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On May 15, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on either Friday, May 8, or Monday, May 11, a child was left outside by themselves by a teacher named Gabby. The reporter thinks the child was a 2-year-old. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.082(6)(A)3. which states: "Adult supervision shall be provided at all times when children are outside. For children three (3) years of age and above, staff/child ratios may be one and one-half (1 1/2) times the indoor staff/child ratios. The required indoor staff/child ratios shall be maintained on the premises at all times."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On May 21, 2026, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Garret Osgood and Caregiver Naziyah Hamilton. Garret stated that about two or three weeks ago, he heard about Child A being found alone outside on the playground while Caregiver Gabby Nida and Naziyah's classroom were coming back inside the center from their morning recess time. He heard that Caregiver Latisha Basha was the caregiver who found Child A standing by the recess door while her class was trying to go outside around the same time. He heard that during that mix-up of Gabby and Naziyah's classroom crossing paths with Latisha's classroom, Child A must have left her classroom line and wandered towards the playground. He heard that Latisha had immediately observed Child A outside and called Assistant Director Kayla Foson, who walked Child A back to her classroom. Child A was out of her class for a short amount of time, but he was not sure for how long. Naziyah stated that she was working with Gabby when Child A was briefly left outside around two or three weeks ago on an unknown date. Her classroom was coming back inside after wrapping up outside morning recess time. She had counted the children as she lined the children up outside by the door. Latisha's classroom was coming outside during the time that she and Gabby were counting her children. Child A had originally been accounted while her class was standing outside ready to go in the facility. During that transition mix-up, Child A must have left her classroom line and wandered by towards the playground. She heard that Latisha had immediately observed Child A outside and called Kayla, who walked Child A back to her classroom. Child A was out of her class for less than 30 seconds in total.
On April 2, 2026, CI Eddins interviewed Caregiver Latisha Basha, Assistant Director Kayla Foson, and Caregiver Gabby Nida. Latisha stated that about three weeks ago, she observed Child A alone with no other teachers in sight during her morning recess time. Child A appeared scared and worried. She guessed that Child A was outside less than 10 minutes, but she was not sure since she did not see any other classrooms outside. Kayla stated that sometime a few weeks ago, at around 10:25 a.m., she got a call over the walkie-talkie from Latisha, stating that when she opened the outside door to take her kids to the playground, she observed Child A standing outside alone. She guessed that Child A had been left outside for around five or 10 minutes, because Gabby's and Caregiver Naziyah Hamilton's classroom had just come inside. Gabby stated that she was working with Naziyah when Child A was briefly left outside three weeks ago on a Monday. Her classroom was going outside on a Monday morning. She had counted the children as she lined the children up outside by the door. Latisha's classroom was outside during the time that she was counting. During that mix-up, Child A must have left her classroom line and wandered by towards the playground. Child A was out of her class for two minutes in total.
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