.............. R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.
On 03/07/2023 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Child Development Center (CDC)-Forest. I observed eleven children present with two child care staff. Ten of the children were napping and one child was quietly reading a book. After the children woke up, Child Care Staff Member (CCSM) 1 read to children and used puppets to animate the story. I interviewed CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, and CCSM 4. CCSM 1 denied there being an issue with care and supervision in the GSRP classroom. He indicated that at the beginning of last week the program director was let go, and then child care staff from two other classrooms were called to the office Thursday, 03/02/2023, and told their classrooms were being closed, and they were 4 offered to move to work at one of the other CDC's. CCSM 1 and CCSM 2 were given letters to give out to parents of the children affected by the room closures. On Friday, 03/03/2023, the GSRP classroom was fielding phone calls from parents who did not know what was going on with the closed classrooms, and parents were coming in and asking what was happening. This day was chaotic due to everything that had happened that week. CCSM 1 reported that the GSRP classroom does follow a daily schedule and routine, but that the room was definitely a different environment the end of last week as they allowed more free choice time while dealing with the distractions from the closed classrooms. CCSM 1 maintains supervision in the classroom by interacting and playing with groups of children. There is also always another child care staff working alongside him, and also interacting with the children. CCSM 2 reported that as of last week the center no longer has a program director or assistant director, and the principal of Forest Academy, Ms. Smith, is supervising the GSRP program until a new program director is interviewed and hired. Last Thursday, 03/02/2023, around 3:30-3:45PM, CCSM 1 and CCSM 2 were given letters about the two room closures to give to parents at pick up. A letter was placed in each child's mailbox and all parents that picked up were told to check their child's mailbox. Ms. Smith sent emails to parents. CCSM 2 also emailed several parents she had email addresses for. The next day, 03/03/2023, CCSM 2 indicated that a couple parents came to the center to drop off their children and others called wanting clarification of what was happening at the center and why the rooms were closed. CCSM 2 indicated this day was a little off schedule as they were trying to field questions from parents about the closed rooms, but that the GSRP classroom normally follows a daily schedule with planned lessons and activities, today for example, children worked on basic addition and tallying. CCSM 2 did not recall any children crying or toys being all over. The toys are all over during free choice time, but then get picked up during "clean up" time. CCSM 2 reported that supervision is maintained in the classroom by walking around the room and observing the different areas of children playing and breaking off into groups and interacting with the children for activities. CCSM 2 indicated there is always two child care staff in the room. CCSM 3 denied that the GSRP classroom is chaotic, and the children are "watching themselves." She indicated that the staff in this classroom follow a curriculum and schedule with the children, but that it may appeared chaotic to someone last week as the Dragonflies and Ladybugs classrooms were closed down and many parents were upset. Child care staff and the principal of the academy handled a lot of questions. CCSM 3 maintains appropriate care and supervision by counting the children often and involving herself in the activities with the children. CCSM 4 has not observed the GSRP classroom or her own classroom as being chaotic and a mess. She reported that children do have toys all over during free choice time, but they do get picked back up at "clean up" time. CCSM 4 maintains care and supervision by
R 400.8125 · Correction status not published