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On October 15, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: Children being left alone in class. 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)3., which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On October 17, 2024, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Andrea Orwig, caregivers Heather Sayre, Thelma Barker, Amber Mosley, Carol Gann, Brooklyn Roederwoods, Kayla Zesch, and Ashley Yearns. Director Andrea Orwig stated that no parent or other caregivers have talked to her about children being left alone in the classrooms. She will work on ways to have someone going around to help more in the classrooms. She will figure out where to put the cubbies so caregivers do not have to leave the classroom to put things in the cubbies. All caregivers interviewed stated that they all leave the children alone in the classrooms when going into the hallway to put things in the children's cubbies. They all stated they have a hard time getting another caregiver to come and cover their class when they need to leave the classroom.
On October 17, 2024, CI Honea observed four caregivers (including the floater) sitting in the office with Director Andrea Orwig. CI Honea observed all classrooms to have enough caregivers to child ratio. CI Honea observed cubbies outside each classroom. When a teacher is outside of the classroom at the cubbies, they would not be able to see the children in the classroom.
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