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On June 4, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on June 3, 2025, Child A (5-years-old), stated that staff Kaylin Barsh hit Child A on the head with a broomstick. After the director reviewed the camera footage, Kaylin is seen hitting Child A across the head with an open hand. Parent A (parent of Child A and Child B) was not notified of these incidents. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., which states the following: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On June 5, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed video footage dated June 3, 2025; the footage does not contain audio. The footage shows staff Kaylin Barsh standing in the school age classroom, talking to a school age child. Kaylin's back is to the camera. Child A walks from behind Kaylin, around Kaylin's left side to stand in front of Kaylin. Kaylin uses his right hand to push the left side of Child A's face, forcing Child A back to Kaylin's left side. Child A falls to the floor but immediately stands back up.
CI O'Malley conducted interviews with director Aneshia Osby, staff Janiya Osby, Kaylin Brash, and Vanessa Walker. Staff Kaylin Brash stated that he had worked at the facility for about a year. Kaylin worked in the school age classroom by himself from about 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on June 3, 2025. Child A (5-years-old) was being pretty wild that day and was constantly doing cartwheels and running into older children. Kaylin verbally redirected Child A several times, after several redirections, Child A charged at Kaylin, but Kaylin redirected Child A with a small push to the shoulder. Kaylin denied using force. Child A ran around Kaylin and threw himself on the floor. Child A was always throwing himself around and onto the floor. Kaylin denied reporting the incident to any administrators. Kaylin swept the classroom with a broom that day, but Kaylin denied striking Child A with the broomstick.
Staff Vanessa Walker stated that she was contacted by Parent A (parent of Child A and Child B) on June 3, 2025. Parent A said that Child A and Child B had both reported that Child A was hit in the head with a broomstick that day by Kaylin. Vanessa asked Janiya to review that day's footage from the school age classroom.
Staff Janiya Osby stated that she reviewed the video footage of the school age classroom from Kaylin's arrival at 1:00 p.m. to the time the class came upstairs to the main area at 3:30 p.m. Janiya observed Kaylin carrying and using a broom but denied observing him strike a child with it. Janiya observed Kaylin push Child A's face followed by Child A falling to the ground. Janiya informed Aneshia of the incident.
Director Aneshia Osby stated that Kaylin was placed on suspension for the duration of the investigation. Child A and Child B no longer attended the facility.
On June 5, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted interviews with Child A (5-years-old), Child B (10-years-old), and Parent A (parent of Child A and Child B). Child A stated that Kaylin hit him in the head with a broom, but it did not hurt. Child B stated that Child A was acting up, doing cartwheels and not listening. Kaylin hit Child A on the top of Child A's head with the metal end of a broomstick. Parent A stated that the children were disenrolled by the facility on June 4, 2025. Parent A felt it was in retaliation for reporting Child A being hit. Parent A thought Aneshia may try to delete the camera footage.
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