Children R Us Learning Center

R 400.8201(2)(e) · R 400.8201(2)(e) Comprehensive background check; fingerprinting. (2) An applicant or licensee shall do all of the following: (e) Complete and maintain the connection, disconnection, or withdrawn status of each individual associated with the license within the department's child care background check system. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8213(3) · R 400.8213(3) Staff; volunteer (3) A licensee shall have a written policy regarding screening and supervision of staff and volunteers, including volunteers who are parents of a child in care. The policy must include a statement that any staff or volunteer registered on either the Michigan State Police Sex Offender Registry or the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website is prohibited from having contact with any child in care. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8269(1)(c) · R 400.8269(1)(c) Emergency preparedness and response planning procedures (1) Written plans and procedures for emergency preparedness and response planning for the care of children and staff in each of the following emergencies must be developed and implemented: (c) Floods. 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8269(1)(e) · R 400.8269(1)(e) Emergency preparedness and response planning procedures (1) Written plans and procedures for emergency preparedness and response planning for the care of children and staff in each of the following emergencies must be developed and implemented: (e) Extreme weather events. Technical Assistance Technical assistance is support and training given to the licensee/licensee designee on a specific rule. Technical assistance includes consultation on how the facility can best maintain compliance with a rule.

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R 400.8269a(1) · R 400.8269a(1) Food (1) A written plan for the prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions must be developed and implemented to include a child care plan, prevention measures, and emergency procedures. Bureau

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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 05/23/2023, I made an unannounced onsite inspection at Children R Us Learning Center. The center has an open floor plan with half walls that break up the large room into three classrooms, a kitchen area and a front desk area. At the time of my arrival, the infant classroom had four children with one staff member; the toddler classroom had two children with one staff member and the preschool classroom had six children with one staff member. All rooms were in ratio. I spoke with the Program Director, Stephanie Kesner, who stated she just started at the center about three weeks ago. She denied the center ever being out of ratio and stated that she or Child Care Staff Member 1 are always in the building to assist any rooms that need additional staff members or need assistance with any of the children. Ms. Kesner said that the center uses Bright Wheel to keep track of children and staff member's attendance. She stated that in the mornings someone comes in every half hour from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM so that they are always in ratio. During lunch only one staff member goes on break at a time, and she will step in their classroom so that they maintain ratios. Ms. Kesner stated that a staff member quit yesterday due to feeling like she was overwhelmed with four children in her care. The staff member worked in the toddler classroom, and most of the time only had three children but one day had four, and she felt it was too much and did not come back the next day. Ms. Kesner stated she worked in the classroom until they could get another staff member hired in the room. She insisted that they were not out of ratio during any of this time. Ms. Kesner stated she arrives every day between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM and works until there is a low enough number of children that she can leave. She stated this time is different every day. Next, I interviewed Child Care Staff Member 1, and she stated that she is at the center for most of the day and opens the center in the morning. Her hours are 6:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday. CCSM 1 does not work in a classroom specifically but will help out when needed and assists children if they are going to the bathroom in the hallway area. CCSM 1 stated she has never seen the classrooms out of ratio and feels the staff members are always in their designated areas with the children. CCSM 1 said she always sees the staff take children to the bathroom and feels that, even though the bathroom is outside of the preschool classroom with the half walls, all staff can see the children go to the bathroom as well as supervise the children in the classrooms. 3 I then interviewed Child Care Staff Member 2, who stated that staff members are "coming and going" and it has not been consistent for a few months. She stated that they are having trouble staying in ratio in the afternoon, especially after 3:00 PM. She works 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. CCSM 2 stated that there were times she would leave by a certain time and knows that the center is out of ratio. She has tried to stay as long as she can but has to leave for her own personal reasons, and this will leave the center out of ratio. CCSM 2 stated she has brought this up multiple times but there is no one to take her spot so they have not fixed the problem. CCSM 2 stated lately so many staff members have quit, and the center cannot get people in fast enough to work on schedule. CCSM 2 stated a date she knew for sure the center was out of ratio was 05/16/2023. She waited as long as she could but had to leave and then found out a parent had complained and withdrew their children from the center due to their child being alone in a classroom. CCSM 2 stated they will leave infants in the infant room with no staff members and then put the toddlers and preschoolers all in one classroom. Usually, it will be one staff member left after 3:00 PM and they just stay with the older children and check on the infants when they can. CCSM 2 stated for breaks, they are a

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R 400.8182(3)(a) · R 400.8182(3)(a) Ratio and group size requirements. (3) Age Child Care Staff Maximum Group Member to Child Size Ratio (a) Infants and 1 to 4 12 toddlers, birth until 30 months of age R

On 05/25/2023, during my onsite inspection, I observed the playground area. The playground is on the side of the building and there is a fence that blocks off a small area for the children to play. However, there is a sidewalk area that leads from the building to the parking lot and the fence was taken off at this spot leaving an opening for children to go into the parking lot and for anyone to come into the play area. The center is connected to multiple other stores, and Ms. Kesner stated that the fence was taken down so that other stores can bring products in and out of the building. I took pictures of the playground and uploaded them into the file. CCSM 2 stated that the playground used to be fully closed off, but since the new restaurant went in on the other side of the plaza, they took down the fence so that deliveries could be made. CCSM 2 stated she does not feel safe with the children outside right now because they are right next to the road and trash bins, and it is hard to keep the children away from the opening. There is no grassy area for the children to play, and the small area of cement is now more limited due to keeping the children away from the opened fence area. I then spoke to CCSM 3, and she stated that the playground has always looked like this since she started. She stated there was never a full fence and the open area was always there. CCSM 3 stated she was told that the fence used to be there, but she does not know any different. On 06/20/2023 during my second onsite inspection the fence had been fixed and was back on. CCSM 2 stated that the fence is back up; however, there is not a lock on it anymore. Anyone can come in and out of the area. She stated the fence does help with keeping the children in the area; however, the safety factor is not there for her. With the fence not being locked, the delivery workers are still able to walk into the playground and get into the building.

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R 400.8143 · R 400.8143 j Children's records. (11) A center shall maintain an accurate record of daily attendance at the center that includes each child's first and last name and each child's arrival and departure time. Electronic records may be used. If electronic attendance records are used, then they must be available to the department at the time of an inspection. If the electronic attendance records are not available during an on-site inspection, then the center is in violation of this rule.

The center did not maintain accurate daily attendance for the children upon arrival or when they departed.

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R 400.8110 · 1 R 400.8110 Applicant; licensee designee; requirements. (6) The licensee or licensee designee shall maintain accurate records detailing daily arrival and departure times for each child care staff member. Child care aide, and volunteer.

Mr. Metoyer did not maintain accurate records detailing arrival and departure times for each staff member. Staff members were not signing out daily and a daily record of who was at the center was unknown.

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R 400.8182 · 1 R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. (7) If there are children of mixed ages in the same room or well-defined space, then the ratio and group size is 7 determined by the age of the youngest child, unless each group of children is clearly separated and the appropriate child care staff member-to-child ratios and group sizes, if applicable, for each age group are maintained.

When the children are mixed into one room in the afternoon, there is not enough staff to meet ratios. Parents also reported that when the children are mixed together the rooms are out of ratio.

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R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. (8) The outdoor play area must be protected from hazards, when necessary, by a fence or natural barrier that is at least 48 inches in height.

The outdoor play area was not protected from hazards when the play area fence was removed, and children were able to get out of the play area where there are hazards, including vehicular traffic. Delivery personnel were walking in and out of the play area when children were outside. When the fence was put back on, it is not locked, and deliveries are still able to be made at any time of the day when children are on the playground.

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R 400.8112 · R 400.8112 Comprehensive background check; fingerprinting. (4) For an individual who is determined ineligible by the department, a licensee shall immediately do all of the following: (a) Prohibit the individual from being on the premises of the child care center. (b) Prohibit the individual from having any contact with children in care. (c) Disconnect the individual from the child care background check system.

Person 1 was determined not eligible by the department; however, Deon Metoyer failed to prohibit Person 1 from being on the premises of the child care center and having any contact with children in care

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722.125 Violation of act;... penalty; conviction as ground for revocation of license; effect of revocation, denial, or refusal to renew... (4) A person, child care organization, agency, or representative or officer of a firm, a corporation, an association, or an organization who has a license or certificate of registration revoked, application denied, renewal refused, or, before the effective date of the 2017 amendatory act that amended this subsection, certificate of registration revoked or refused renewal of application denied may be refused a license, or be prohibited from being connected, directly or indirectly, with a licensee for a period of not less than 5 years after the revocation, denial or refusal to renew... 10

Person 1 had her license revoked on 07/07/2022 and is prohibited from being connected, directly or indirectly, with a licensee for a period of 5 years. Person 1 has been in Children R Us Learning Center and helping with the children and staff and dropping off supplies.

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