet or closet." On April 2, 2024 CI Caylin Mertz conducted an unannounced inspection at the facility. A walkthrough was conducted. Pastor Jared Jones and Cook Joyce Jones both indicated a firearm was located in the building. Pastor Jared reported the daycare facility shares a gymnasium with the church. They had an Easter gathering the weekend prior to this incident. A group of men were playing basketball and a man took the gun off his belt and set it down in the kitchen. The gun owner forgot to grab the gun before he left. Cook Joyce stated she located the weapon when she arrived that morning. She immediately notified the interim director who notified Pastor Jared. Reporter Riley Myers and Caregiver Sydney Rex both indicated a firearm was located in the facility office. Caregiver Sydney stated she went to the office to work on trainings and noticed the firearm in the slide out piece of the desk where a keyboard is typically stored. CI Mertz observed a photo of a firearm on a desk in the facility office.
Corrective Measures
Corrective MeasureCompleted (Y/N)Completed Date
The facility shall notify all caregivers (paid employees and paid or unpaid volunteers) of the violations which were substantiated and specify the actions to be taken by all caregivers, in order to comply with all violations cited. A copy of the memo, letter, or meeting agenda shall be submitted to the Office of Childhood. Y 6/13/2024 12:00:00 AM
Disposition
SUBSTANTIATED
Disposition Date
5/28/2024 12:00:00 AM
Approving Supervisor
FOX, ROMENA