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On April 9, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On April 9, 2024, three children all age 2, Child A, Child B and Child C, eloped from the playground around 10:30 am. Zoe Clark, staff member saw the three children crossing over the other side of the fence and she yelled to other staff members Brittany White and Jami Dilbeck to let them know that the three children had crossed the fence. Ms. Clark ran after the children. Ms. Dilbeck also ran after the children. Ms. Haslag saw Ms. Clark running around to front of the building. Ms. Haslag went outside to see what was happening. The three children made it to Loose Creek Highway before any staff members reached the children. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea 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 April 16, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed director Laura Haslag, teacher Zoe Clark, and teacher Brittany White. Laura stated that on April 09, 2024, she was inside the building when she saw teacher Zoe, through the window, running through the parking lot. She saw Zoe running after three 2-year-old boys. She saw the boys make it to Loose Creek Highway and run up the middle of the highway. There were no cars on the highway at the time. Zoe got Child B and Child C stopped and continued after Child A until he was stopped. Once they got back to the building, she called all the parents and left messages for two of the parents and only spoke with one parent at that time. She has written up all three teachers that were outside and all teachers have completed a statement. There has been new playground expectations and new zoning rules for the playground. All teachers are required to adhere to the new rules. There were three teachers with twenty-three children ages (fifteen) 3-years-old to 5-years-old and (eight) 2-years-old. The picnic table has been removed so the teachers cannot gather around it.
On April 16, 2024, CI Honea interviewed teacher Zoe Clark who stated that she was on the deck area which is in the middle of the playground towards the back. She was talking to a child when another child called her name. She saw two of the boys go around the side of the house (left side of playground) that is in front of the playground. She ran across the playground to the gate, which is on the right side of the playground. She hollered at the other two teachers as she ran by. She ran across the parking lot into the grass in front of the house and saw that the three boys had made it to the road and were running onto the highway. There were no cars on the highway at that time. The three 2-year-olds, ran up the middle of the Loose Creek Highway on the yellow line. She was yelling for them to stop when she realized another teacher and the director were behind her. Child B and Child C stopped, and she got them to the side of the road with the director. She continued running after Child A and caught Child A at the end of the tree line. She carried him back to the others and everyone went inside. None of the children were injured.
On April 16, 2024, CI Honea interviewed teacher Brittany White who stated that she was dealing with a child that was throwing rocks. She was by the picnic table near the building and was about to take the child inside to the director when a child screamed to Zoe. She saw Zoe running across the playground towards the gate. She gathered all her children to do a head count. She did not chase after Child A, Child B and Child C who had eloped.
On April 16, 2024, CI Honea conducted a walk-through of the facility and observed the chain link fence that Child A, Child B and Child C climbed over, the distance from the fence to the road, and the length of the road to the end of the tree line where Child A was found. CI Honea measured the distance from the fence to the road to be approximately 178 feet and the distance on the road to the end of the tree line was approximately 500 feet, which totaled approximately 678 feet. Child A, Child B and Child C were approximately 678 feet away from the playground fence they climbed before they were caught in the middle of the road on Loose Creek Highway. The speed limit on the highway is 55 miles per hour. CI Honea also observed where the teachers were standing on the playground when the children eloped. Two teachers were near the building and one teacher was closer to the playground equipment. CI Honea reviewed the teachers' statements, teacher warnings, new playground expectations, and the new playground zoning areas that have now been in place.
On April 19, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with teacher Jamie Dilbeck who stated that she was outside with teachers Zoe and Brittany on April 09, 2024 when Child A, Child B and Child C eloped. She was trying to deal with a child throwing rocks with Brittany's assistance. She was up near the picnic table, that has now been removed, when she heard a child holler. She took off after Zoe and then saw Child A, Child B and Child C on the highway. She got to the highway when she realized that director Laura was behind her, and they got to the two boys (Child B and Child C) that Zoe had stopped. Zoe had been screaming the boys' names and to stop so two of the boys did stop. Zoe finally caught up to Child A at the end of the tree line and into the grass. Zones have now been put into place with a teacher in each zone. There are policies so if a teacher needs to go inside either another teacher goes outside or the teacher must take all children inside. There have not been real issues with children climbing over fences, but they will grab the fence and hang onto it.
On April 19, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A who stated that the director did call to let her know that Child A got out of the fence and how it happened. She was not mad at the teachers for letting this happen. Children are going to do whatever they want. She spent the day thinking about it and decided to ask questions at pickup. She wanted to know where the children got out, where the teachers were, and how was this able to happen. She was shown where the children got out, it was explained where the teachers were on the playground and how there was a blind spot. She feels it was basically a lack of supervision during that time. Another parent wants the fence to be redone and higher. Teachers knew this was an issue. She is frustrated with the whole situation but not upset. No one was harmed, and she knows the teachers are just as upset. She is ok as long as the teachers have all learned from this. Child A is still going to the facility.
On April 19, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent B who stated that she was not notified until the afternoon. She does not understand why they did not just use the portal to notify. She is mad at the facility and feels there are communication issues. She does not understand how her 2-year-old child was able to get over the fence and onto the highway. Yes, Child B is still going to the facility. She was told that new playground zones were put into place with a teacher in each zone.
On April 19, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent C who stated that she was notified that day that Child C was able to climb over the fence and get onto the highway. She was very angry and gave the director a good talking too. The director told her that actions have been taken. She was very mad that Child C got over the fence without falling. Child C is still going to the facility. She thinks that the director acted accordingly.
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