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On June 30, 2026, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that from approximately 8:00 a.m. to at least 9:30 a.m., the classroom Wonderful Ones was out of ratio with two teachers to 12 children. Staff included Alexia and Brylee. 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 25-500.112(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 July 2, 2026, CI Eddins interviewed Reporter and Caregiver Chelsi Hunsaker, who stated that she was not working when she received a text from another staff member at the facility on June 20, 2026. Caregiver Alexia Civils texted her stating that she was over ratio. Alexia told her that she had 12 infants and toddlers with her and another caregiver, Brylie Martin, for over an hour from around 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
On July 2, 2026, CI Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Natalie Walgren, Assistant Director Allyson Santo, and Caregiver Alexia Civils. Natalie stated that she heard about Alexia and Caregiver Brylie Martin's classroom potentially being out of ratio early in the morning on June 30, 2026. She was not sure how long Alexia and Brylie's classroom were out of ratio for. Allyson stated that they had a call-out issue. She did not see the classroom tablet message from Alexia. She eventually read the ratio issue message that came in around 8:45 a.m. Alexia stated that on June 30, 2026, both herself and Brylie were left alone with 12 infants and toddlers from around 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. She was not certain about the exact time frame, but she knew it was around an hour.
On July 29, 2026, CI Eddins interviewed Caregiver Emery Glennon, who stated that on June 30, 2026, she was called in early to help with a ratio issue, but she could not remember many of the details surrounding that day. She does not remember the exact ratio numbers she observed, but she observed more than eight children with Alexia and Brylie in the same room.
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