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On October 9, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging "On October 8, 2025 around 4:05 p.m., Parent A arrived at the daycare and noticed that all teachers and children were outside on the playground, yet Child A was missing. When Parent A asked about Child A, the staff appeared confused and went inside to look for her. Then they stated that she had come in to use the potty, but my child is not potty trained. They found Child A alone in the facility in the bathroom, where she had apparently been "trying to go potty." The teacher stated she had "stepped outside for just a minute," leaving Child A completely unsupervised in an otherwise empty daycare building that had zero staff. When Parent A reached the classroom, Child A had been playing in the water and her hands were wrinkled and clothes were wet, suggesting she had been there for an extended period. Child A's pants were twisted, and her diaper was full of cold urine, indicating it had been unchanged for quite some time. The diaper was so tightly strapped that it left red marks on her legs and stomach." After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Caylin Mertz has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence and rule violation:
5 CSR 25-300.040 (1) which states "Supervision and basic care shall be provided at all license-exempt facilities."
On October 15, 2025, CI Caylin Mertz conducted an unannounced inspection and walkthrough at the facility. Over the course of this investigation, CI Mertz interviewed Director Autumn Stevens, Caregiver Kaylin Moore, Caregiver Savanna Crosswhite, Caregiver Naida Smith and Parent A (Child A's Mother). Autumn reported she was not present last week because she was on vacation, and Kaylin was in charge. The teachers in the room at the time were Naida Smith and Savannah Crosswhite. They believe the child was unsupervised for approximately 49 seconds. Kaylin reported Autumn was gone, and she was in charge. A parent came in to pick up their child and that kiddo was having a really rough day. Savannah was talking to that parent. Naida lined up all the children to go outside to play. She was in the office at the time. She did not see Child A enter the bathroom. When caregivers outside saw Child A's parent pull up, they asked "Where's [Child A]?" She is not sure how long Child A was in the bathroom. Naida should've known to do name-to-face count before going outside and then as soon as they walked out. Naida doesn't think it was her fault. Savannah lied to Parent A and told her that she had taken Child A to the bathroom and took off her diaper but Child A was in a dirty diaper. Child A isn't potty trained and has no business in the bathroom.
Savannah reported the date of the incident was October 8, 2025. She was having the students line up to use the bathroom prior to going outside to use the playground. They had 11 students at the time. The other teacher that was there was Naida Smith. While the children were using the bathroom, another parent arrived to pick up a child and she was talking with that parent about the events of the day. While she was talking to that parent, her co-worker, Naida, took the children outside without doing name-to-face. She was rushing the conversation with the parent. When she got outside, she sat down and saw Child A's mom walking up to the building and looking around to find her. She had only been outside for about a minute at that point but did not see Child A. She ran to the door and searched the building for her. She found her in the boys' bathroom playing in the sink. As she found her, Parent A walked down the hallway, and she talked to Parent A. She did tell Parent A that she took the child to use the bathroom, which was a huge mistake on her part. Kaylin was in charge that day as their director was on vacation. She believes Child A was unsupervised in the building for probably one to two minutes. She believes Child A went in to the bathroom as the children were lining up to go outside. Naida reported it was her third or fourth day of work. Savannah was talking to a parent. She was having everyone line up, and she thought she had everyone lined up by the door. Savannah had told her to take the kids outside so she lined them up. She didn't know that she was supposed to do name-to-face attendance. She went and closed the gate outside, and she let the kids out the door. They were not counted. Child A was inside in the hallway. She believes the child was unsupervised for under a minute. Child A was located inside by her mother and Savannah. S
On December 5, 2025, CI Mertz received and reviewed a written warning for Savannah Crosswhite and Naida Smith. On Savannah's paperwork, the reason for warning states "On 10/8/25, Savannah and another staff member failed to perform a name-to-face check before exiting the building with the children resulting in a child being left in the building. Savannah stated that she had the count wrong on the clipboard. Upon review of the cameras, this child had gone down the hallway and was unsupervised approximately 6-7 minutes before the group exited the building. Savannah also stated that she panicked and lied to the parent about what happened. For the required action, it states "Savannah will keep an accurate list and count of the children in her care. She will ensure that a name-to-face check is completed before transitioning from one place to another (i.e. from inside the building to the playground). During clean-up transitions, Savannah will ensure that all children are monitored so that no child is in the hallway unsupervised. Savannah will be truthful in her response to parents." The form is signed by Autumn and Savannah and dated October 15, 2025. On Naida's paperwork, the reason for warning states "On 10/8/25, Naida and another staff member failed to perform a name-to-face check before exiting the building with the children resulting in a child being left in the building. Upon review of the cameras, this child had gone down the hallway and was unsupervised approximately 6-7 minutes before the group exited the building." For the required action, it states "Naida will keep an accurate list and count of the children in her care. She will ensure that a name-to-face check is completed before transitioning from one place to another (i.e. from inside the building to the playground). During clean-up transitions, Naida will ensure that all children are monitored so that no child is in the hallway unsupervised." The form is signed by Autumn and Naida and dated October 15, 2025.
On December 11, 2025, CI Mertz conducted an interview with Parent A. She reported the allegation is accurate and she does not have additional information.
On February 23, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Board Chairperson Jill Kramer. She reported the daycare has permanently closed as of February 13, 2026. She was not present on October 8, 2025, when Child A was unsupervised in the building. She is familiar with the incident. The written warnings are accurate as written. It was confirmed in the Child Care Regulation Information System (CCRIS) that the facility permanently closed on February 13, 2026.
Based on the information provided, it appears that Child A was unsupervised for at least six to seven minutes when caregivers did not follow procedure and went outside, leaving Child A inside. Supervision and basic care was not provided. The facility has since closed and no additional information is available.
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