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On April 17, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: The owner of this center Jacqueline Nichols fakes the emergency reports, as in they don't practice proper safety protocols in case of fires, intruders, etc. so newer staff have no idea how to handle such situations if they occur. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.090(3)(B)2: which states, "Disaster drill procedures such as fire drill, tornado drill, carbon monoxide exposure, power failure, bomb threat, chemical spill, intruder training, and CPR or other medical procedures."
On April 24, 2025, CI Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed Director Jacqueline "Jackie" Nichols, teachers Abigial Garzia, Allison Lawton, Allison Price, Angela Ramshead, Chloe Kauffman, D'Anne Schneider, Elise Roettger, Gracie Perkins, Kristen Thompson, Lola Cadice, Skylar Andrews, and the entire group of preschoolers.
Director Jackie Nichols stated that the daycare follows everything to protocol. She does not falsify on the emergency fire / tornado drill record. The daycare is up to date on all records. Fire drills are timed around bathroom and diaper changes. They just did the tornado drill since it was a real situation. She was told that either a fire drill or tornado drill could be done once a month, and the other emergency drills every six months. CI Honea discussed with Director Jackie Nichols what was stated by teachers and the children. Director Jackie Nichols stated the teachers were not being honest about the drills and the children only remember the tornado drill because it just happened the other day.
Abigial Garzia stated that she does not remember doing monthly emergency drills. Allison Lawton stated that there have not been emergency drills done since she's been there. Management comes in each month and talks about it. Allison Price stated that they do monthly emergency drills. Angela Ramshead stated that the daycare does the drills each month and she runs the emergency drills. Chloe Kauffman stated that the daycare does not do monthly emergency drills. D'Anne Schneider stated that the daycare does not do emergency drills, but it is talked about. Elise Roettger stated that she does not remember doing an emergency drill. Gracie Perkins stated that she has been there for over one year and there has not been one drill done. Kristen Thompson stated that there are no emergency drills done. Lola Cadice stated that she has not done an emergency drill. Skylar Andrews stated that the daycare did one drill last year but none since she returned.
CI Honea interviewed, eighteen children, Child A, Child B, Child C, Child D, Child E, Child F, Child G, Child H, Child I, Child J, Child K, Child L, Child M, Child N, Child O, Child P, Child Q, Child R who all stated that they do not know about the drills but they remembered doing a tornado drill the other day where they had to go into the bathrooms. None of the children remembered doing a fire drill nor did they know what a fire drill was.
On April 24, CI Honea reviewed the facilities Fire / Tornado Drill Record for 2023, 2024, and 2025, which was filled out for each month. CI Honea reviewed the Korsmeyer Fire Protection, Exit Plan Layout, Fire Safety Inspection for 2023 and 2024 (2025 to be done in May). CI Honea observed the outside locations the classrooms are supposed to meet during a drill. CI Honea talked to teachers about the emergency password and none of the teachers knew the emergency password. CI Honea observed that Director Jackie Nichols did not know where the emergency book was kept.
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