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On November 13, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that Child A (2-years-old) was left outside on the Little Sunshine's Playhouse & Preschool playground for five to seven minutes. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1., which states the following: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3., which states the following: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On November 15,2024, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and conducted an interview with director Amber Rodriguez, who stated that on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, staff did not notice that Child A was not in his classroom until Parent A (parent of Child A) arrived at 5:30 p.m. for pick-up. The 2-year-old classroom had been at the outside playground until approximately 5:25 p.m. with teachers Dennis Tucker, Madeline Hall, Rianna Freeman, and Ryenne Lahey. Ms. Hall and Ms. Lahey returned to the playground and returned with Child A after a couple of minutes. Mr. Tucker, Ms. Hall, Ms. Freeman, and Ms. Lahey were all suspended until an investigation had been initiated. Parent A disenrolled Child A the next day.
On November 18, 2024, CI O'Malley conducted phone interviews with Mr. Tucker, Ms. Hall, Ms. Freeman, and Ms. Lahey. Ms. Freeman stated that she was present on the outside playground until 5:10 p.m., when she went inside to clock out. Child A was present on the playground when Ms. Freeman went inside.
Mr. Tucker stated that the 2-year-old classroom went outside at 4:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m., he brought Child A and another child inside to use the restroom and get drinks of water. At approximately 5:10 p.m., he took the two children back outside. Mr. Tucker went back inside to clean his classroom. Mr. Tucker informed Ms. Lahey that both children had been returned to the playground. At 5:20 p.m., he returned to the playground and did not observe Child A. Mr. Tucker thought that Child A had been picked up. The 2-year-old class returned to the classroom; a name-to-face check was not performed. Parent A arrived to pick up Child A; Ms. Hall and Ms. Lahey went back outside to look for Child A.
Ms. Lahey stated that between 5:00 p.m. and 5:10 p.m., Mr. Tucker took two children, including Child A, inside the facility. A few minutes later, she saw the second child back out on the playground. Ms. Lahey assumed that Child A had been picked up while inside. The 2-year-old class returned to the classroom at 5:20 p.m. due to the cold. The children lined up at the door, but a name-to-face check was not performed. Parent A arrived at the facility at 5:30 p.m. and it was discovered that Child A was missing. Ms. Lahey and Ms. Hall went back outside, Child A did not respond to his name being called. Ms. Hall found Child A in the treehouse; Child A did not appear upset and was appropriately dressed for the weather.
Ms. Hall stated that at 5:10 p.m., she went outside to replace Ms. Freeman. Child A was still on the roster, but Ms. Lahey reported that Child A had been picked up. Ms. Hall removed Child A from the roster. The class went back inside at 5:20 p.m.; a name-to-face check was not done. Parent A arrived at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Hall and Ms. Lahey found Child A outside on the playground's treehouse. Child A was not upset and was dressed appropriately.
On November 19 and 21, 2024, CI O'Malley attempted to contact Parent A via phone, leaving voicemails on both occasions. Parent A has not returned contact.
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