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On June 5, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on June 5, 2026, the infant/toddler float, Sydney Kincaid, arrived at work at 8:35 a.m. and spent approximately 10-15 minutes in the staff bathroom before going into the infant/toddler room to work. Caregiver Elise Bullard observed Sydney to be wobbly, and she had her hand resting on a shelf that she appeared to be using for support. Elise signaled to Caregiver Val McKenzie in the adjacent room to watch Sydney. Val confirmed something was off with Sydney. Assistant Director Diane Deaver was notified of the situation, and she and reporter observed Sydney. She was observed to be sitting on the floor with children and toys, nodding off and jerking back awake. Sydney was observed to be intelligible but have red and glassy eyes. She admitted to drinking a lot the night before. Lee's Summit Police Department was called. She initially refused a breathalyzer test but eventually did it. The police said their machine was not 100% accurate as it needed to be calibrated, but it was reliable enough that they were confident she was under the influence. 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 25-500.102(1)(G) which states: "Caregivers, directors, other personnel, or volunteers shall not be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, while on the premises or in any vehicles used by the program. These individuals shall not be in a state of impaired ability due to use of medication while on the premises."
On June 9, 2026, CI Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Timothy Fugitt, Assistant Director Diane Deaver, Caregiver Elise Boldizs, and Caregiver Valerie McKenzie. Tim stated that Sydney arrived at the facility at around 8:35 a.m. on June 5, 2026 with her 2-year-old son. She dropped her child off and immediately went to the restroom, where she spent around 15 minutes before heading to her classroom to start her shift. She was working with Elise, who immediately observed her to be wobbly, slow to respond, and using her hands to help keep her balance on a shelf. Elise signaled to Valerie, who was working in the adjacent room, to observe Sydney's behavior. Valerie had also confirmed something was off with Sydney and observed her heading nodding like she was struggling to stay awake. Diane was notified of the situation, and she reportedly observed Sydney showing the same symptoms. Sydney was observed to be sitting on the floor with children and toys, nodding off and jerking back awake. She was immediately removed from the classroom and guided to his office. He started to ask Sydney questions about her morning. He observed her to have red and glassy eyes. He thought that he smelled alcohol on her breath. Diane called the Lee's Summit Police Department. Police quickly arrived and requested that she take a breathalyzer test. She eventually complied, and the officer told him that their older machines were not 100% accurate as it needed to be calibrated, but it was reliable enough that they were confident she was under the influence and not fit to drive home. Elise, Diane, and Valerie confirmed the information from Tim's interview. In all of their opinions, Syndey was unfit to conduct her job duties as a caregiver on the morning of June 5, 2026.
On June 24, 2026, CI Eddins interviewed Sydney, who admitted to showing up to work intoxicated on June 5, 2026. She had been drinking in the parking lot with little shooters of liquor prior to going inside. The police arrived and conducted a breathalyzer test on her, which showed that she was over the legal limit.
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