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On August 28, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that since August 26, 2024, the facility's air conditioner has not been working and the temperature inside the building is 90 degrees. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes and Compliance Inspector Supervisor (CIS) Marla Chrisco have found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.082(2)(A)5., which states: "The facility shall be dry, temperature controlled, well ventilated and free of drafts. Children shall not be overheated or chilled. The temperature of the rooms shall be no less than sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68F) and no more than eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (85F) when measured two feet (2') from the floor."
On August 28, 2024, Compliance Inspector (CI) Hughes and Compliance Inspector Supervisor (CIS) Chrisco conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Roben Clark, staff in charge. Caregivers Tracy Edwards, Darra Clark and Kayla Branigan were present. CI Hughes and CIS Chrisco observed the thermostat in the room where the children were located reading 87 degrees Fahrenheit. CI Hughes and CIS Chrisco used the infrared thermometer and received temperature readings at 89 degrees Fahrenheit in the infant room and 87 degrees Fahrenheit in the preschool classroom where the children were located.
Roben stated that when they arrived at the location it felt warm, and it must have gone out the night before. She contacted the owner and they had someone coming out to work on it. She stated they moved all of the children to the coolest room in the facility and brought in a large fan.
Tracy was instructed by CIS Chrisco to contact all families to pick up their children. All children were picked up from the facility by 5:05 pm.
Ms Shamira Young arrived and stated that she was in charge and that the air conditioner went out last night and the company wouldn't come today. She also stated that the center would remain closed until the air conditioning was repaired.
CIS Chrisco contacted owner, Willa Buchannon via phone while at the facility. Ms Buchannon stated that the air went out today and she contacted the repair man but they never came.
On September 4, 2024, CIS Marla Chrisco returned to the location to observe that the air conditioner was back in working condition. The thermostat was reading 74 degrees Fahrenheit. The 2 preschool classrooms measured 74 degrees Fahrenheit and the infant and toddler rooms measured 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
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