| Conclusion Summary |
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On June 4, 2026, the Office of Childhood received an allegation that Child A (2-months-old), was left swaddled in a crib and unattended in the room between 5:14 p.m. and 5:18 p.m. Parent A retrieved Child A and notified administration. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Jackie Ruth found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following rule violations:
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."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(D)1. which states: "Infants and toddlers shall have constant care and supervision. Home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) shall not be used in place of supervision while children are napping or sleeping."
On June 5, 2026, CI Ruth conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and held in-person interviews with the director, Ismeta Omerovic, and the director of administration, Naeem Slaise. Ismeta and Naeem explained that Child A's teacher, Tamara Tamkins, received bad news that the parent of another child in the school had been killed. Upon hearing the news, Tamara was upset and not in her right frame of mind and closed up her classroom without realizing that Child A was still sleeping in one of the cribs. Child A was alone in the classroom for approximately three to four minutes when Parent A arrived and found him. They reported the incident to the child abuse and neglect hotline and let Tamara go from employment. Ismeta stated that it was an unfortunate circumstance that led to the incident, but regardless it was not acceptable that Child A was left unattended.
While present at the facility, CI Ruth observed video footage that was recorded on June 4, 2026. The footage starts at 5:14:26 p.m. and there is no audio. CI Ruth observed caregiver, Tamara Tamkins, and another staff member talking in the hallway outside Child A's classroom. Tamara walked away down the hall, followed by the other staff member. CI Ruth observed Parent A walking down the hallway toward Child A's classroom. She went into the classroom next to Child A's room, and then immediately exited and walked back down the hallway. Parent A briefly left the frame, then reentered the hall and went into a classroom on the left side of the hallway, and immediately exited. She then entered Child A's classroom at 5:19:40 p.m. CI Ruth observed Parent A exit the room with Child A at 5:22:17 p.m. CI Ruth concluded that Child A was left without supervision for approximately five minutes.
On June 8, 2026, CI Ruth conducted an interview via phone with Parent A. She stated that she found Child A alone at the facility around 5:20 p.m. on June 4, 2026. He was in his crib, with a pacifier, and he was swaddled and asleep. She looked around for a teacher, but there was no one in the room and the lights were off. She informed Naeem of the situation. They told her they reported the incident to the child abuse and neglect hotline and fired the teacher. She feels that the facility handled the situation appropriately.
CI Ruth made multiple attempts to contact and interview caregiver, Tamara Tamkins, but was unsuccessful.
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