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On October 17, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on October 16, 2025, the preschool classroom was left out of ratio for two-and-a-half hours. There was one teacher in the room and 14 children ages 3-4. This is not the first instance of the preschool classroom being out of ratio due to lack of staffing. 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 October 21, 2025, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Wanda Lee and Caregiver Regan Handley "JT". Wanda stated that she was made aware that the 3-year-old classroom was out of ratio at 10:00 a.m. JT told her that he was alone with 14 children ages 3 years old to 4 years old. She moved two of the children aged 3 years old into the 2-year-old classroom. She could not step in the classroom to help with ratio because she had a new hire in her office completing the onboarding process.
JT stated that he noticed there were more than 10 children ages 3 years old to 4 years old around 9:30 a.m. on October 16, 2025. He was able to get the attention of Wanda around 10:00 a.m. Wanda told him that Kawani was running late, and she would be there within the hour and that he could ride it out. Wanda did not stay in the classroom's ratio with him.
On October 21, 2025, CI West conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed the layout of the preschool side of the facility to be an open concept with the director's office overlooking the preschool classrooms. CI West also observed the children's attendance sheets from October 16, 2025. The attendance showed there were 11 children in the classroom starting at 9:11 a.m. and the thirteenth and fourteenth children arrived at 9:35 a.m.
On December 16, 2025, CI West received an email with the timesheets for Kawani and JT for October 16, 2025.The timesheet showed Kawani starting work at 11:37 a.m. and ending work at 5:53 p.m. and JT starting work at 8:35 a.m. and ending work at 5:29 p.m.
According the the attendance sheets, JT was out of ratio from 9:11 a.m. until 11:37 a.m.
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