The Montessori School Rochester

R 400.8161(1) · R 400.8161(1) Maintenance of premises. (1) The premises must be maintained in a clean and safe condition and must not pose a threat to health o r safety.

The premises are maintained in a clean and safe condition. On 10/01/2025 and 11/19/2025 the center was observed to be clean and the bathrooms did not present with odors.

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R 400.8161(2) · R 400.8161(2) Maintenance of premises. (2) The premises must be maintained so as to e liminate and prevent rodent and insect harborage.

The premises was maintained so as to eliminate the insect harborage. Pest control services were initiated in April 2025 and continued through October 2025, culminating in comprehensive treatment of the entire facility and resolution of the cockroach concern.

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R 400.8257 · R 400.8257 Biocontaminants A center shall use standard precautions regarding prevention, exposure, and disposal of b iocontaminants.

Based on the interviews that were completed, there is insufficient evidence to determine that the child care center's policy regarding toddlers being required to wear underwear, instead of diapers, resulted in a widespread outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease affecting the child care center's toddler population. Although there were confirmed cases of hand, foot, and disease among the child care center’s toddler population, it cannot be determined for certain that the cause was due to the child care center's policy 2 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP regarding toddlers being required to wear underwear, instead of diapers.

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R 400.8251(1)(f) · R 400.8251(1)(f) Handwashing (1) All program staff and volunteers shall wash their hands at all of the following times: (f) After using the toilet or helping a child use t he toilet.

While observing the Lilac classroom on 08/05/2025, I observed Teacher 1 change children’s pull up training pants and underwear wearing gloves, but she did not wash her hands with soap and water after disposing the gloves. She used hand sanitizer.

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R 400.8251(2)(b) · R 400.8251(2)(b) Handwashing (2) Program staff and volunteers shall ensure that children wash their hands at all of the following times: (b) After toileting or diapering.

While observing the Lilac classroom on 08/05/2025, I observed one child not wash his hands after toileting. Teacher 1 did not ensure that he washed his hands after toileting.

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R 400.8254(11)(c)(iv) · R 400.8254(11)(c)(iv) Diapering; toileting (11) Equipment used for toilet learning or training must be provided. All of the following equipment is acceptable for toilet learning or training: (c) Non-flushing toilets or potty chairs, if they are all of the following: (iv) Cleaned and disinfected after each u se.

While observing the Lilac classroom on 08/05/2025, I observed Teacher 1 only disinfect the potty chairs after each use with a disinfecting wipe. She did not clean the potty chairs before disinfecting them.

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R 400.8131(3) · R 400.8131(3) Professional development requirements. Before caring for children, all child care staff members and unsupervised volunteers who work directly with children shall be trained on prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment, and recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

There was no documentation that four child care staff members had completed the required training prior to caring for children.

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R 400.8134(4) · R 400.8134(4) Hand washing. Guidelines for hand washing must be posted in food preparation areas, in toilet rooms, and by all hand washing sinks. 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 400.8161(5) · R 400.8161(5) Emergency procedures. A fire drill program, consisting of at least 1 fire drill quarterly, must be established and implemented. 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 400.8134(3)(b) · R 400.8134(3)(b) Hand washing. After toileting or diapering.

In the Lotus classroom I observed children using the toilet and potty chairs, but staff did not ensure the children washed their hands after this.

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R 400.8385 · R 400.8385 Poisonous or toxic materials. Poisonous or toxic materials.

There were cleaning products stored in an unlocked lower cabinet in the Iris classroom.

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R 400.8182(3)(a) · R 400.8182(3)(a) Ratio and group size requirements. Infants and toddlers, birth until 30 months of age, child care staff member to child ratio of 1 to 4, maximum group size of 12.

The Lilac room did not maintain the required ratio from 10:15am to 10:21am. There was 2 child care staff members to 9 toddlers.

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722.115n(1) Application for or renewal of license to operate child care center, group child care home, or family child care home; household member or child care staff member; criminal history check; requirements; duties of department. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (13), when a person, partnership, firm, corporation, association, governmental organization, or nongovernmental organization applies for or applies to renew a license to operate a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home under section 5m and before a group child care home or family child care home allows an individual to be a member of the household, or a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home allows an individual to become a child care staff member, the department shall do all of the following:

Two child care staff members were working at the center prior to completing fingerprinting

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R 400.8125(5) · R 400.8125(5) Staff; volunteer; requirements. A written statement must be signed and dated by staff and volunteers at the time of hiring or before volunteering indicating all of the following information:

Three staff files reviewed had the staff's signature, but no date the statement was signed.

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R 400.8134(2)(f) · R 400.8134(2)(f) Hand washing. After using the toilet or helping a child use the toilet.

In the Lotus classroom I observed a child care staff member helping children use the toilet but not washing her hands after helping each child use the toilet.

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R 400.8152(5) · 5 LANDMARK BUILDING • 105 W. ALLEGAN STREET • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933 Michigan.gov/MiLEAP R 400.8152(5) Medication; administrative procedures. A child care staff member shall keep all medication out of the reach of children and shall return it to the child's parent or destroy it when the parent determines it is no longer needed or it has expired. 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 400.8325(1) · R 400.8325(1) Sanitization. All tableware, utensils, food contact surfaces, and food service equipment must be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use. Multipurpose tables must be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized before and after they are used for meals or snacks. Bureau

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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 03/08/2023, I spoke to the complainant. The complainant stated she felt concerned that children were not being cared for appropriately at The Montessori School of Rochester. The complainant observed Child A outside, alone, without a jacket, twice in one day. The child was banging on the glass to re-enter the building but remained outside for more than five minutes. This incident occurred in February of 2023. On 03/08/2023 I conducted an announced onsite inspection at The Montessori School of Rochester. I interviewed program director Erin Mallory, licensee Joanne Shango, CCSM 1, CCSM 2, CCSM 3, CCSM 4, CCSM, 5, and CCSM 6, separately. Ms. Mallory confirmed that Child A attends the center, Monday through Friday and is enrolled in the Magnolia classroom. Ms. Mallory stated on 02/03/2023, CCSM 5 came into her office and explained that she observed Child A outside the building, alone. CCSM 5 said CCSM 1 was standing inside the vestibule with her arms folded and the door closed, looking towards Child A. Child A did not have a coat on; he was dressed in a long sleeve shirt, pants, and shoes. A minute later, CCSM 6 came into her office and explained that she observed Child A outside alone and heard CCSM 1 tell Child A, "I don't like doing this, as she walked Child A toward the door that led outside." She stated she observed Child A outside, alone. Ms. Mallory went to the classroom and observed Child A sitting on the bench (he was sitting on the bench to help him regain control of his behavior). She asked if he went outside, and he said, "No, it's too cold." She questioned CCSM 1 about the incident, and CCSM 1 replied that Child A wanted to go outside, so she allowed him to do so. However, Child A was in her sight at all times. He was not left unsupervised. Ms. Mallory told CCSM 1 it was not okay to have Child A outside without a jacket. The following Monday, 02/06/2023, Ms. Mallory interviewed CCSM's 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and collected written statements from CCSM's 1, 5, and 6. She said that based on her interviews, she determined that CCSM 1 took Child A outside on two different occasions 3 on 02/03/2023 and that the child was outside for about one minute the first time and two to three minutes the second time. Ms. Mallory did not speak to Child A's Mother or Father because CCSM 1 indicated she would let them know about the incident. Ms. Mallory explained, because the center follows Montessori curriculum, staff are trained to allow children to help decide how they would like to calm down when they are having behavioral difficulties in the classroom. Children will ask to go to the gym, take a walk in the hallway, or go outside. Staff will help children decide if they need a break from the classroom. Ms. Mallory stated that this helps the child build self-regulation skills, which is an important skill for children to develop. Children always need to be with a staff member, even if a break from the classroom is determined necessary by the child and staff member. Ms. Mallory thought that there must be a misunderstanding of sorts. Ms. Mallory confirmed that children did not go outside on the date of the incident because it was too cold. The real feel temperature (factoring in windchill) in Rochester Hills was -3 degrees Fahrenheit. According to weather underground.com, the weather in Rochester Hills, MI in the afternoon of 2/3/2023, was between 10 degrees and 30 degrees Fahrenheit with winds between 16 and 28 mph. On 05/24/2023, I re-interviewed Ms. Mallory. She stated that she met with CCSM 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, individually, to gain more insight about the incident. It became clear that CCSM 1 left Child A outside while she remained inside. It was not clear how long Child A was outside. CCSM 5 and CCSM 6 were both upset by the incident, and indicated they observed Child A talking through the glass but could not make out what he was saying. CCSM 6 observed Child A hanging on the door handle, which made her believe he was trying to get

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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 07/22/2022 assistant director Felicia Calabrese left a voicemail message and sent an incident report that documented on 07/22/2022 at 10:10am "three children left the playground and wandered into the surrounding neighborhood.. .they went through the woods on the perimeter of the playground... and couldn't find their way back. . .(staff) Sarah notified the office and all staff outside and we immediately mobilized and went in all directions to locate the children... Sarah got in her car and drove into the neighborhood where she found them walking. The children were found approximately 8 minutes later...". On 07/28/2022 I completed an on-site inspection and interviewed staff Sarah Craine. Ms. Craine is the lead caregiver in the Magnolia preschool classroom. Ms. Craine stated she does not allow the primary (preschoolers 3-6 years old) children to play in the wooded area. Ms. Craine stated at the beginning of the summer she showed her classroom children, which included Child F (4 years old) and Child H (3 years old) the playground boundary and told them they were not allowed to go into the wooded area. Ms. Craine stated during the summer, weather permitting, the primary and school age children spend Friday mornings outside, and the children engage in free play and some organized activities. Ms. Craine said most of the children arrive between 8:00am and 9:00am, and Child F and Child H arrived around 8:00am on 07/22/2022. Ms. Craine was working that day with Bree (Sabreea O'Brien), Priya (Sathyapriya Venkat), and Manju (Sarman) and there were about 22 Magnolia children outside that morning. Ms. Craine did not know how many, but there were staff and children from two other primary classes and the school age group outside that morning. Ms. Craine stated shortly before the incident she saw Child F, Child G (6 years old), Child H, and Child I (4 years old) standing near the wooded area on the northwest side of the playground. She did not see any of these children walk into the wooded area. Around 9:45am, Ms. Craine could not recall the exact time, she went inside the building to get a box of popsicles for the children. She came back outside and was handing out the popsicles to the children and was doing the first name to face attendance check of the morning for her Magnolia class. Child F and Child H did not come and get a popsicle and she did not see them on the playground, so she began looking for them. At this time Child I came over to Ms. Bree (Sabreea O'Brien) and stated (Child F, Child G, and Child H) had gone "out of bounds". Ms. O'Brien went with Child I to the area the children went "out of bounds." Ms. O'Brien came back and alerted her she could not locate Child F, Child G, or Child H. Ms. Craine 3 immediately went and started searching the wooded area and calling for the three children. She got to the northwest edge of the center's property and still did not see or hear them, so she called the main office on her cell phone and alerted the office staff of the situation. All staff on the playground and inside the building began searching for the three children. Ms. Craine went inside the building and proceeded out to her car and drove to Grace Avenue, as she thought the children may have walked in that direction. She drove down Grace Avenue and saw a woman and some children walking and asked the woman if she had seen the three children. The woman stated she had and pointed (west) down the street. Ms. Craine drove a little further and saw Child F, Child G, and Child H walking in her direction on Grace Avenue at the intersection of Cone Avenue. The children said they were trying to find their way back to the school. The children had some scratches on their arms and legs from walking through the wooded area. Ms. Craine stated there had been no prior issues with Child F, Child H, or any primary child wandering into the wooded area. I asked Ms. Craine what if any changes had she and staff made since this incident. She stated a tem

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R 400.8170 · R 400.8170 Outdoor play area. (10) The outdoor play area and any equipment located on the center's premises must be maintained in a safe condition and inspected daily before use to ensure that no hazards are present.

There were openings between wood planks and the wood planks and the ground on the wood rail fence. This had a potential for a child to get his/her head entrapped.

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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 07/25/2022 staff Felicia Calabrese emailed me advising that the center had been contacted by Detective Robert Davis from the Oakland County Sheriff Department (OCSD). In this email Ms. Calabrese wrote Child J and Child K's Mother was concerned that something may have happened to Child J at the center on 07/14/2022. Ms. Calabrese wrote that she spoke with the lead caregiver (Audrey Spencer) and looked at video footage from 07/14/2022 of Child J's classroom, and "there was nothing out of the ordinary". I spoke with Ms. Calabrese and asked her to send an incident report, which she emailed one on 07/26/2022. On 07/27/2022 I spoke with Detective Davis. He stated he had spoken with Child J and Child K's Mother who stated she had taken Child J for a medical exam. Detective Davis stated he had spoken with the medical examiner and the exam did not provide any definitive findings. On 07/28/2022 I completed an on-site inspection to the center and interviewed staff Felicia Calabrese and Magdalena Ponurska. Ms. Calabrese stated Child J had just enrolled at the center in July 2022. Child J was in the Sunflower toddler classroom. Child J only attended 6 days between 07/05/2022 and 07/15/2022. Ms. Ponurska stated on 07/15/2022 Child J and Child K's Mother called her and stated she had taken Child J to the emergency room about a concern. Child J and Child K's Mother initially would not tell Ms. Ponurska what the concern was about; however, Ms. Ponurska continued to question Child J and Child K's Mother about it and Child J and Child K's Mother stated she was worried something may have happened at the center to Child J on 07/14/2022. Ms. Ponurska and Ms. Calabrese reviewed video footage from 07/14/2022 of the Sunflower class and did not see anything happen to Child J. Ms. Ponurska stated Child J loves playing in the outdoor sandbox and she did not know if sand may have gotten in Child J's diaper and caused some irritation. Ms. Calabrese stated when they reviewed the video, they did not see staff wipe or have Child J wipe herself after using the potty chair, so she reminded staff that when they assist a child with toileting to wipe the child or have the child wipe his/herself. Ms. Calabrese stated on 07/14/2022 the primary caregivers working with Child J were Audrey Spencer (lead caregiver), and assistants Winter Mastrella, and Lucy Dalto. Ms. Calabrese stated other staff that work in the Sunflower classroom are Veronica Chavez and Iris Sanchez. Ms. Calabrese stated she spoke with the Sunflower staff and none of the staff reported any concerns with Child J on 07/14/2022 or any of the other days Child J attended. Ms. Calabrese and Ms. Ponurska showed me video footage of Child J in the bathroom the morning and afternoon of 07/14/2022. The video footage shows staff assisting the children in a bathroom. The video at 9:02am shows staff Lucy Dalto helping Child J with toileting and at 3:55pm staff Winter Mastrella helping Child J 4 with toileting. The 9:02am video shows Child J washing her hands in the bathroom sink several times before and after using a potty chair, Child J standing up and Ms. Dalto helping Child J take off a diaper, Child J sitting on a potty chair for a few minutes, and Ms. Dalto putting a diaper on Child J. The 3:55pm video shows Ms. Matrella helping Child J remove her diaper, Child J sitting on a potty chair, Ms. Mastrella putting a diaper on Child J who is standing up, and Child J washing her hands in the sink. There is no indication in the video of any issues with Child J. While I was on-site at the center, Detective Davis arrived and picked up a copy of the video footage of the Sunflower class on 07/14/2022. I interviewed Sunflower room lead caregiver Audrey Spencer. She stated she heard about a concern that Child J's diaper area was red. Ms. Spencer stated Child J only started at the center a few weeks ago. Child J was supposed to attend Monday through Friday, but only came a few days a week, and Child J has not been back

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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 07/28/2022 I interviewed Ms. Calabrese. She stated Child K was enrolled in the school age summer camp from 07/05/2022 through 07/15/2022. Child K was in group D with staff Jason Scott. Ms. Calabrese stated staff Julia Justice and Constantine Triantafillou also interacted a lot with Child K. Ms. Calabrese stated Mr. Scott told her Child K had difficulty with social interactions with the other school age children. Mr. Scott and Mr. Triantafillou were not working on 07/28/2022. I was able to interview staff Julia Justice who stated Child K was not in her school age group. She stated when she saw Child K during the day, he seemed to enjoy summer camp and had a good time with the other children. Ms. Justice stated she did not observe any child bullying Child K. On 07/29/2022 I spoke with Child J and Child K's Mother. She stated when she enrolled Child K, she explained to Ms. Calabrese that Child K had some special needs which included Child K receiving virtual speech therapy for about 30 minutes a day. Child J and Child K's Mother stated there were several incidents where Child K was mistreated by staff or children. Child J and Child K's Mother stated one incident Child K told her about involved a staff, she did not know which staff, who was handing out popsicles to the children. The staff did not offer a popsicle to Child K. Another incident Child K told her he was verbally bullied by a student who said to Child K "your mama, your mama". Child K said Mr. Scott was in the classroom at the time, but Mr. Scott did not intervene to stop the other student from saying this. Child J and Child K's Mother stated there was another incident where some of the children 7 were playing soccer. Child K wanted to play; however, Mr. Triantafillou told Child K to sit on the bench and he did not let Child K play. On 08/02/2022 I interviewed staff Constantine Triantafillou. He stated he treats all the children, including Child K equally. Mr. Triantafillou stated Child K did have difficulty with "invading others' personal space". Child K often would come right next to him, other staff, or other children. Child K would get so close that his body would be touching the other person. Mr. Triantafillou stated he would try to help Child K learn to respect others' personal space. He would ask Child K to back up a little and Child K would do this, but later Child K would again be in someone's personal space. Mr. Triantafillou stated sometimes during the day Child K seemed dejected. One time Child K asked, "Why doesn't anyone like me?" and this was after another child told Child K to "back up" after Child K got in the other child's personal space. Mr. Triantafillou stated Child K had difficulty waiting until it was his turn, and Child K would also complain that he was not getting a turn, which was not accurate. Mr. Triantafillou did not see or hear other children bully Child K. He and other staff included Child K in all activities. When they played soccer, he did not make Child K sit on the bench the entire time; all the children including Child K took turns playing and then resting on the bench. On 08/02/2022 I interviewed licensee designee Joanne Shango. She stated she believed Child K had some neurological issues and struggled with socializing with the other children. Ms. Shango stated all the school age staff worked together to help Child K adjust and interact positively with the other children. Ms. Shango stated she observed the staff interacting appropriately with Child K and she did not observe Child K being bullied by anyone. On 08/12/2022 I interviewed staff Jason Scott. He stated Child K had some difficulties with his interactions with other children, but he never saw or heard other children bully Child K. I asked Mr. Scott if there had been an incident where a child was saying to Child K "your mama". Mr. Scott did not recall this happening. Mr. Scott stated often when Child K was interacting with other children Child K would get within inches of a

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