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On October 18, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging Child A (3 years old) was left outside unattended for 18 minutes. Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer conducted an unannounced investigation and found the allegation to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states, "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
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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 23, 2024, Compliance Inspector (CI) JD Greer interviewed Director Julia Swanson, Caregiver Morgan Moier Lamar, and Caregiver Schylon "Shy" Hudson.
CI Greer interviewed Director Julia Swanson, who stated On October 15, 2024, Child A (3 years old) was left outside on the preschool playground. Caregiver Morgan found Child A on the playground. Caregiver Amanda Dewey was responsible for Child A at the time of the incident. Facility policy states that a face to name count is conducted for each transition. Caregiver Amanda did not do a face to name count of the children as they came in from outside. Director Julia reviewed footage and determined Child A was left unattended on the playground for approximately 18 minutes. Caregiver Amanda was interviewed by Director Julia. Caregiver Amanda said she got flustered and didn't count children correctly.
CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Morgan Moier Lamar, who stated she was present on October 15, 2024, when Child A was left unattended. Her class went out on the playground at approximately 11:40 a.m. Children in her class ran up and said Child A was on the other playground alone. She saw Child A alone on the playground. She lined up her class and took them inside with Child A. She saw Director Julia who took Child A. Caregiver Morgan went back outside with her class.
CI Greer interviewed Caregiver Schylon "Shy" Hudson, who stated on October 15, 2024, she was in Child A's classroom with Caregiver Amanda. Caregiver Amanda was the lead teacher in the classroom and had the tablet for doing face to name. She was outside with Caregiver Amanda and the class. She is not sure if Caregiver Amanda did a face to name count. She thinks she may have just done a head count of children. When the children got back into the classroom, she went to lunch. Caregiver Amanda was in charge of the classroom at the time and Caregiver Shy did not have the tablet to be able to do a face to name count. Caregiver Amanda had the tablet and was marking off the counts.
On October 23, 2024, CI Greer reviewed footage from October 15, 2024, and observed the following. At approximately 11:24:00, Caregiver Amanda Dewey is present on camera wearing a teal shirt and grey jacket. At approximately 11:24:00, Caregiver Amanda leaves the playground area. At approximately 11:25:22, Child A is visible on camera near the slide on the left side of the camera view. Child A is wearing a light-colored jacket and light-colored pants. Child A proceeds to move about the playground and play. Child A does not appear to be distressed or upset on camera. At approximately 11:41:25, Child A appears to be talking to someone out of view of the camera on the other playground. At approximately 11:42:06 Caregiver Morgan Moier Lamar walks onto the playground and picks up Child A.
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