R 400.8182 · 1 R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of childcare staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: r Age Child Care Staff Maximum Group Size member to Child Ratio a)Infants and toddlers, 1 to 4 12 birth until 30 months of age b)Preschoolers, 30 months 1 to 8 16 of age until 3 years of age c)Preschoolers, 3 years of 1 to 10 Not applicable age until 4 years of age d)Preschoolers, 4 years of 1 to 12 Not applicable age until school-age e)School-agers I to 18 Not applicable

On December 22, 2022, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the childcare center. I interviewed owner David Foerster. He denied being out of ratio recently and said that if a caregiver calls in sick, he is available and also child care staff member Kali Quarrella is usually present and available as well. Mr. Foerster has had issues with parents bringing children that were not scheduled to be present but that is why he opens the center every morning and is pretty much there all day in case an additional caregiver is needed. While at the center, I observed both the infant/toddler classroom and the preschool classroom. The infant/toddler classroom had 11 children present with three caregivers. The preschool classroom had 18 children with two caregivers. Both of these use spaces were within the correct caregiver to child ratio. While at the center, I interviewed five caregivers. All five caregivers interviewed denied being out of ratio any time recently. CCSM4 said that occasionally parents will try to drop off a child that has not been scheduled. If this would put them out of ratio, the parent will be told that the child cannot stay. CCSM4 said that Mr. Forester will cover a classroom if needed to maintain proper caregiver to child ratios. CCSMS told me that 3 Mr. Foerster will have parents pick up a child or not be able to leave their child there if they cannot accommodate the child. I made a second unannounced onsite inspection on January 6, 2023. The center was within proper caregiver to child ratio. I was able to obtain attendance records for the week prior to the complaint being made. On December 19, 2022, at 8:04am, there were 19 children present with only two caregivers. Because three of these children were infant/toddler age, at least one additional caregiver would be needed if the three infant/toddlers were present in the infant/toddler classroom along with a preschool child as this would leave nine preschoolers and 6 school-age children present in the preschool classroom. Even if the youngest preschool child was 4 years of age, the correct caregiver to child ratio for this classroom would be one caregiver to 12 children so an additional caregiver would be needed. Two additional caregivers arrived shortly after this, one at 8:08am and the other at 8:10am, putting the center within proper caregiver to child ratios. The center was out of ratio for approximately 20 minutes. I asked Mr. Foerster about this during the January 6, 2023 onsite inspection and he acknowledged that this was due to a caregiver calling in sick on that day. I attempted to contact 12 parents regarding the allegations. As of the date of this report, I have heard back from four of the parents. Child F's mother did not believe she had ever witnessed the preschool classroom out of ratio. Child F (female, age four) attends the preschool so she could not comment on the ratio in the infant/toddler classroom, but she said that staff are very serious about scheduling children to make sure that they are able to be in compliance. At pick up, there is usually 15 children in the preschool classroom with two caregivers. Child H's mother and Child I's father had no concerns regarding the caregiver to child ratio. Child K's mother stated that there have been times when it appears there may be too many children for the number of caregivers. There used to be more caregivers present in the past. Her spouse dropped off Child K (female, age four) one day in October 2022 where there was initially no caregiver 3rd present in the preschool classroom with children present. This was either the 2nd or week in October, but Child K's mother did not have a specific date or know how long the children were unattended in the preschool room. Since this complaint was anonymous, I was unable to contact the complainant to get specific dates and times that the center has been out of ratio.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area, (3) A center operating with children in attendance for 3 or more continuous hours per day shall provide daily outdoor play, unless prevented by inclement weather or other weather conditions that could result in children becoming overheated or excessively chilled.

On March 10, 2022, I interviewed the complainant. They said that their child has not been outside to play in going on two months. The complainant believes that this is due to the owner getting a dog. The dog is present at the center daily and uses the children's fenced playground area. The staff don't want to take children outside for fear of them playing in dog waste and staff don't want to have to pick up after the dog. The complainant knows this because their child has verbalized this, and the complainant has seen big changes in their child's behavior due to not going outside daily. 2 On March 14, 2022, I made an unannounced onsite inspection to the child care center. I interviewed owner/licensee David Foerster. He admitted that children have not been going outside for approximately the last three weeks. He denied that children were not going outside due to dog waste on the playground. He said children have not been outside due to ice on the playground. While at the center, I surveyed the fenced outdoor playground. There was no ice present. He reported that when there is a freeze after a thaw, the basketball court and the south 1/3rd of the playground area. He has tried to use ice on it, but it doesn't melt the ice until the end of the day and by that time, the center is closed, and it will just refreeze by the next morning. We discussed using moveable, temporary fencing to block off areas of the playground that cannot be maintained in a safe condition due to ice. *1 did observe three piles of dog waste on the playground but because children weren't outside and hadn't been outside, this was not a rule violation. Technical assistance and consultation were given regarding this and the need to be picked up prior to children using the playground area.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: recordkeeping. Open / not marked corrected.

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

On 08/09/2021, I completed an unannounced onsite inspection at the center from 1:10 pm — 1:50 pm and interviewed licensee David Foerster. Mr. Foerster stated that child care staff member (CCSM) Angela Camper had called in sick, therefore he was acting as a CCSM and they did not have additional CCSM's present to relieve CCSM's for interviews with me. I notified Ms. Foerster that I would call back to the center at a later date to interview the CCSM's. I explained the allegations to Mr. Foerster who stated that the center has not had an increase in children's injuries. He showed me the written accident reports from the past 3 months which confirmed this. He clarified that the CCSM's provide appropriate supervision to the children at all times. There have not been any recent parent concerns brought to his attention regarding a child's injury. He only recalled one time that the center was out of the appropriate CCSM to child ratios and that was when a CCSM recently walked in the middle of her shift. He was not aware of any other times that the center has been out of the appropriate CCSM to child ratios. He provided me with the CCSM and child attendance records for the previous two weeks and I did not find any concerns. I observed that both the infant/toddler room and the preschool/school-age rooms were within the appropriate CCSM to child ratios. On 09/20/2021, I called the center and re-interviewed Mr. Foerster and interviewed CCSM's Christina Walker, Erica White, Dana Miller, Angela Camper, and Kali Quarrella. Ms. Quarrella has worked at the center since approximately 03/2021. Ms. Walker has worked at the center for approximately 3 years. Ms. White has worked at the center for approximately 3 or 4 months. Ms. Miller has worked at the center for approximately 3 years. Ms. Camper has worked at the center for approximately 4 years. None of the CCSM's reported an increase in child injuries or lack of supervision. All of the CCSM's were aware of the appropriate CCSM to child ratios for the two rooms and state that these ratios are followed always. None of the CCSM reported any times that they were aware that appropriate CCSM to child ratios weren't followed.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: Age Child Care Staff Maximum member to Child Ratio Group Size a) Infants and toddlers, 1 to 4 12 birth until 30 months of age b) Preschoolers, 30 months 1 to 8 16 of age until 3 years of age c) Preschoolers, 3 years of 1 to 10 Not applicable age until 4 years of age d) Preschoolers, 4 years of 1 to 12 Not applicable age until school-age e) School-agers 1 to 18 Not applicable

The center is following the appropriate child care staff member to child ratios.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

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

There is no evidence of inappropriate touching by Child Care Staff Member 1 and Child B. Child A was provided with appropriate care and supervision while at the center.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.