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On March 5, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that the center is constantly out of ratio, on a daily basis, in the preschool and kindergarten rooms. For example, every day at naptime, preschool staff take their breaks and leave the premises. This leaves other staff to supervise 20-30 children. Sometimes a preschool teacher will have to supervise two classrooms in the preschool quad. 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)(C), which states "During naptime, groups composed of children two (2) years old and older shall not be required to maintain staff/child ratio within the napping area, but shall not exceed group size limitations. The required staff/child ratio shall be maintained on the premises during naptime."
On March 12, 2026, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Caregiver Regan Handley "JT" and Caregiver Kristen Miller. JT stated that they have seen one caregiver responsible for multiple quadrants at one time during the children's nap time and the caregiver's lunch time. They have been left alone at nap time with more than 20 children aged 3 years old to 5 years old. They remember being left with 25 children during nap time.
Kristen stated that she only has ratio concerns when the preschool caregivers start taking their lunches. It is during nap time for preschool children. She has seen one caregiver watching more than 20 preschool children aged 3 years old to 5 years old during nap time.
The following additional violation was discovered during the investigation:
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 March 12, 2026, CI West observed an infant/toddler room that exceeded the group size limitation. There were four caregivers present with 12 children aged 12 months old to 13 months old.
On March 12, 2026, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Brooke McCarty, who stated that one of the infant/toddler classrooms is having some work done. She had to combine two classrooms, so there are 12 children aged 12 months old to 13 months old with four caregivers.
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