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On August 7, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on August 6, 2024, Child A and Child B went out the back door from their classroom onto the playground. Head Teacher Brianna Miller, Teacher Rylie Salyers, and Teacher Teighlor Gray confirmed that Child A (2-years-old) and Child B (2-years-old) were with the group coming inside from the playground. A name-to-face was recorded at 9:43 a.m. confirming this. The children were brought back in at 9:53 a.m. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West 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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(6)(A)3. which states: "Adult supervision shall be provided at all times when children are outside. For children three (3) years of age and above, staff/child ratios may be one and one-half (1 1/2) times the indoor staff/child ratios. The required indoor staff/child ratios shall be maintained on the premises at all times."
On August 8, 2024, CI Curtis West and CI Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Stephanie Crone, Head Teacher Brianna Miller, Caregiver Rylie Salyers, and Caregiver Teighlor Gray. Stephanie stated she sent Brianna outside to help with transitioning from the playground to the classroom. Rylie buzzed the office to advise her head count was short by two. Brianna advised her that Child A and Child B were found outside on the playground at 9:53 a.m.
Brianna stated she did a name-to-face attendance entering the classroom at 9:43 a.m.; both Child A and Child B were accounted for. She went out to the playground to do a final sweep to make sure all children were inside. After returning to the office for about two minutes she received a buzz from Rylie stating Child A and Child B were not in the classroom. She went back to the classroom and saw that the back door was slightly open, so she checked the playground. Child A and Child B were found outside standing about 25 feet from the door. Child A and Child B were brought back in at 9:53 a.m.
Teighlor stated she was changing a diaper when the lead teacher Rylie asked her if the count coming in from the playground was 14. She told Rylie that Brianna completed the name-to-face attendance, and she has the official count. Rylie told her she only counted 12, and then Rylie buzzed the office for help. Brianna came back to the classroom, went out to the playground and brought Child A and Child B back inside.
Rylie stated coming inside from the playground she noticed the back door leading into the patio outside the classroom was open and it should've been closed. The children are supposed to line up at the door for attendance. She saw Brianna completing the name-to-face attendance and children were entering the classroom, so she entered as well to supervise the children. Once inside the classroom she noticed the door leading to the playground was still open, so she buzzed the office and did not get a response. She buzzed the office again and again no response. She was sitting the children at the table when she counted 12 children. She asked Teighlor if the count coming in was 14 children. Teighlor could not confirm so she buzzed the office because she knew she had 14 children going out onto the playground. Brianna answered the buzz this time, so Rylie told Brianna her count was 12 children and should be 14. Brianna then came back to the classroom. Seeing the door leading to the playground was open, she went outside. When Brianna came back in, she brought Child A and Child B with her. It was about 10 minutes from the time they came inside to the time Brianna came inside with Child A and Child B.
On August 8, 2024, CI Curtis West and CI Cole Eddins conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed the classroom, the patio leading to the playground, and the playground. CI Curtis West and CI Cole Eddins did not observe any children left unsupervised in the classroom or on the playground.
On August 14, 2024, CI Curtis West interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A) and Parent B (Parent of Child B). Parent A stated the daycare contacted her about her child getting out of the classroom. She was told that Child A opened the door and let himself out to the playground. She was told Child A was on the playground for 10 minutes. She has heard about several incidents involving supervision at the school.
Parent B stated he was contacted by the daycare of an incident where Child B let himself out of the classroom. He was told by the daycare there was a door that they couldn't lock due to fire safety reasons and that Child B let himself out this door to the playground.
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