• Violation

  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.

  On 03/25/2021, I received a telephone call from Melissa Lasek, licensee designee and program director of King Academy. Ms. Laske self-reported that Child A had accidently been left on the playground by a child care staff member for a couple minutes after outdoor playtime had ended. Another child care staff member saw Child A outside and brought her back inside. On 03/25/2021, Ms. Lasek submitted the written incident report along with written statements from child care staff members Renee Cunnings, Shais Cardle, Rose Rhoades and Madison Krease. On 03/25/2021, I conducted a telephone interview with Child A's Mother. Child A's Mother initially stated that she had not been notified by Ms. Lasek that Child A had been left outside, but after looking at her phone she noticed that she had missed several calls and had a voice mail message from King Academy. Child A's Mother stated that she did not have the specifics of what happened, but was confident with the center's care and supervision of Child A. She denied having any previous concerns and felt the overall care and supervision provided by child care staff members "was great". I provided Child A's Mother with my contact information if she had any concerns after speaking with Ms. Lasek. On 04/01/2021, I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at King Academy and met with Ms. Lasek. Ms. Lasek indicated that on 03/25/2021, she was in the office with a child care staff member and was informed that Child A had been left alone outside on the playground. Ms. Lasek stated that Renee Cunnings, the assistant child care staff member, was outside by herself during outdoor play while the lead caregiver, Madison Krease, was inside making telephone calls to parents. There were only six children in care at the time, so Ms. Cunnings was within ratio. Ms. Lasek stated she then called me to verbally report the incident and received written incident reports from the child care staff members involved. During the 04/01/2021 onsite inspection, I interviewed Ms. Cunnings regarding the 03/25/2021 incident. Ms. Cunnings explained that she is an assistant child care staff member in the classroom and Ms. Krease is the lead child care staff member. Ms. Krease had stayed inside during outdoor play to make some telephone calls to parents. Ms. Cunnings thought there were maybe "six or seven kids" outside with her that day. Ms. Cunnings acknowledged that she was within ratio with the children. She stated she was outside on the sidewalk at the front of the building with the children doing sidewalk chalk and riding toys when one of the children stated she had to go to the bathroom. Ms. Cunnings went to the building and Ms. Cardle was 3 right by the door and said she could take the child to the bathroom. Ms. Cunnings stayed outside with the remaining children, but then another child said he had to go to the bathroom, and he was "really anxious" because he had to go, so she quickly gathered the children and went inside to take him to the bathroom. Ms. Cunnings stated she was taking the children to the bathroom when another child care staff member, Rose Rhoades, told her that Child A had been left outside and was standing outside the front door. Ms. Cunnings turned around and noticed Child A outside and let her in. Ms. Cunnings asked Child A where she was and Child A reported that she had gone onto the playground to see her friend. Ms. Cunnings stated she "did not honestly know" how long Child A had been outside by herself. She indicated that she was in such a hurry to get the children to the bathroom and did not count the children like she normally does. I asked Ms. Cunnings if she is normally outside by herself with the children since Great Start to Readiness Program (GSRP) staff usually are both present during outside play even if they are within ratio. Ms. Cunnings stated that due to some illness, COVID-19 related issues and other reasons not clear to Ms. Cunnings, Ms. Krease was "in and out of the classroom" mu

Center self-reported that Child A (5 year old female) was left out on the playground by herself for a couple of minutes.

Disposition: Substantiated