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On May 4, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a complaint alleging that at around 4:00 p.m. on May 4, 2026, children were seen walking across the road and up the hill to the Dollar General across from the facility. Madelyn Stegeman was seen holding two children's hands while the others walked beside and behind her. Child A did not have permission to leave the daycare. Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an investigation of the allegation and found it to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.212(1)(C) - Parents shall be informed when field trips are planned.
On May 14, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted interviews with Director Trisha Wilson, LLC Member Stella Humphrey and Caregiver Kimberly Gardner. Trisha reported Caregiver Madelyn Stegeman took four school-agers with her across the street to the Dollar General. Madelyn did not notify parents of this walking field trip. Kimberly reported she was outside with her preschoolers, Madelyn, and Madelyn's group of school-agers. She was coming inside with the group of preschoolers. Madelyn took her four school-agers and hollered, "Come with me." They were gone about 15 minutes. No parents were notified or asked prior to the trip. Stella reported Trisha Wilson texted her and told her that Madelyn had taken her group of kids to the dollar store. Madelyn had not notified parents prior to the walking field trip.
Madelyn was terminated that day.
On May 14, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Heather Radney conducted an unannounced inspection. The daycare is on Normal Street. Across the street and up a slight grassy area is the parking lot to the Dollar General.
On June 9, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Former Caregiver Madelyn Stegeman, who reported she let the co-teacher know that she was taking four children on a walk to Dollar General. She did not call parents and notify them of the field trip to the Dollar General.
On July 1, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent A. Her son told her that he went on a walking field trip on or around May 4, 2026. No one from the daycare notified her that they were taking a walking field trip to the Dollar General.
On July 1, 2026, CI Radney conducted an interview with Parent B. Her children informed her of the walking field trip. The staff did not notify them of the walking field trip to the Dollar General.
Based on the information, parents were not notified that this field trip was occurring.
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