Maggie Campbell Gingerbread House Early Learning Center

591-1-1-.36(10) · Rule 591-1-1-.36(10) requires that a child shall never be left unattended in a vehicle.

During an investigation, it was determined that on July 1, 2025, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a 5-year-old child was left unattended on the Center’s vehicle. On the date of the incident, four staff members and 12 children loaded the vehicle at 9:12 a.m. to be transported to a movie theater. The staff members and 11 of the children exited the vehicle at the front of the theater around 9:45 a.m. The staff members conducted a headcount before entering the theater. Staff members conducted a second headcount while inside the theater and found that a child was missing. Center staff returned to the vehicle located in the parking lot and discovered the child awake on the vehicle in their seat.

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591-1-1-.32(7) · Rule 591-1-1-.32(7) requires that children be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

During an investigation, it was determined that on July 1, 2025, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a 5-year-old child was unsupervised when they were left unattended on the Center’s vehicle. On the date of the incident, four staff members and 12 children loaded the vehicle at 9:12 a.m. to be transported to a movie theater. The staff members and 11 of the children exited the vehicle at the front of the theater around 9:45 a.m. The staff members conducted a headcount before entering the theater. Staff members conducted a second headcount while inside the theater and found that a child was missing. Center staff returned to the vehicle located in the parking lot and discovered the child awake on the vehicle in their seat.

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591-1-1-.36(7)(c)2. · Rule 591-1-1-.36(7)(c)2. requires that the driver or other designated person shall immediately document in writing, with a check or other mark/symbol to account for each child listed on the passenger transportation checklist each time a child enters and exits the vehicle. The driver or other designated staff person shall document in writing with a different mark/symbol to account for each child listed on the passenger transportation checklist who was not present on the vehicle for any reason. An explanation shall be documented in writing whenever a child is transported to a field trip site but is not present on the return trip to the Center.

During an investigation, it was determined that on July 1, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., the transportation checklist was not completed when each child exited the vehicle during a field trip. A staff member stated that they counted the children as they exited the vehicle, but the staff member did not document the checklist and failed to account for each child as they exited the vehicle, which resulted in a 5-year-old child being left unsupervised on the Center's vehicle for an undetermined amount of time. The child fell asleep in transit and was later discovered by center staff.

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591-1-1-.36(7)(d)1. · Rule 591-1-1-.36(7)(d)1. requires that the first check be conducted immediately upon unloading the last child at any location including, but not limited to, a field trip destination, arrival at the Center, and the last stop during transportation to home or school. The responsible person on the vehicle shall physically walk through the entire vehicle; visually inspect all seat surfaces, under all seats and in all compartments or recesses in the vehicle’s interior; sign the passenger transportation checklist (s), indicating all of the children have exited the vehicle; and give the passenger transportation checklist(s) to the second designated Staff person. Based on an investigation, it was determined that on July 1, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., the first check of the vehicle was not completed after children were unloaded during a field trip. A staff member completed a head count but did not conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle. This resulted in a 5-year-old child being left unsupervised on the vehicle for an undetermined amount of time.

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591-1-1-.36(7)(d)2. · Rule 591-1-1-.36(7)(d)2. requires that the second designated Staff person conduct a check of the vehicle immediately upon the completion of the first check of the vehicle. The responsible person shall physically walk through the entire vehicle; visually inspect all seat surfaces, under all seats and in all compartments or recesses in the vehicle's interior; and sign the passenger transportation checklist(s), indicating all of the children have exited the vehicle. There shall be continuous watchful oversight of the vehicle between the first check and second check. Based on an investigation, it was determined that on July 1, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a second check of the vehicle was not completed after children were unloaded during a field trip. The driver dropped the children and staff members off at the front of a theater, parked the vehicle in the parking lot in front of the theater, and did not check the vehicle. This resulted in a 5-year-old child being left unsupervised on the vehicle for an undetermined amount of time.

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