Community Education Center @ Walsh

R 400.8213(1)(a) · R 400.8213(1)(a) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (a) Provide appropriate care and supervision o f children at all times.

There is insufficient information to conclude that Child A was inappropriately touched by Child B, or that the center failed to provide appropriate care and supervision of Child A.

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R 400.8213(1)(a) · R 400.8213(1)(a) Staff; volunteer (1) All staff and volunteers present at the center shall: (a) Provide appropriate care and supervision o f children at all times.

The center failed to provide appropriate care and supervision for Child A, when she walked out of the building and was found wandering alone and unattended by an adult for five minutes when she was walking down the sidewalk near 17 Mile road.

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R 400.8182(7) · R 400.8182(7) Ratio and group size requirements. If there are children of mixed ages in the same room or well- defined space, then the ratio and group size is 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.

During the 04/22/2025 onsite inspection, child care staff members confirmed that the classrooms are sometimes out of ratio when the GSRP children go to the preschool classrooms for before and after care.

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

Based on interviews from child care staff members and Ms. Kaiser, they have witnessed Ms. Stewart use methods of discipline that were not positive nor encouraged children to use self-control or self-direction in her methods used for redirection.

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R400.8140 · R400.8140 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.

Based on interviews from child care staff members and Ms. Kaiser, they have witnessed Ms. Stewart use shaming and humiliating comments directed towards children.

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R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

On December 12, 2022, I interviewed licensee designee Cheryl Wajeeh-Piwko. Childcare staff member (ccsm) Ivy Moore reported to the program director Kathleen Kaiser that she heard a sound that sounded like a smack. She overheard ccsm Kim Stewart make a remark, "I hit Child A back. Sorry, it was a reaction after he hit me." The incident occurred on December 12, 2022, between 11:45 am-noon. Trisha Moylan, ccsm also worked in the room and is a possible witness to the incident. Ms. Wajeeh-Piwko immediately reported the incident to Child A's Mother. I inquired if there was any prior history of Ms. Stewart interacting inappropriately with children. When she discussed the incident with Ms. Kaiser, she was informed that Ms. Kaiser was going to do a coaching plan with Ms. Stewart due to her being "rough" with children and speaking harshly with other staff members. Ms. Stewart has been temporarily placed on administrative leave. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Wajeeh-Piwko and advised that she be present at Child A's pick-up time so they can assess if Child A had any marks. Ms. Wajeeh-Piwko contacted this consultant later this day to confirm that Child A did not have any marks on his body. She was advised to send this consultant the BCAL 4605 Incident reporting form. On December 14, 2022, I made an onsite investigation to the center and interviewed the program director Kathleen Kaiser. Ms. Moore came to her office to report an incident that she described as being very disturbing. Ms. Moore was completing diapering records and was looking down when she heard a sound that sounded like someone being hit. Ms. Stewart mumbled something about hitting Child A back because he hit her. She looked over at Child A and observed him crying. I asked Ms. Kaiser if there were any prior issues with Ms. Stewart having inappropriate interactions with children. Ms. Kaiser reported that Ms. Stewart does not like to work with children who display behavioral issues. She lacks patience with the preschool children and will often ask her fellow coworkers to handle situations with children who display behavioral issues. She denied there is anything in Ms. Stewart's file pertaining to her hitting a child or using any method of corporal punishment. It has been reported to Ms. Kaiser that she if she is redirecting a child, she will grab them "roughly" and lead them to another activity. She would speak in a harsh manner, not yelling but in an agitated manner to children and would make shaming comments such as, "doesn't your mother teach you better than to do this." She would also make indirect comments about children to staff but in the presence of the children, such as "I can't watch them eat it makes me sick that they have no manners." Ms. Kaiser was planning to have a meeting with Ms. Stewart and one of the licensee designees before the Christmas holiday to put her on a written coaching plan, but this incident came up before they were able to have their planned meeting. Ms. Kaiser acknowledged that Ms. Stewart would modify her behavior and improve her performance when she would verbally address issues. However, within a few weeks her behavior would start escalating again and she would go back to making 3 insensitive remarks to the children and being rude with other ccsm's who work in the room. I provided technical assistance to Ms. Kaiser about her being more proactive in addressing issues sooner particularly if she observes the inappropriate behavior escalating. I interviewed licensee designee Cassie Edwards. She confirmed that she was planning on being present during the meeting to place Ms. Stewart on a coaching plan. Ms. Edwards also confirmed that there were no formal written reprimands in Ms. Stewart's file. She further noted that Ms. Stewart has worked with the school- age children, toddlers, preschool-age children and in every scenario her performance has been an issue. She will apologize for her behavior and temporarily improve and then revert to th

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