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MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

OFFICE OF CHILDHOOD - CHILD CARE COMPLIANCE

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION OF SUBSTANTIATED STATUTE OR RULE VIOLATIONS
Facility Information
Date of Report
3/10/2025 12:00:00 AM
DVN
000627665
Facility Name
LA PETITE ACADEMY, INC.
Facility Address
2002 E 32ND ST
City
JOPLIN
Zip Code
64804-4201
Phone
(417) 781-3554
County
NEWTON
Assigned Specialist
RADNEY, HEATHER E
Rule/Statute Violation(s)
ViolationViolation Description
5 CSR 25-500.122(1)(G) Staff or volunteers shall not work when ill if the health or well-being of children is endangered.
Conclusion Summary
On March 10, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that Brooke (assistant director) made an employee come into work last month with the flu and pneumonia despite having a doctor's note. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information: 5 CSR 25-500.122(1)(G) - Staff or volunteers shall not work when ill if the health or well-being of children is endangered. On March 11, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with Melody Andrews, Samantha Barne, and Avery Magnusson. Melody reported she was not here on January 13, 2025. Brooke was in charge. When she returned, Samantha was venting to her about having to come in sick. Samantha said she had a doctor's note but Brooke wouldn't let her stay home or go home early. Samantha reported she went to the emergency room over the weekend of January 12, 2025. She called the daycare Monday morning, January 13, 2025, and told Brooke she was ill with the flu and pneumonia and needed to stay home. Brooke told her they were too short-staffed and that no one was available to cover her shift and she needed to come in. She got here about 8:30 a.m. and had her doctor's note but Brooke never asked to see it. The health and well-being of the children in her care was endangered because she was ill and contagious. She was miserable, couldn't breath and was on a medication that caused an uncomfortable rash. Avery reported she was not at the daycare when Samantha was ill but she heard Samantha complain about being here while sick. On March 12, 2025, CI Radney received and reviewed a call log from Samantha Barne. A phone call to La Petite Academy, Inc. was completed on January 13. On April 14, 2025, CI Radney received and reviewed the Name to Face Sheet for La Petite Academy, Inc. Samantha is signed in as working 8:30-12:35 and again 1:40-5:30 on January 13, 2025. There is sufficient evidence to support that Samantha did work when the health or well-being of children was endangered when she worked her shift on January 13, 2025 while ill.
Corrective Measures
Corrective MeasureCompleted (Y/N)Completed Date
The facility shall notify all caregivers (paid employees and paid or unpaid volunteers) of the violations which were substantiated and specify the actions to be taken by all caregivers, in order to comply with all violations cited. A copy of the memo, letter, or meeting agenda shall be submitted to the Office of Childhood. Y 7/7/2025 12:00:00 AM
Disposition
SUBSTANTIATED
Disposition Date
5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Approving Supervisor
FOX, ROMENA