St Paul Lutheran School

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (d) Inflicting mental or emotional punishment, such as humiliating, shaming, or threatening a child.

On 03/08/2021 I spoke with the complainant who stated program director Christie Sipila yells at children and speaks about children in a derogatory manner in front of the children. The complainant stated that Ms. Sipila will refer to a child who is misbehaving as "that one". Ms. Sipila has made a child sit alone facing the wall at lunch time because the child was "too excited". On 03/11/2021 I completed an on-site inspection and interviewed school principal Margie Baldwin. She stated she was not sure where this complaint was coming from, but a staff member had recently been let go because of a "personality conflict" with Ms. Sipila. Ms. Baldwin stated she had spoken with a parent of a child in Ms. Sipila's class that had some issues with Ms. Sipila, including asking Ms. Sipila not to discuss the child's misbehavior in front of the child. On 03/15/2021 I completed an on-site inspection which included meeting with program director Christie Sipila, school principal Margie Baldwin, and church pastor Jakob Andrzejewski. I informed Ms. Sipila of the complaint allegation. She stated she does not speak negatively to the children or about the children. She disciplines the children following their six-step policy. Ms. Sipila denied there was an incident when she had a child sit by his/herself and face the wall. Ms. Sipila stated she did have issues with an employee that was recently let go. During this meeting Ms. Baldwin discussed the concern that a parent had brought to her about Ms. Sipila discussing the child's misbehavior and stating she was unhappy with the child in front of the child. Ms. Sipila stated she never said she was unhappy with the child; she said the child was angry. Ms. Sipila stated she does not believe she or any staff member uses inappropriate discipline with the children. She gives the children boundaries and does it in a loving manner. I interviewed staff member Carol Brower who works in both the 3- year- old and 4- year-old preschool classrooms. She stated on Mondays she usually works in the 4- year-old classroom with Ms. Sipila. Ms. Brower stated she has not heard Ms. Sipila speaking harshly or inappropriately to any of the children or about any of the children. Ms. Brower stated if the children are fooling around and Ms. Sipila is trying to get the children to listen, Ms. Sipila will say, "Let's hurry up". Ms. Sipila does not yell at the children. Ms. Brower stated she never saw Ms. Sipila have a child sit alone and face the wall. I interviewed staff member Blythe Mackinder. She stated she works with Ms. Sipila and does not know why someone would make a complaint. Ms. Mackinder has never heard Ms. Sipila yell at the children or call a child "that one". Ms. Mackinder 3 stated there has been only one time she even heard Ms. Sipila raise her voice and that was just to get the children's attention. Ms. Mackinder stated if Ms. Sipila does individually correct a child, she always follows it up with a positive statement. She has never seen Ms. Sipila harshly speak to any of the children. Ms. Mackinder stated the only issue recently was between Ms. Sipila and the staff member that was let go and that was because the other staff member refused to follow Ms. Sipila's directions. I interviewed staff member Sylvia Milz. She stated she usually works in the 3-year- old classroom, but she sometimes works in the 4-year-old classroom with Ms. Sipila. She has never heard Ms. Sipila yell at a child or call a child "that one". Ms. Milz stated if a child is acting up, Ms. Sipila will take a child aside and speak with the child. I interviewed staff member Faith Frederick. She stated she has worked in both classrooms and does not have any concerns about how staff discipline the children. Ms. Frederick stated Ms. Sipila uses appropriate discipline such as talking to the children when they are not listening. On 03/15/2021 I spoke with Child A's Mother. She stated her child is in Ms. Sipila's class and she has no concerns about how Ms.

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