| Conclusion Summary |
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On November 12, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that this morning, November 10, 2025, when the reporter came into work, the air conditioning had been left on over the weekend, so the building was cold. By the time the reporter arrived at 7:30, the rest of the building that I walked through was up to 68 degrees, with the exception of the infant room being 57 degrees. By 9:51 a.m., it was 62 degrees. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.082(2)(A)5. - 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 November 13, 2025, CI Radney conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility. CI Radney observed the temperature in the Sunflowers infant/toddler classroom to be 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the Daisys infant/toddler classroom to be 73 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature in the Tulips infant/toddler classroom to be 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
On November 13, 2025, CI Radney conducted interviews with Amy Bernagozzi, Christina Wilson, Heather Marsh, Julia Miller, and Melody Knorpp. Heather reported she opened the facility at 6:30 a.m. and saw the thermostat in the hallway said it was 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostat was either off or set on A/C, so she turned it to heat and set the temperature to 70 or 72 degrees Fahrenheit. At 7:00 a.m. they open the doors and begin caring for children. It was still cold in the classroom. Christina reported she arrived prior to the center opening and observed the thermostat to say 59 degrees Fahrenheit on the clock in the classroom. Around 11:30 a.m.- noon, she noticed that it had made it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Amy reported the temperature was freezing, but she didn't personally observe a temperature on a thermostat. Melody reported she arrives in the classroom at 7:30 a.m. She observed the temperature to be 57 degrees Fahrenheit in the classroom and at 9:51 a.m. it was 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Julia reported she was in the classroom on November 10, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. She thinks the temperature was 60 degrees Fahrenheit when she looked. It was definitely below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
On December 29, 2025, CI conducted an interview with Director Holly Conner. She arrived around 6:30 a.m. or 7:00 a.m. She was made aware of the temperature issue. She observed the temperature in the classroom to be in the 50's after children arrived at 7:00 a.m.
Based on the information provided, it is difficult to determine what the temperature was on Monday, November 10, 2025 in the classroom, however, caregivers reported it was below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, during the inspection on November 13, 2025, CI Radney observed a the Tulip infant/toddler classroom to be 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the complaint will be substantiated.
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