|
On June 24, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: There was a child left on the playground unattended. 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)., 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 June 28, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed director Mary Linear, assistant director Jamie Wigton, caregivers Harley Cook, Emma Veerremans, Joyceanna Compton, and Isabella Berck. All staff stated that on June 21, 2024, Isabella was the lead teacher for the purple room (Child A's classroom), along with co-teachers Emma and Harley (for that day). All three teachers were outside at first with the 2-year-olds and then Isabella went back inside to clean the classroom while the other teachers stayed outside. Emma did a head count while they were outside but did not do the name to face. Neither Emma nor Harley looked around the playground to realize that Child A (age 2- years- old) was not with them. Child A could be seen on the video footage walking around the playground once the classroom went inside. Teacher Joyceanna went outside and picked up Child A then brought Child A inside back to his classroom. Child A was left unobserved on the playground for approximately 2 minutes.
There was also an incident on June 17, 2024, when the 2-year-olds were outside on the playground. Teacher Emma was sitting at the table with another teacher when Child A got out of the gate and ran into the parking lot. Emma stated that Child A was able to get out of the gate before she could catch up to him. She was in the middle of the playground and heard the gate when she realized Child A had opened the gate and was outside on the parking lot. She hollered at Child A to stop, and he did, approximately fifteen feet from the gate. She brought Child A back inside the playground.
On June 28, 2024, CI Honea reviewed the video footage from June 21, 2024, at 4:43pm. The video showed teachers Emma Veerremans and Harley Cook lining up the children near the fence and grabbing the "bug" rope. Emma opens the gate and gathers the children to walk through the gate into the next playground with Harley at the end of the line with two other children. The video shows Emma opens the door walking inside with the children and Harley Cook closes the door. The video shows Child A sitting at the table in the top right corner of the video at 4:45pm. The video shows Child A running around the playground with the gate shut. Approximately at 4:45pm teacher Joyceanna Compton comes running outside another door and down the ramp. Teacher Joyceanna walks around the playground until she finds Child A. Joyceanna picks up Child A and walks him inside at 4:46pm. The video shows that Child A was left unattended outside for approximately two minutes.
During the investigation CI Honea had teacher Emma Veerremans demonstrate how Child A got out of the gate and into the parking lot on June 17, 2024. Emma walked to the table that she was sitting at with another teacher and then walked to the gate, opened the gate and walked to the location where Child A stopped once in the parking lot. That spot in the parking lot was approximately fifteen feet from the gate on the playground.
On July 2, 2024, CI Honea reviewed an email from Director Mary Linear, which stated that on June 28, 2024, at 3:50pm a teacher did not follow the supervision policy, which resolved in a child being left in the rainbow room unattended. She does not know the exact amount of time that Child B (age 3-years-old), was left unattended but thinks it was only a few minutes. The email stated that an immediate scheduled meeting to reinforce the Supervision Policy and the importance of actively supervising the children in their care. The email discussed action that was taken, parent was contacted, and changes have been made to help make sure this does not happen again. The board was contacted, and a special meeting will be held on or before July 1, 2024.
On July 2, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent A who stated that she was notified on Monday, June 17, 2024, about Child A getting out of the gate. She was told that bungee cords were added to all gates so that does not happen again. She was also told that Child A managed to get out of the rainbow room without the teachers seeing Child A leave. She was contacted on Friday, June 21, 2024, about Child A being left unattended on the playground. She was told that a sub was in the room that day, disciplinary action was taken, more training was conducted, and now roll call is in place. She has concerns about Child A going to this facility but there are no other options. The Director came to her home on Friday to talk with her about the situation. Child A is 2 years old and likes to run away thinking it is funny. She has talked with Child A about the seriousness of the incidents.
Oh July 9, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Parent B who stated that she did receive a call from Director Mary Linear about the incident. She was told that Child B was brought inside to use the restroom. She does not know what happen as to why or how Child B was left inside. She does not know how long Child B was left inside. She is not concerned that this will happen again.
Oh July 9, 2024, CI Honea conducted a phone interview with Savannah Peters who stated that the classroom was outside when one of the children had to use the bathroom. She took five children inside to the restroom. She took the clipboard and went inside. She had another teacher help so she could also use the restroom while inside. She counted five children while in the orange room and counted five children again in the rainbow room. She opened the door to the room and the children were excited then ran out of the door. She did not realize that Child B was still inside the room. She took the children outside and it was other caregivers that found Child B in the classroom. She does not know how long Child B had been left inside.
On July 11, 2024, CI Honea reviewed an email from Director Mary Linear, where the family for Child B was notified along with what was discussed. CI Honea reviewed the statement from caregiver Dakota Bettes describing the incident with Child B. CI Honea reviewed incident reports from the caregivers involved stating the incident happened around 3:50 pm when Child B was left inside without supervision.
|