KinderCare Learning Center #808

R 400.8155(1)(c) · R 400.8155(1)(c) Child accidents and incidents; child and staff illness. (1)A center shall have a written plan for how and when a parent is notified when personnel observe any of the following: (c) A child is too ill to remain in the group.

On 01/25/2023, I received an email from Complainant stating concerns with ratio in the infant and toddler rooms. Complainant was concern there was only one staff during nap time in toddler A, toddler B, and infant room. The center is using dirty water to mop the floors and children's toys are not being cleaned often. Complainant also had concerns that childcare staff members children are sick at the center and not being sent home because the center is short-staffed. On 01/25/2023, I completed on unannounced onsite investigation at the center Interviewed Ms. Danielle Reeves, program director, Ms. Brittany Priester, Ms. Lauren Howard, Ms. Dana Schoenherr, Natasha Cornish, Sandra Roman, and Stephanie Mashour, childcare staff members. Ms. Reeves stated there was one recent issue with an ex-childcare staff member that felt she was not being told or that her child was sicker than what was being reported. She was called into the room to check on the ex-childcare staff member's child and at the time and staff had been in contact with the parent: she was not running a temperature at the time, and she looked okay. When she returned from transport the child was being picked up by a relative. She later received a telephone call from the father about how everything was handled. She explained the sequence of events and that she had left the center for transport and not that she was holding a sick child at the center. After her explanation it appeared that the father understood. Children are not kept at the center if they are ill, parents are contacted to pick-up children as soon as they are able, staff has the ability to check on their children and no staff has to bring their sick children to work with them. On 01/25/2023, I received a copy of KinderCare's Health Policy. The policy stated the following: "The following procedures will be used to determine whether a child is infectious or too sick to participate in regular school activities. A child that is removed from the classroom will be readmitted to KinderCare no sooner than the next day if symptoms have remitted or if a doctor has examined the child and determined that symptoms are not infectious. Child must be fever free (Without the aid of medication) for 24 hours before returning to KinderCare. " I interviewed Ms. Priester. Ms. Priester stated children who are sick (throwing up/high fever), parents are contacted and are sent home. She was not aware of any issues with children remaining in care when sick. 3 Ms. Howard stated children are not being made to stay at the center if sick. If children have a fever that requires them to be sent home or any other illness, parents are contacted for children to go home. Ms. Shoenherr stated parents are contacted if children are throwing up or running a temperature and/or a sickness that does not allow them to stay in the center. Ms. Cornish stated she has never had an issue with being contacted if her child was sick. She currently has a child that is enrolled in the infant room. Parents are contacted if children are sick, running a fever, have diarrhea or any other illness that keeps children from staying in the center. Ms. Roman stated when children are sick, not acting themselves or running a fever a parent is contacted for pick-up. Children are not being left in the center when they are sick. The office is also contacted if children start to present ill in the room. Ms. Mashour stated once children present with a fever of 100.4, parents are contacted. She is not aware of any child being made to stay at the center while sick. The office is alerted when children are sick and need to be sent home.

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R 400.8173 · R 400.8173 Equipment. (4) Play equipment, materials, and furniture, must be all of the following: (b) Safe, clean, and in good repair.

Ms. Reeves stated childcare staff are provided opportunities to clean children's toys and equipment. The center provides childcare staff with the appropriate cleaning supplies to clean as needed. Most childcare staff members will clean toys during nap time when children are napping. They are aware if children's equipment is needed to be clean more often, they have the option to clean as needed. She was unaware of any issues with the children's toys and equipment not being cleaned. 4 I interviewed Ms. Priester. Ms. Priester stated she worked for the center for almost two years. She currently works in the Toddler B room. All toys and equipment are washed, rinsed, and sanitized once a week and/or more often if needed. When covid was more prevalent toys and equipment was being washed with more frequently. I interviewed Ms. Howard. Ms. Howard stated it has been a year since she started working for the center. She is the lead teacher in Toddler A room. Typically, children's toys are cleaned during naptime on Wednesday's. Tables are washed, rinsed, and sanitized after usage by children. They do have a bucket in the closet where toys are placed immediately if dirty. She felt that childcare staff members had more time to clean previously then the time they have now. Ms. Schoenherr stated on 01/25/2023, she has only been working for a few months. She currently works in Toddler B room. Toys are cleaned and sanitized during naptime. A big wash of children's items is completed on Wednesday. Ms. Cornish stated on 01/25/2023, she tries to wash the children's toys as they go about their day. They do have what you call a "yuck bucket" to throw dirty toys immediately in to be cleaned if determine not safe for children to play with until cleaned further. The childcare staff members typically have a big clean once a week of the room once a week. I interviewed Ms. Roman. Ms. Roman stated she currently works in the infant room and has been there for nine years. With the infant room and children sleeping at various times: she does not have a specific time to clean the children's toys. Toys are taken out of playtime if determine it is dirty and she usually will clean these toys in the morning before the children arrive as it is an easier time to complete. Equipment in the room is washed, cleaned, and sanitized as needed. I interviewed Ms. Mashour. Ms. Mashour stated in the infant room they have a yuck bucket in which they will wash, rinse, and sanitize the toys. They clean these toys as much as possible in between taking care of the children. There is never a time when in the infant room the children's equipment is not cleaned.

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R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. ................... .................................... ...................... (3) In each room or well-defined space, the maximum group size and ratio of childcare staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: Table 4 Child Care Staff Member to Child Ratios Age Child Care Staff Member to Child Maximum Group Size Ratio Infants and toddlers, 1 to 4 12 birth until 30 months of age.

On 01/25/2023, I Interviewed Ms. Danielle Reeves, program director, Ms. Brittany Priester, Ms. Lauren Howard, Ms. Dana Schoenherr, Natasha Cornish, Sandra Roman, and Stephanie Mashour, childcare staff members. I arrived at the center at approximately 1:00 p.m. upon entering I asked Ms. Reeves was it currently naptime for the children. She stated that it was, and I asked Ms. Reeves to follow me as I observed the classrooms identified as being out of ratio during this time. Toddler A room had one childcare staff member with eight childcare children, Toddler B room had one childcare staff member with twelve childcare children, and infant room had two childcare staff members with eight infants. I interviewed Ms. Reeves. Ms. Reeves stated during naptime is the time childcare staff members relieve each other to go to lunch which is approximately an hour. Childcare staff members will wait until the majority of children were sleep before leaving for their lunch. I informed Ms. Reeves that ratio must be maintained at all times regardless of the number of children that were asleep. I informed her with their only being one childcare staff member in Toddler A and Toddler B, those rooms were out of ratio. Going forward to she would make the necessary changes to ensure the correct childcare staff member to child ratio is maintained as required. Ms. Priester stated it is during naptime (12:30 p.m-12:45 p.m.) is when most of the children are sleeping. Once they are asleep is when childcare staff will leave for lunch leaving one childcare staff. Lunch is usually one hour for each childcare staff. Ms. Howard stated in Toddler A's room childcare staff member will wait until half of the children are asleep before one will leave for lunch. Approximately two-three weeks the center lost staff, and this is when naptime went down to one childcare staff member to supervise the children. Ms. Schoenherr stated during naptime in Toddler B's room, childcare staff members will wait for almost all of the children to be asleep before they break for lunch. Since she started a few months ago this is how they have operated leaving one childcare staff member while the other childcare staff member goes to lunch. Ms. Cornish stated once children are all asleep then childcare staff will start to break for lunch. She been following this procedure for lunch since she started in October of 2022. Sometimes if one of the children wake-up another childcare staff member will come into the room (Ms. Cornish did not report how often this occurs). Ms. Roman stated in the infant room there is always two childcare staff members, the room is never out of ratio. Since she opens in the morning, she is typically leaving for the day between 1:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. When she leaves for the day another childcare staff member is coming in, so the infant room always has two childcare staff members caring for the children. Ms. Mashour also stated in the infant room that there are always two childcare staff members in the room when there are more than four infants in the room.

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R 400.8380 · R 400.8380 1. ..M......a....i.n....t..e....n....a....n....c...e.... ..o....f..................premises. (1) The premises must be maintained in a clean and safe condition and must not pose a threat to health or safety.

On 01/25/2023, I Interviewed Ms. Danielle Reeves, program director, Ms. Brittany Priester, Ms. Lauren Howard, Ms. Dana Schoenherr, Natasha Cornish, Sandra Roman, and Stephanie Mashour, childcare staff members. Ms. Reeves stated each side of the building has a mop bucket to share between the classrooms. There is a specific mop for the classroom floors and for the bathroom floors. Childcare staff members will usually mop during naptime when the children are asleep or when needed if it is a spill, etc. The water can become dirty as the childcare staff is mopping but they have the ability to throw out the water and obtain clean water. The mop heads are washed every Friday. Ms. Priester stated every day at naptime mopping is occurring. Water is not normally changed out between classroom and the water can become dirty after several uses. The water never starts off as dirty. Ms. Howard stated the mop water can become dirty after mopping a couple of floors. I asked Ms. Howard if the water became too dirty for use why childcare staff members did not change out the water? She thought that because childcare staff just did not really think about it as they have been mopping a particular way for so long although there are means to obtain fresh water for the bucket. Ms. Schoenherr stated classrooms share the same mop and bucket. The mop water is not always dirty but will get dirty after being used several times. Ms. Cornish stated three rooms share the use of the mop and bucket. She is able to clean and mop when she receives them. Has not had any issues or problems. Ms. Roman and Ms. Mashour stated in the infant room. They have never received dirty water to mop the infant room. Ms. Roman will usually mop in the morning before the children arrives as it is difficult to do when children are in the room as they do not nap at the same time. On 01/25/2023, I spoke with Mrs. Kyra Hall-Elzy, district manager by telephone. I discussed with Mrs. Hall-Elzy the concerns brought forth in the complaint. Mrs. Hall- Elzy was aware of some of the issues but not all as she been contacted by a previous childcare staff member who was concerned about not being notified her child was sick at the center. After speaking with Ms. Reeves and getting a better idea of what occurred she thought the matter was addressed. She would speak with Ms. Reeves to ensure the necessary changes are made. On 02/09/2023, I completed the exit conference with Ms. Reeves by telephone. I informed her of the violation being cited in the investigation. Ms. Reeves stated she has already met with childcare staff and made changes to ensure compliance. I told her she would receive a copy of the report once approved.

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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. I

There is insufficient evidence to support that Ms. Canup hit or slapped Child A.

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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 03/17/2021, I spoke with complainant. Complainant stated Ms. Canup reportedly grabbed Child A by the neck and is slapping Child A. On 03/17/2021, I spoke with Ms. Danielle Reeves by telephone. Ms. Reeves stated that she became aware of possible inappropriate physical contact with Ms. Canup and Child A on 03/15/2021. Ms. Reeves stated she interviewed several child care members (Luiza Arbuckle, Stacie Fournier, Cheryl Domglski, Sandy Roman, Saly Bekkal, Erica Duncan, and Jennifer Canup,) and none are reporting observing any inappropriate contact or discipline by Ms. Canup. On 03/17/2021, and I made an unannounced onsite at the center. I interviewed Ms. Reeves, Stacie Fournier, Cheryl Domglski, Sandy Roman, Saly Bekkal, Erica Duncan, and Jennifer Canup, child care staff members. Ms. Reeves stated when she first became aware of possible inappropriate physical contact between Ms. Canup and Child A on 03/15/2021. The information provided was very vague, no time frame and she was trying to determine if something actually occurred. She was not given specifics as the person stated they were fearful of reporting. Ms. Reeves stated after interviewing the above identified child care staff members there were no concerns reported. Ms. Reeves stated she contacted Child A's Mother about this matter, and she did not have any concerns. Child A has continued to be enrolled at the center and is currently in attendance. Child A appears to be fine in the care of Ms. Canup. Child C 3 years-old.} was mentioned as well of possibly having inappropriate physical contact but nospecifics. Child C does have some . There was nothing to indicate that Child C was fearful or ere had been inappropriate physical contact between ■ and Ms. Canup. I interviewed Ms. Fournier. Ms. Fournier stated she been working in the pre-k room since . Ms. Fournier stated it is extremely loud in the preschool room as the rooms are not enclosed. A lot of yelling in the preschool classroom. She has not observed any child care staff member hit or slap a child and has not heard any inappropriate language being used by child care staff members. She has observed Child A, Child B. and Child C throwing chairs and being disruptive where child care staff members are intervening and redirecting. Ms. Fournier has never observed Ms. Canup physically hit Child A. I interviewed Ms. Domglski. Ms. Domglski stated she been employed at KinderCare for appropriately years. She currently works in the pre-k room. She has not observed any chl care staff member mishandle any child or heard inappropriate language used towards children. Ms. Domglski has not observed Ms. Canup hit or slap Child A. None of the children have expressed concerns or stated any issues. On 03117/2021, 1 interviewed Ms. Roman. Ms. Roman been employed for the last l years at KinderCare. She was a floater before the pandemic but now currently works in the infant room. Ms. Roman stated she has worked in every room in the center and has worked with Ms. Canup. Ms. Roman stated although it becomes loud in the preschool room, she has never heard any inappropriate language being used by child care staff members. She never observed any physical discipline being used by child care staff members and has not observed Ms. Canup used any physical discipline towards Child A or any child. None of the children have reported to her any issues with care. I interviewed Ms. Saly Bekkal on 03117/2021. Ms. Bekkal stated she recently started working for the center . Ms. Bekkal stated she s. Bekkal stated has never expressed any concerns and likes coming to center. She has not observed any child care staff members physically discipline any child. She would inform management if she did see something inappropriate. Ms. Bekkal has not observed Ms. Canup hit or slap a child. I interviewed Ms. Erica Duncan on 03/17/2021. Ms. Duncan stated she been employed at KinderCare for. years. Ms. Duncan stated she has not observed Ms. Canup use any inappropriate discipl

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R 400.8158(2)(b) · R 400.8158(2)(b) Incident, accident, injury, illness, death, fire reporting. (2) A licensee, licensee designee, or program director shall report to the child's parent and the department, directly or via phone, fax, or email, within 24 hours of the occurrence of any of the following: (b) An incident involving an allegation of inappropriate contact.

Ms. Reeves did not report to the department within the required 24 hours of the allegation of inappropriate contact.

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