| Conclusion Summary |
|
On August 26, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that during the summer in the preschool and school-aged room, there was one staff member per 25 children. There are not enough staff members at the facility to care for all the children in their correct classrooms. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of a licensing rule violation that occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A), which states "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On August 28, 2025, CI West interviewed Director Melanie Shoudt, Caregiver Bethany Chrisco, Caregiver Emily Borgstadt, Caregiver Hannah Lutgen, and Caregiver Kadence Stranske. Melanie stated that during the summer months, attendance increases due to school-age children. The school-age children are mixed in with the preschool children. The youngest child would have been 3 years old, and the oldest child would have been 10 years old. If there are three teachers, then there can be more than 20 children in the classroom. Throughout the summer, there were always three teachers in the preschool classrooms because there were always more than 20 children in each preschool classroom.
Bethany, Emily, Hannah, and Kadence provided consistent information. They stated that if there were 20 children, then they would have two caregivers. On the days when there were more than 20 children in the classroom, they would have three caregivers. For most of the summer, the preschool classrooms would have more than 20 children and three caregivers inside the classroom.
On September 3, 2025, CI West interviewed Hayley Anderson, who stated that she was a caregiver for the daycare during the summer of 2025. The daycare would mix the school-age children in with the preschool children. The youngest child would be 3 years old, and the oldest child would be 10 or 11 years old. The daycare would never be in ratio. There were times when there would be one teacher with 25 children. The group sizes were always over 20 children in each preschool classroom.
On September 15, 2025, CI West interviewed Makenna, who stated that she had worked for the daycare for the past two summers. She worked in the preschool room. The ratio is one teacher to every 10 children. There were times when she had two teachers with her, and they had more than 20 children in one classroom.
|