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On April 29, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that this morning on April 29, 2026, Child A (age 4-years-old), eloped from the classroom and was unable to be located for approximately 8 minutes. The child was subsequently located hiding in another classroom while staff were on the phone with 911. On May 5, 2026, 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 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision"
AND
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 May 5, 2026, CI Hughes conducted in person interviews with director Renee Baker, assistant Jacqueline Harder, cook Chelsiee Mort and caregivers Melanie "Mel" Morrison and Breann Nack.
Renee stated that when she arrived at the facility around 8:30 a.m. on April 29, 2026, Child A had already been located. She placed a phone call into Parent A stating that Child A was fine, but they thought he should go home for the day. Parent A arrived quickly to pick Child A up. She was not aware that the facility was out of ratio when the incident happened. The facility is installing buzzers on all doors and a security system for the front door. The staff will have a meeting discussing security, supervision and ratios.
Jacqueline stated that it was around 8:00 a.m. in the morning on April 29, 2026. Mel was in the pre-kindergarten class and Child A was having a hard time and needed some time in the calming corner. Mel turned around to talk to another child and she heard the door open. The children started yelling that Child A had left the room, so Mel called out the door for help. Chelsiee came out of the kitchen to help look for Child A. Mel told her he went straight out of the classroom. She checked all rooms and did not see him. She checked the bathrooms and when she went back into the 4-year-old room, Child A was standing in the corner with his coat and backpack. She kept Child A with her until Renee arrived. Child A was missing for less than 5 minutes. She did contact 911 but was able to locate Child A before they arrived.
Chelsiee stated that she heard that Child A ran out. She checked all playgrounds and did not locate him, so she went out the front door and out towards Mexico Road. She was still unable to locate Child A. When she ran back into the center, she heard that Child A had been found. Child A had been missing for approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
Mel stated that she thought she had about 21 children ages 3-years-old to 5-years-old in the prekindergarten class by herself the morning of April 29, 2026. Her co-teacher Breann had not made it into the room yet when Child A eloped. Child A was having a rough day so he went to calm down in the calming corner. It was very noisy in the classroom. She turned to deal with another child and heard the door open. The children started yelling that Child A had left the room. She called out into the hall for help because she did not want to leave the rest of the children in the classroom alone. Another teacher found Child A in the 4-year-old classroom. Parent A came to pick up Child A and told her it would be his last day.
Breann stated that she thought there were about 12 to 13 children in the class when she arrived on April 29, 2026. Mel was in the classroom by herself with the children. There are normally 12 children in the room on a daily basis when she arrives. She had clocked in but had not made it into the classroom yet when Child A eloped. She had stopped to use the restroom. She heard Child A had been missing for approximately 10 minutes.
On May 20, 2026, CI Hughes conducted an interview via phone with Parent A. Parent A stated that Child A had been at the facility for about a month. On April 29, 2026, she received a phone call that Child A ran out of the classroom and they were unable to locate him for a few minutes. She was not given a specific timeframe of how long Child A was missing. She was asked to come get him and she chose not to bring him back to the facility.
On May 5, 2026, CI Hughes observed attendance records obtain off of the facilities Kinderconnect program. The attendance showed Mel to have had 14 children ages 3-years-old to 5-years-old in her care by herself when Child A eloped from the classroom on April 29, 2026.
On May 5, 2026, CI Hughes observed a Report of Accident, Injury, and/or Emergency care form in Child A's file. The form indicated that Melanie Morrison and Breann Nack were responsible for Child A when the incident happened. Both staff members reported that only Mel was in the classroom when the incident occurred. Breann had clocked in but had not made it to the classroom. She had stopped to use the restroom. The form is signed off by the director Renee Baker and Parent A.
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