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On April 29, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of the facility staff transported a 3-year-old child to the Normandy Early Childhood Center in the front seat of the van without a proper car seat. On May 1, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(A) which states: "The provider shall be responsible for the care, safety and supervision of children on field trips or at any time they transport children away from the facility."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.212(3)(A) which states: "All children shall be seated in a permanent seat and restrained by seat belts or child restraint devices as required by Missouri law."
On May 1, 2025, director Yonnick Jones stated that Child A's bus was not on time a lot and he thought that Child A had missed the bus. He asked his private bus service to please take Child A and drop off Child A. The bus driver asked that he put Child A in the front seat so that the bus driver would not forget Child A. Child A was transported without a car seat.
On May 21, 2025, Parent A stated that the center did not contact her until after CI Hughes visited the center. She was now aware that Child A was transported to school in the front seat without a car seat and this was not the first time it has happened. She was not happy with the situation. She has informed the center that if the bus is missed, she is to be contacted immediately to get Child A transportation, and the center is not to transport Child A in any other vehicle other than what the school district provides.
On September 5, 2025, LLC Member David Williams stated that Williams Academy used 8 State Transit company for field trips and Child A was transported by 8 State Transit.
On September 5, 2025, bus driver Arthur Howard stated that he is employed by 8 State Transit. He remembers the day that Yonnick Williams brought Child A out to the bus and asked him to transport Child A to school. 8 State Transit did have a contract with Williams Academy to transport other children to school. The center provided him with a list of children that were authorized to be transported and Child A was not on the list. He told Yonnick to place Child A in the front seat, not in a proper car seat. He should have never transported Child A.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)2. which states: "A caregiver personally shall admit each child upon arrival and personally shall dismiss each child upon departure. Children shall be dismissed only to the parent(s), guardian, legal custodian, or to individuals approved by the parent(s), guardian, or legal custodian."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.222(2) which states: "An individual file shall be kept to identify each child and enable the provider to communicate with the parent(s) , guardian or legal custodian of the child in an emergency. Records shall include:"
AND
5 CSR 25-500.222(2)(F) which states: "Field trip and transportation authorization."
On May 1, 2025, CI Hughes received and observed Child A's enrollment form. Child A's form did not include permission to transport Child A, nor did the form identify Arthur Howard or 8 State Transit as authorized to take Child A from Williams Academy.
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