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On December 17, 2025, The Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of infants and toddlers are frequently over. Staff are typically out of ratio from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and the building is filthy. The infant room was without a teacher as a parent tried to drop off on December 15, 2025. On the same day, the toddler room was over as well. Both the infant and toddler rooms were out of ratio for an hour. On December 18, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.112(1) which states: "Staff/child ratios shall be maintained at all times."
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 December 18, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted in person interviews with acting director RaeAnne Andrews and caregivers Emily Baldwin, Morgan Hill, Erin Rangler, Kortavien Mitchell and Maureen Guardia and director Evelina Mkrtychyan.
RaeAnne stated that she normally has a staff member in the staff room to clock on if needed. She was not in the building on that morning and did not know that they were out of ratio. Kortavien and Maureen stated that they are not having issues with ratios. Emily stated that she did get a 5th child on Monday December 15, 2025. She called up to the front, and they were trying to find someone to help. She then got her 6th and 7th child by herself. Morgan clocked on at 8:32 a.m. and took 3 children from her. She was over ratio for approximately 23 minutes. She stated that it has happened in the past, but it is usually 1 extra child, and they send another staff member in. Erin stated that she does not have issues with ratios. Evelina Mkrtychtan stated that she did not know that the infant/toddler room was out of ratio. She was in ratio on December 15, 2025, with the older children on the other side of the building. Morgan stated that when she got into the room, Emily was out of ratio. She took 3 children from her when she clocked on at 8:30 a.m. and that left Emily with 4 children.
On December 18, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed Name to Face records provided by the facility for Monday December 15, 2025. The records show that Emily Baldwin clocked into the Toddler classroom at 7:15 a.m. Two children were clocked in at 7:15 a.m., one child clocked in at 8:02 a.m., one child clocked in at 8:10 a.m. and one child clocked in at 8:15 a.m. putting Emily at five children by herself. A sixth child clocked in at 8:20 a.m. and then a seventh child at 8:26 a.m. Morgan Hill clocked into her classroom at 8:32 am taking 3 children with her, putting Emily back in ratio.
CI Hughes observed when each child was clocked in by the parent dropping off for the day and the times were consistent with the paperwork.
CI Hughes observed the facility to be in ratio on Monday December 18, 2025.
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