KinderCare Learning Center #822

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. 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 03/31/2023, I received an email with a copy of the incident report (dated 03/30/2023) submitted to Mrs. LaTonya Kegler, licensing consulting from Ms. Monica Van Sumer, program director. The incident report provided information of Child A and Child B left unattended in a classroom with Child care staff member 1 and Child care staff member 2 being unaware that Child A and Child B were not in the classroom. On 04/03/2023, I completed an unannounced onsite at the center. I interviewed Ms. Van Sumer and Child care staff member 3. Ms. Van Sumer stated she is not sure as to why Child care staff member 1 and Child care staff member 2 were unaware they did not have Child A or Child B in their classroom. Ms. Van Sumer became aware that the children were left unattended by Child care staff member 3 as she returned to her classroom from outside. The children were located under the window outside her office but she did not see them as the curtain was closed due to her speaking with another staff in her office. When she realized the children were found alone, she picked them up and took them back to the classroom. When she entered the classroom Child care staff member 2 stated, "there you are" referring to the two children. She questioned Child care staff member 1 and Child care staff member 2 how Child A and Child B were able to get out of the classroom unnoticed. It was explained that as Child care staff member 1 was returning from break, they observed another child heading towards the door as it was not completely closed. They brought that child back in and assumed Child A and Child B was playing in another area of the room but did not count or check to see if they were indeed in the classroom. Child A and Child B were believed to be unsupervised approximately from 11:13 a.m.-11 :15 a.m. There were only 7 children in total in the classroom for the day. Child care staff member 1 and Child care staff member 2 were both placed on leave pending this investigation. She did not have any previous concerns with Child care staff member 1 and Child care staff member 2 prior to this incident, both child care staff members were trained and should have not only counted the number of children in the room but completed a named to face. She informed both Child A's Mother and Child B's Mother about this matter. Maintenance was called to check the 3 door to the classroom to ensure there was not an issue with latching, nothing was found to be wrong with the classroom door. I interviewed Child care staff member 3. Child care staff member 3 stated she has currently worked at the center for the last 2 years. On 03/30/2023, as she was 1/2 returning from outside play with the children in her classroom, she observed Child A and Child B standing under the window on the rug. They were just standing looking around but did not appear to be upset nor were they crying. She was able to get Ms. Van Sumer attention and Ms. Van Sumer took over from there. Child A and Child B were not in her classroom when she left to go outside as there were no children observed as she was exiting to the play area. Child care staff members are to supervise children in their care at all times, count them and complete named to face. I interviewed Child A's Mother by telephone on 04/03/2023. Child A's Mother stated she did not have any concerns about the care Child A receives. She was made aware of the incident of Child A not being supervised for a period of time by Ms. Van Sumer. Child A returned to the center for care. Child B's Mother was interviewed by telephone on 04/03/2023. Child B's Mother stated she was made aware that Child C was able to get out of the room and was unsupervised for a few minutes. She has not had any issues or concerns about the care Child B receives from child care staff members. On 04/03/2023, I interviewed Child care staff member 1 by telephone. Child care staff member 1 stated she was returning from break on 03/30/2023 and it appears that the staff leaving di

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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 03/22/2021, an incident report was received stating the following: on 03/19/2021, Child A's Mother sent a message through our app wanting to schedule a call with Child A's teachers because she was saying some kids were hitting her, and stated Child A even said, "also reported Mrs. B hit her which I'm sure that's not the case" 3 and wanted to see how the new transition has been and to address her crying. Monica (CD) and Nicole (AD) started to pull the teachers who work along side Bianca on Friday to address what Child A had said. Gail Blair, Amber James, Jessica LaForest were interviewed and all stated the have never witnessed Bianca become physical with a child. On Monday 03/22/2021, Child A's Mother called the center to say she talked with Child A over the weekend and Child A's story continued that Bianca has hit her on the face and back and she also hits Child B (2 years-old), so Child A's Mother has strong concerns about what Child A was talking about this weekend. Started a formal investigation and put Bianca on administrative leave. On 03/25/2021, I made an unannounced onsite investigation at the center. I interviewed Monica Van Sumer, program director, Amber Jones, Jessica LaFlorest, Gail Blair, child care staff members. Ms. Van Sumer stated on 03/19/2021, she was notified that Child A's Mother had some concerns about other children in the classroom hitting Child A and that Child A mentioned she was hit by Ms. Baldwin. Child A had recently transitioned into the preschool classroom where Ms. Bianca Baldwin is a child care staff member. Ms. Van Sumer stated it was not until on 03/22/2021, that Child A's Mother was definitive that Child A was not making anything up as it related to Ms. Baldwin hitting her as Child A expressed to her mother that she was fearful in returning to the center because of Ms. Baldwin. Ms. Van Sumer stated she placed Ms. Baldwin on administrative leave until the matter could be further investigated. She been working with Ms. Baldwin in the classroom on programming. Ms. Baldwin worked in the toddler classroom but transitioned over to preschool very recently. Ms. Van Sumer stated she contacted Child B's parents to discuss what had been alleged. They did not have any concerns other than relating Child B had been a little more emotional for the last two months but had only transitioned to the preschool classroom within the last two weeks. I interviewed Ms. Amber Jones. Ms. Jones worked for the center for approximately two years. Ms. Jones works in both preschool and pre-k classroom. She has worked with Ms. Baldwin. She has never observed Ms. Baldwin hitting or striking a child. Ms. Jones stated she has observed on occasions (no specific date given) that Ms. Baldwin's appears to get frustrated with the children as she hears it in her tone of voice when speaking with the children. The children in Ms. Baldwin's care for do not appear to be fearful of her. I interviewed Ms. Jessica LaFlorest. Ms. LaFlorest only been working in the preschool classroom for approximately three weeks. She has worked in the pre-k classroom as well. Ms. LaFlorest stated she has observed Ms. Baldwin can be a little aggressive with her voice as she does not always lower her voice or bend to speak with the children on their level. Child A has stated other children have hit her usually during circle time as she does not want to sit and participate. She has never observed Ms. Baldwin hit any child in the classroom and does not have any 4 concerns about the care children receive at the child care center. Child B has never voiced anyone has hit her in the classroom. I interviewed Ms. Gail Blair. Ms. Blair been employed by KinderCare for 37 years. She works in the pre-k and school age classrooms. She works next to Ms. Baldwin's classroom and has never observed her hitting any child in her care. Ms. Blair stated it appears from the tone of Ms. Baldwin's voice she does get frustrated and seems a little stern for the 2 years-old and olde

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R 400.8140 · 1 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.

There is insufficient evident to confirm Ms. Baldwin hit Child A or any child in the center.

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