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On August 14, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that on the evening of August 13, 2025 around 6:15 p.m., reporter was coming home from work and pulled onto South Jefferson Street. Reporter saw a small child, around 1 year old, in the middle of the road with no adults around. Reporter put her car in park and immediately went to the child and got them out of the road. Reporter called the non emergency line for the City of Neosho. As the reporter was on the phone with dispatch, a young woman from the daycare appeared on the front steps. She said that she had locked the door and was unsure how he was able to get out.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. - Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. - Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(D)1. - Infants and toddlers shall have constant care and supervision. Home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) shall not be used in place of supervision while children are napping or sleeping.
On August 14, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an interview with Director/LLC Member Carolyn Prater, Child B and Child C. Carolyn reported she was the only one with a 2-year-old, 5-year-old and 6-year old sibling group. They don't use the front doors but they must be unlocked for fire safety. Child A was trying to look out the front door and pushed it open at approximately 6:10 p.m. She was sitting on the stage, facing the doors. She saw him looking out the door. She didn't see the door open. She saw the door close out of her peripheral at approximately 6:12 p.m. At the same time, Child B and Child C both said "Where's Child A?" She ran to the door, opened it and ran outside. A lady was standing outside on the sidewalk holding Child A at approximately 6:13 p.m. The lady said she didn't see him come out of the door, so she didn't know where he belonged so she had called the police. She took Child A back as the police were pulling up at approximately 6:15 p.m. She took Child A back inside and called Parent A at 6:24 p.m. to tell her about the incident. Parent A said she was already on her way there. Child A had only been attending for about one week and had not attempted to leave the building before. Child A was unsupervised for approximately three minutes. Child B reported he is 6 years old. Child A got up and went to the front door and went outside. He (Child B) was just sitting there watching cartoons. He saw the lady holding Child A outside and said to the teacher "Where is Child A?" The lady had black hair and a black car. He saw out the window. Child C reported she is 5 years old. She was sitting on the stage watching a movie with Child B and the teacher. Child B got up and said "Where's Child A?" She looked out the window and saw Child A sitting in the back seat. The teacher ran to get Child A.
On August 14, 2025, CI Radney conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility. The door handle is is a round door-knob style on one of the doors. The door is in an entryway and that opens up to a large room with an elevated "stage" area farthest from the door. Double wooden doors lead out the front of the building facing the street. There are five steps that go down to a sidewalk. On the other side of the sidewalk is a road. One car passed by on the road while CI Radney was present taking pictures. It took approximately one minute to take pictures. The road was approximately a two-lane road. The facility is approximately 25 feet from the road. The speed limit on the road is 15 miles per hour.
On September 25, 2025, CI Radney received and reviewed a screenshot of a call log from Brooke Forgey. The call log is dated Wednesday, August 13. An outgoing call was placed at 6:14 PM and lasted 5 minutes and 9 seconds. According to Google, the phone number called was Newton County Central Dispatch Center.
On September 25, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Reporter Brooke Forgey. Child A was standing in the middle of the road. She stopped in the road and put her flashers on and got out of her car. Child A turned and looked at her and ran to her and let her pick him up. She walked to the sidewalk and stood on the sidewalk and looked around to see if anyone was around looking for him. Approximately a minute or two passed. She called dispatch; he was on her lap and she pulled her car over to the side of the road. She sat in her car with him while she was on the phone with dispatch. She was on the phone with dispatch when the daycare worker came out of the front door. She was on the phone with dispatch for five minutes according to her phone log. Child A was very small, did not talk. Child A was not crying and did not appear injured. The daycare lady apologized and said she thought that the door was locked. She was still on the phone with dispatch and the lady said law enforcement was almost there. The lady called him by name and the child went with her. They went up the stairs and back inside. She got back in her car and dispatch told her she could leave. Approximately 30 seconds later law enforcement came, when she was starting to pull away. She talked to law enforcement, and they took her information. She left at that point. Child A was unsupervised by the daycare for approximately six to seven minutes.
Based on the information provided, Child A did not have competent supervision, constant care and supervision, and frequent, direct contact when he was left unobserved on the premises for approximately five to seven minutes.
The following additional violations were observed during the investigation:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(C) - During naptime, groups composed of children two (2) years old and older shall not be required to maintain staff/child ratio within the napping area, but shall not exceed group size limitations. The required staff/child ratio shall be maintained on the premises during naptime.
On August 14, 2025, CI Radney conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility. CI Radney observed Amy Proznyk and Brittany Tidwell with 2 to 4-year-olds (seven 2-year-olds) all napping in the nap room. During naptime, the group size limitation was exceeded.
On October 8, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Carolyn Prater. She was not aware of the group size limitation rule that limits her preschool group, which includes 2-year-olds, to 20 children.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.042(18) - The number and ages of children a group child care home or child care center is authorized to have in care at any one (1) time shall be specified on the license and shall not be exceeded except as permitted within these rules.
On October 8, 2025, CI Radney conducted an interview with Carolyn Prater. She was not aware that Child A was 1 year old until August 14, 2025. She thought he was 2 years old. She is aware that her license is for 24 months to 12 years.
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