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On December 18, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "Three children were left unattended in a room for 30 minutes. When found, the children were covered in paint." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violations:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1 which states "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
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 December 30, 2024 and January 17, 2025, CI Mertz conducted unannounced inspections and walkthroughs at the facility. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed LLC Member Serena Fulp, Director Cherie Hayes, Caregiver Allie Schram, Caregiver Alauria Wendler, Former Caregiver Alysha Leonard, and Child C. Alauria and Allie indicated on the date of the incident, they did not realize Child B and Child C were supposed to be in their classroom. They both thought Child B and Child C had gone with Caregiver Alysha. Caregiver Alysha indicates she had as many children as she could in her classroom and knew she could not be in charge of Child B and Child C. Cherie and Serena indicated they were walking to their office when Serena opened the classroom door and saw Child B and Child C standing in the corner covered in paint. Child C indicated she painted in a new classroom alone. Cherie, Alauria and Allie all believe Child B and Child C were left unattended for appxomiately 15 minutes.
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