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On December 18, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that at 9:00 a.m. on December 18, 2024, an employee and reporter had 11 toddlers all together in one room as they called for help three times but no one responded. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West found the allegation substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A). Which states "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On December 18, 2024, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Caregiver Julissa Bosley, Caregiver Erin Norman, and Caregiver Shelby Mooney. Julissa stated she called over the radio to management to notify them her room was out of ratio with two caregivers to 11 children, ages 9 months old to 17 months old. She never got a response over the radio from management. She tried to reach management three times, and each time she did not get a response. Erin arrived around 9:00 a.m., and they were able to divide the children between the two classes.
Shelby stated Julissa called over the radio code yellow because they had nine infants/toddlers. Code yellow was the phrase they used over the radio to advise management there was a ratio issue. Management did not respond on the radio. Before Erin arrived, two more children were dropped off, making the ratio 2:11. Shelby could not recall what time Erin arrived, but when she did, they divided the children among the two classrooms, making sure they were in ratio.
Erin stated when she arrived at the daycare that morning, the infant classroom was already out of ratio. There were two adult caregivers and 11 children ages, 9 months old to 17 months old. Since she was there, they were able to open the second infant classroom and divide the children between the two classes. The only other time the infant classroom was out of ratio was later that morning when the caregivers needed a bathroom break. Shelby had called over the radio requesting a bathroom break, but there was no response over the radio. She thought if Shelby waited another minute, she would have an accident, so she thought it best for Shelby to just go and use the bathroom. Shelby was out of the classroom for over 10 minutes, leaving her with seven infants and out of ratio.
On December 23, 2024, CI West interviewed Regional Director Brooke Rogers, who stated she reviewed the footage of the infant room from December 18, 2024. The footage showed Shelby left the room at 9:22 a.m. for a bathroom break, leaving the ratio of one caregiver to eight children, ages 12 months old to 17 months old. Shelby returned at 9:34 a.m. leaving the classroom out of ratio for 12 minutes.
On December 23, 2024, CI West received video footage of the infant/toddler one room. The footage contained no audio The camera angle was faced down from the ceiling and began at 9:21 a.m. The footage showed two adult caregivers and eight infants. One of the caregivers left the room leaving one caregiver to eight infants for 12 minutes.
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