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On October 30, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on October 29, 2025, Chloe Luper grabbed Child A (3 years old) by the right arm, picking them up and swinging them around aggressively. This was while they were trying to get the children ready for a nap. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7. which states: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
On October 31, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Robyn Bauer and Parent A (who was also a caregiver). Robyn and CI Eddins reviewed video footage from October 29, 2025. After observing this video footage, Robyn observed Parent A grabbing Child A by both of his biceps and lifting Child A from the ground. She observed Parent A forcefully place Child A on a chair where he could be observed crying immediately after the lift. Parent A stated that she observed a bruise on Child A's left bicep after daycare on October 29, 2025, which was not present before daycare. She was worried that Child A may have gotten injured at daycare, but she did not see how he got injured. After reviewing video footage of her grabbing Child A by both biceps, she admitted to being frustrated with Child A. Child A was in trouble, and she was disciplining Child A for not following directions. She understood that her hands were in the same spot that she observed a bruise on Child A's left arm.
On October 31, 2025, CI Eddins conducted a walkthrough of the facility and did not observe any caregivers holding children inappropriately.
On October 31, 2025, CI Eddins reviewed footage from October 29, 2025, from the facility's cameras. The camera angle is faced down from the ceiling and points towards the right side of the classroom. The video begins at 10:25:21 a.m. Child A can be observed wearing a blue shirt with red pants. Child A is standing next to a red chair. At 10:25:52 a.m., Child A throws a toy doll on the ground. Parent A wearing a gray shirt immediately turns around, picks up Child A by both of his biceps, and quickly sets Child A down on the red chair. Child A reacts by moving his feet rapidly, tilting his head down, and appears to be crying. Parent A walks away from Child A and the video ends.
Additional violations observed during the investigation are as follows:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
and
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On October 31, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Robyn Bauer, Parent A, Caregiver Krystal Pennington, and Caregiver Kadi Kelly. Robyn stated that she heard about Child A escaping his classroom on October 30, 2025, for one to two minutes, but she was not present when it occurred. The cameras do not face Child A's classroom door, and she has no hallway cameras, so she was not able to observe how long Child A was gone. She heard that Child A was discovered by Parent A in the upstairs hallway and Parent A guided Child A back downstairs to his classroom. Child A would attempt to run, but he had never escaped the facility before. She did not know when he ran out of the classroom. Parent A stated that Kadi was in charge of watching Child A when Child A escaped the classroom and ran upstairs alone. She was the first person to observe Child A alone in the upstairs hallway by his classroom door. After she spoke with Kadi, she heard that Kadi guessed that Child A was out of his room for around two minutes. This occurred at around 11:45 a.m. and it was unknown where Child A ran to.
Krystal stated that she heard that Child A was found upstairs by Parent A when he left his classroom around lunchtime, but she did not know the details surrounding the incident. Kadi stated that on October 30, 2025, at around 11:40 a.m., Child A had run upstairs and was found by Parent A outside of his door. Child A was only gone for about one to two minutes. She just remembered observing him running around the room before Parent A brought him downstairs.
AND
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 31, 2025, CI Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Parent A and Caregiver Kadi Kelly. All staff members, expect for Kadi and Parent A, did not observe any ratio violations. Parent A stated that she had observed Kadi being left alone with 17 3-year-old children on October 30, 2025. She did not remember when she observed the ratio violation, but Kadi was left alone for more than two hours. Kadi was in charge of watching Child A when she was left alone with 17 children. Kadi stated that on October 30, 2025, she had 12 or 13 3-year-old children by herself, which included Child A. She was out of ratio for over an hour and a little overwhelmed.
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(1)(B) which states: "The premises shall conform to the fire and safety requirements of the State Fire Marshal or his/her designee and requirements for state or local zoning, building and sanitation."
and
5 CSR 25-500.082(2)(A)5. which states: "The facility shall be dry, temperature controlled, well-ventilated and free of drafts. Children shall not be overheated or chilled. The temperature of the rooms shall be no less than sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68F) and no more than eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit (85F) when measured two feet (2') from the floor."
On October 31, 2025, CI Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Robyn Bauer, Parent A, Caregiver Krystal Pennington, Caregiver Kristen Maguire, Caregiver Kadi Kelly, and Caregiver Chloe Lopur. All staff provided consistent information. All staff stated that around two weeks ago, the upstairs staff bathroom sink started leaking, and water quickly poured out. Most of the upstairs classrooms were flooded with about an inch or two of water. The upstairs classrooms have remained closed until construction is completed. Robyn stated that on October 14, 2025, the upstairs staff bathroom sink busted, and hot water started pouring out of the sink sometime in the morning. She did not know why or how the sink started rapidly leaking water. The upstairs 3-year-old classroom, both 2-year-old classrooms, and both toddler classrooms were affected by the water damage.
On October 31, 2025, CI Eddins conducted a walkthrough of the facility and observed the upstairs 3-year-old classroom, both 2-year-old classrooms, and both toddler classrooms were in the process having their floors removed and swept up by a cleaning crew. CI Eddins observed the bathroom that the flooding originated from, and CI Eddins observed that the sink was missing from the wall.
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