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On July 22, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that yesterday, July 21, 2025, a tree fell on Sappington Child Care Center & Summer Day Camp. It was a big tree and pretty heavy. It had fallen on half of the building and onto the entrance to the building. Director was telling staff, parents, kids, and anyone who comes to the building to walk under the tree to get inside. No injuries at this time. Staff said the tree was going to be cut. Unknown when, possibly today. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.082(6)(A)1., which states that: "A fenced outdoor play area shall be available on or adjoining the day care property. The play area shall be located so it is convenient and the children can gain access to it without hazard. For facilities initially licensed after the effective date of these rules or for the installation of new fences in existing facilities, the fence shall be at least forty-two inches (42") high. An outdoor play area used exclusively for school-age children shall not be required to have a fence. Fences shall be constructed to prevent children from crawling or falling through or becoming entrapped."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(6)(A)4., which states that: "The play area shall be safe for children's activities, well-maintained, free of hazards such as poisonous plants, broken glass, rocks or other debris and shall have good drainage."
On July 22, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed a bend in the facility's playground fence. The fence measured thirty-three inches high at the bend. CI O'Malley observed the stump of a tree outside of the facility's fence.
CI O'Malley conducted an interview with board chairperson Carol Gladieux, who stated that a large tree fell from outside her property into the facility's playground on Monday, July 21, 2025, at about 1:30 p.m., during naptime. The tree did not touch the building and did not cause any damage other than to the fence. The crown of the tree fell across the path that led in and out of the building. Carol immediately contacted a tree removal service. An estimator arrived within an hour and determined that it was safe to walk under the crown of the tree to get in and out of the building. The estimator marked the path under the tree's crown with yellow tape. A work crew arrived by 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, and had the tree completely removed from the playground by 1:00 p.m. The only damage to the facility was to the playground's fence, which was bent. A contractor was giving her an estimate for the fence on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. No one had been hurt by the tree while it was down or when it fell. No staff, parents, or children had complained to her about the tree.
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