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On April 25, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on April 24, 2024, teacher Catherine Perkins bit Child A (2-years-old) on the left arm around 12:00 p.m. at Monsanto Child Development Center. The bite did not break the skin. 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)(C)3., which states the following: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., which states the following: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states the following: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On April 29, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and conducted interviews with director Tricia Merkel, teacher Cindy Renner, Sara Barney, Child A, and Child B (2-years-old). Ms. Barney stated that her 2-years-old classroom adjoined Ms. Perkins' 2-years-old classroom through a restroom. On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, just before lunch, she and Ms. Perkins were assisting children in the restroom. Ms. Perkins finished assisting her class and called Child A into the restroom. Ms. Perkins asked Child A if they knew why biting friends was wrong and Child A said, "No." Ms. Perkins said, "Because it hurts." Ms. Perkins grasped Child A's left forearm with both of Ms. Perkins' hands and bit Child A on the left forearm. Ms. Barney did not see if Ms. Perkins used her teeth. Ms. Barney observed a red ring on Child A's left forearm, but the skin was not broken. The incident occurred too quickly to intervene, and she did not say anything to Ms. Perkins afterward. Child A cried for approximately thirty seconds afterward. Ms. Renner relieved Ms. Perkins for a lunch break approximately five minutes after the incident. Ms. Barney called Ms. Merkel to report the incident immediately after Ms. Perkins left.
Ms. Renner affirmed that she relieved Ms. Perkins for a lunch break on April 24, 2024. Ms. Renner observed a red ring on Child A's left forearm and asked Child A what had happened. Child A said, "Cathy bite me." Ms. Renner denied that Child A's skin was broken. Child A did not require any medical treatment.
Ms. Merkel stated that she was informed of the incident by Ms. Barney after Ms. Perkins left for lunch on April 24, 2024. Ms. Perkins was not allowed to return to the classroom after returning from lunch. Ms. Merkel conducted an interview with Ms. Perkins, who admitted to biting Child A. Ms. Perkins said, "I didn't do it that hard." Ms. Perkins reported that Child A had bitten Child B on the back. Ms. Perkins said that she was just demonstrating to Child A why biting was wrong. Ms. Perkins was terminated immediately. Parent A (parent of Child A) was informed of the incident via phone immediately after Ms. Perkins was escorted to her car.
Child A and Child B were both interviewed but neither provided any additional relevant information.
On April 30, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with Ms. Perkins, who stated that Child A had bitten Child B on the back during the morning of April 24, 2024. While assisting the class in the restroom, preparing for lunch, she asked Child A if it was nice to bite your friends. Ms. Perkins placed her lips on Child A's forearm. Ms. Perkins denied actually biting Child A. Ms. Perkins denied using her teeth or applying any pressure to Child A's forearm. Ms. Perkins denied leaving any marks to Child A's forearm. Ms. Perkins was trying to scare Child A by pretending to bite, to prevent them from biting anyone else. Ms. Perkins denied that Child A reacted or cried. Ms. Perkins affirmed that she was terminated by Ms. Merkel that same day.
On April 30, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted a phone interview with Parent A, who stated that they were contacted immediately after the incident by Ms. Merkel. Child A did not require any medical attention. Child A had not talked about the incident since it occurred. Parent A had no concerns about Child A's care at the facility. Child A was still enrolled at the facility.
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