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On March 27, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that there was a ratio of one teacher to 10 children, and five of the kids were babies. They were left with one staff in the daycare for an hour. The staff are taking walks during the children`s nap time, so there is only one staff in the daycare for about an hour. 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(1)(C) - Children shall have no access to areas not approved for child care.
And
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A) - 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 April 1, 2026, CI Radney conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility. Bailey Ferguson and Nichol Woodward were in the preschool room with six children ages 1-year-old to 4-years-old, all sleeping. Bailey stood up and walked into the kitchen and through to the infant/toddler room when CI Radney introduced herself. April Mahlstedt was in the infant/toddler room with five children ages 1-year-old.
On April 1, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with LLC Member/Director Nichol Woodward, and Caregivers Bailey Ferguson and April Mahlstedt. Nichol reported one week they were out of ratio when it was just her and April, so they combined the infant classroom and preschool classrooms that week. They combined into the preschool classroom. On March 17-20, 2026, they had approximately five preschoolers and four infant/toddlers. Her daughter is 1 year old and in the preschool room because she loses it if she's not with her. There was another time Bailey was sick and they were out of ratio, from February 9-11, 2026. Again, they combined the infant/toddlers with the preschoolers in the preschool room. They had approximately five preschoolers and four or five infant/toddlers. She and April are going on walks while one caregiver watches both rooms of sleeping children. They have taken approximately three walks for 40 minutes or so around the neighborhood, off premises. April reported she and Nichol go on walks for their breaks, right after they are done cleaning and everyone is asleep. Their walks are about 20-30 minutes long. There have been about five preschoolers and four to six infant/toddlers. One caregiver stays back and watches both classrooms. They have had infant/toddlers on the preschool side because of ratio. It happens maybe once a week when there are usually five preschoolers and about five infant/toddlers. Bailey reported she has been out of ratio in her classroom. During naptime, Nichol and April leave her alone at the facility while they go on walks. They are gone for approximately one hour. They were out of ratio a few weeks ago when she had the flu and again when she had attended a funeral. They put infant/toddlers on the preschool side to help with ratio.
Based on the information provided, it appears that when staffing is low, they combine the infants/toddlers into the preschool classroom where they have around five preschoolers and between four and six infant/toddlers. Staff/child ratios were not being maintained during these times. Additionally, infants/toddlers are being cared for in the preschool room, which is not approved for infant/toddler care.
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