R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. 4

On March 15, 2023, Sari Mellendorf, Licensee Designee/Program Director, contacted the department to self-report an incident at the child care facility. On March 16, 2023, I interviewed Ms. Mellendorf. On March 15, 2023, Child A was coming into the building from outside with his classroom at the end of the day. Pick up was occurring for children in the preschool program. Child A was at the fence behind the climber speaking with his sibling who was involved in another after school 2 program through the school district with Ellen Yaroch. Ms. Yaroch was not acting as a child care staff member. Child A was being cared for by Emily Bennett, child care staff member. Julie Warack, child care staff member was also outside with the preschool aged children but had gone inside to attend to another matter. Ms. Bennett lined the children up to come inside and Child A was not with his assigned classroom. Ms. Yaroch observed Child A on the playground after his preschool classroom went inside and contacted the main office for assistance. Jodi Schipinski, building secretary came down the early childhood hallway and asked Ms. Bennett where Child A was at. Ms. Bennett replied that he was right here in the hallway. Child A was outside the doorway into the building on the playground. Ms. Bennett was not aware that Child A was not with the group. Ms. Mellendorf estimated that Child A was away from his assigned classroom for approximately two minutes. Child A was not injured and remains enrolled at the facility. Ms. Mellendorf is meeting with school officials on March 17, 2023, to make changes to the end of the day pick up procedures. A method is not in place for name to face verification for classroom transitions. On March 16, 2023, I emailed Ms. Mellendorf a copy of an example of a name to face log for classroom transitions. On March 23, 2023, I completed an inspection at the facility. I viewed the video footage of the incident on March 15, 2023, with Ms. Mellendorf and Mary Dhyse, Licensee Designee/Program Director. At approximately 3:09 pm, Child A is observed behind the commercial climbing structure at the fence speaking with a child who was identified as Child A's sibling. The preschool children are observed running and lining up with Ms. Bennett. The playground is shaped in an "L" and line up occurs on the side closest to the entry door, which could not be viewed from that camera. After the preschool classroom is out of view, I observed Ms. Yaroch walking along the fence line for the adjacent playground where she continued along the fence to view the other side of the playground. When Ms. Mellendorf changed camera views, I observed Ms. Warack at the front of the line of children and Ms. Bennett assisting a child with putting away a truck. The classroom went inside. Child A walked along the fence line to the other part of the playground and was observed heading toward the entry door. Child A entered the building at approximately 3:13 pm. The video did not have sound, however Child A appeared calm and did not exhibit any physical signs of distress. On March 23, 2023, Ms. Mellendorf and Ms. Dhyse indicated changes to end of the day procedures have been put into place. Children will be picked up from their classrooms at the end of the day. Pick up and dismissal will no longer occur on the playground. A reminder has been sent out to parents of enrolled children about pick up procedures. Ms. Mellendorf has spoken with child care staff about sweeping the playground and using attendance logs before going inside to ensure all children are present. 3 On March 23, 2023, I interviewed Ms. Bennett. On March 15, 2023, Ms. Bennett was outside with Ms. Warack. Ms. Warack went inside briefly to attend to something and returned to the playground, yelling for the children to line up. The children cleaned up and got into line. Ms. Bennett looked back and did not see any children left on the playground. One child needed assistance with putting a truck away and Ms.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.