Blue Bird Day School

“Based on observations, areas and equipment, inside and outside of the center were not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. The faucet in the corner sink of the bathroom next to the office was broken and rotting at the base, where it is attached to the sink. A child was observed using that faucet. 2. Metal fencing around the front and side of the center: a. The entire fence is rusty; b. There are two top posts on the connecting pillars of the fence that are broken, posing an injury hazard. One is on the back side closer to the Dinosaurs classroom; and the other is facing the playground that the Butterflies classroom uses; c. The fence is broken and detached in the bushes across from the Dinosaurs classroom facing the street and found to be leaning downwards; d. Part of the fence connected to the gate was broken, and the metal rod was sticking out, posing an injury hazard. This was found across from the playground used by the Butterflies classroom. 3. Flooring: a. The floor leading into the Butterflies classroom and before the stairs leading down to the basement, moves downwards with pressure as it is stepped on; b. the wood floor in the Happy Face classroom is bowing down with pressure as it is stepped on. This area is covered by a rug; c. the wood floor in the Dinosaurs room has two planks that are broken and splintering. 4. Lobby next to the office: There was a red metal pipe in the window to keep it from sliding sideways. The pipe was broken and rusty posing an injury hazard as this area is used by the children. 5. Wood railing at the back and sides of the patio outside the Dinosaur’s classroom: a. Large parts of the wood railing are rotten and broken, exposing splintering wood; b. wood post of the same railing facing the playground is broken at the top, c. the red baseboard under the patio is broken and splintering wood is exposed; d. wood fence on the side patio is missing a wood slat posing a head entrapment hazard. 6. Patio outside the Butterflies classroom: a. two rusty protruding nails by the side exit door; b. large parts of the wood railing are rotten and broken, exposing splintering wood; c. screens are broken for two classroom windows; d. the green mat on the patio floor is moldy and torn, posing a trip hazard to the children; e. a large hole with sharp edges under a column that connects to the wood railing 7. Happy Face Classroom: a. Peeling paint at the bottom of the column, next to the small closet; and b. a wall mounted pencil sharpener with its cover off, exposing the sharp blades posing an injury hazard to the children. 8. Butterflies Classroom: a. The vent right above the flooring and on the wall in the Butterflies bathroom was rusty.”

“Based on documentation review and staff interviews, when one or more children are present there is not always one staff member present who meets the qualifications of a program director or program lead. Evidence: 1. Staff # 2 stated that she and Staff # 8 would leave the center at 4:00pm every day. Staff # 2 stated that from 4:00pm and 6:00pm, Staff # 6 was the designated person to be in charge of the center and answer phone calls. 2. A review of the sign in and out sheets used by staff at the center shows that from 1/23/23 through 1/30/23, and the months of February and March 2023, Staff # 2 worked from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Staff # 2 confirmed that these sheets were accurate. 3. A review of the sign in and out sheets used by staff also showed that Staff # 8 did not work past 4:00 pm on any day from 1/23/23 through 1/30/23, and the months of February and March 2023. 4. A review of Staff # 6?s records determined that she was not qualified to be a program lead or program director. There was no one on site 1/23/2023 through March 2023 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm that was program lead or director qualified.”

“Based on staff interview, observations and documentation reviewed, there was not a qualified program lead regularly present in each grouping of children. 1. Staff # 2 stated that the Happy Face classroom (3-4 year olds) has not had a program lead since the end of January 2023. 2. The record for Staff # 9, the previous program lead in the Happy Face classroom, confirms their last day was 1/19/23. 3. Staff # 3, Staff # 4 and Staff # 5 were observed working in the Happy Face classroom. The documentation in the records for Staff #3, Staff #4 and Staff #5 confirm they are not program lead qualified.”

“Based on staff interviews and documentation review, staff did not ensure that children under the age of 10 years were always within sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1. On 3/8/23, Child # 1 (2.5 yrs. old) from the Butterflies classroom, was left outside on the playground out of sight and sound supervision for approximately 5 minutes. a. Staff # 3 stated the following: a. At approximately 5:10 to 5:15 pm, she was bringing three children that she had taken to the Butterflies bathroom, back to the playground; b. When she arrived at the playground, she saw Child # 1 outside, playing with some children whose parents were there to pick up. There was no center staff outside with Child # 1; c. Staff # 3 saw Staff # 5 standing at the door to the lobby next to the office ready to go inside while Staff # 4 was already inside with the children. b. Staff # 4 stated that: a. At approximately 5:10 pm she had 4 children including Child # 1 and she was lining them up to bring them inside; b. Staff # 5 was assisting a parent picking up their child, and Staff # 4 stated that she got distracted; c. Staff # 4 learned at 5:15 pm that Child # 1 was left outside; and d. Staff # 3 brought Child # 1 to her. c. Staff # 5 stated that: a. At approximately 5:15 pm the children were being lined up to come inside; b. Staff # 5 was at the front of the line, and Staff # 4 was at the end of the line; c. When Staff # 5 entered the lobby, she started to assist a parent with pick up, and Staff # 4 moved up to the front of the line. Staff # 5 thinks that was when Child # 1 ran away from the line and to the playground; and d. Staff # 5 stated that Staff # 3 brought Child # 1 inside back to them. 2. On 3/14/23, Child # 2 (5 yrs. old) from the Dinosaurs classroom, was left on the playground for approximately 5 minutes as the staff and children for that room had gone back inside. The child was found by a staff person of another classroom while scanning the playground. a. Staff # 6 stated the following: a. On 3/14/23, at approximately 12 pm, Staff # 6 and Staff # 7 lined up the children to go back inside; b. Staff # 6 was at the front of the line and Staff # 7 was at the end of the line; c. Staff # 6 noticed that Child # 2 was not in the classroom when they were handwashing before lunch, and that was when Staff # 2 brought Child # 2 to the room and said, ?You forgot one?; and d. Child # 2 was in the green tunnel on the playground; and e. Both staff members had done a head count, but Staff # 6 thinks she may have miscounted and stated that ?It could have been our carelessness?. b. Staff # 7 stated the following: a. She and Staff # 6 took the children inside at approximately 11:55 am; b. She did not count the children before they came inside, c. She waited until everyone was in the room and was about to leave to deliver lunches when she saw Staff # 2 bringing Child # 2 to the room at approximately 12 pm. c. Staff # 2 stated the following: a. Staff # 3 came and got Staff # 2 from the office at approximately 12:01 to 12:02 pm, because Staff # 3 found Child # 2 in the green tunnel on the playground; b. Staff # 2 then took Child # 2 to the Dinosaurs classroom. 3. Disciplinary reports were written for these two incidents dated 3/8/23 and 3/14/23; and included signatures of all 4 staff members involved. The disciplinary reports recorded both incidents as ?Child left on playground unattended due to negligence. School policy requires that teachers conduct a headcount while students are outside to ensure that all students are accounted for at all times?.”

“Based on documentation review and staff interview, the center did not follow its own policies and procedures and did not ensure that the center’s activities were maintained in compliance with the standards. Evidence: 1. The center’s playground safety plan does not include information about methods of maintaining resilient surfacing. 2. The center’s ?Lost or Missing Child? policy includes ?Takes routinely count of the children? and ?Always know the number of children that are present? as two of the four preventative steps. 3. Staff # 7 stated that on 3/14/23 she did not count the children before they came inside from the playground at approximately 11:55 am.”

“Based on records review and staff interview, the center does not follow its own written policy for discipline and behavior management. Evidence: 1. The center’s discipline policy states that, ?Staff shall always try to redirect behavior of a child to prevent negative behavior. Staff shall use positively worded directions to help guide the behavior of the children. If a child is frustrated and/ or upset, ask the child to express their feelings with words (If age appropriate). Time out shall be used only when extremely aggressive behavior is being demonstrated by the child and the above acceptable methods of discipline were ineffective or bringing harm to another child?. 2. Staff # 1 stated that two systems were used in the Dinosaurs classroom for behavior management. One system was color-coded (green, yellow and red), with green reflecting good behavior, yellow indicating that a child had to be given reminders or spoken to; and red meaning that the child was not listening and /or following directions. 3. Staff # 1 stated that the alternative system involves putting check marks next to children’s names on a white board when they are observed exhibiting negative or disruptive behavior in the classroom, and when it has been determined that the color-coded system will not work for the child. For example: if seen running in the classroom, a check mark will be placed on the white board next to their name. Each check mark results in a loss of 2-3 minutes of their outside time. 4. Staff # 2 stated that timeout is used when children ?don’t do things well? and have been spoken to. Staff # 2 showed a sand timer that was designed to complete a timeout for 5 minutes which exceeds the time limit for the age group (3 yrs. old) that Staff # 2 supervises and cares for.”

“Based on staff interview, behavioral guidance used at the center was not constructive in nature, and age and stage appropriate. Evidence: 1. Staff # 1 stated that in addition to a color-coded (green, yellow and red) behavior management system, the 4?5 year-old classroom (Dinosaurs) uses a check system that involves putting check marks next to children’s names on a white board. 2. Staff # 1 stated that the check system is used for children that do not respond to the color-coded system, and exhibit behavior that is disruptive to the classroom activities, including but not limited to running around the classroom, hitting friends, and jumping on friends. 3. Staff # 1 stated that a check mark is placed on the whiteboard with the child’s name when the child is being disruptive. For every check mark a child gets, they lose approximately 2-3 minutes of their outside time. The total time would vary depending on how many checks a child has received. 4. Staff # 1 stated that currently she is using the check mark system for one child in the Dinosaurs classroom, because this child is not responsive to the color coded system. This child ?flips out? when he sees that his card is yellow and throws things in the classroom. 5. This check mark system focuses on and punishes negative behaviors instead of reinforcing desired behaviors.”

“Based on staff interview and observation, when timeout is used as a behavior guidance technique, it exceeds one minute for each year of the child’s age. Evidence: 1. Staff # 2 stated that when ?children don’t do things well?, the staff talks to the children and sometimes they are put in timeout. She also stated that while children are in timeout, they are asked to sit on the carpet and are not engaged in any activity while they are sitting. 2. Staff # 2 showed a sand timer that is used for placing children in time out in the 3-year-old classroom. The sand timer was observed to take 5-minutes to empty. 3. Staff # 2 stated that the 5-minute sand timer is used until it empties out. Staff # 2 stated that sometimes if the child is behaving well while sitting in timeout, they can rejoin the class activities sooner than 5 minutes.”

“Based on staff interview and documentation reviewed, there was not a qualified program lead regularly present in each grouping of children. 1. Staff # 1 stated that she was one of three assistants that was working in the Happy Face Classroom on 7/22/22. Staff # 1 also stated that since Staff # 2 left the center, she has been working in that classroom with two other assistants. 2. Staff # 3 confirmed via e-mail dated 09/07/2022 that, ?Staff # 2?s last day was April 29, 2022. We are currently in the interviewing process to find a new, qualified preschool teacher?.”

“Based on records review and staff interview, the center does not follow it’s own written policy for discipline and behavior management. 1. The center’s discipline policy states that, ?Staff shall always try to re-direct behavior of a child to prevent negative behavior. Staff shall use positively worded directions to help guide the behavior of the children. If a child is frustrated and/ or upset, ask the child to express their feelings with words (If age appropriate). Time out shall be used only when extremely aggressive behavior is being demonstrated by the child and the above acceptable methods of discipline were ineffective or bringing harm to another child?. 2. Staff # 1 stated that when handling children that are misbehaving, and when using their behavior management technique, they give ?a verbal warning the first time, a second verbal warning, and the third time you use a chair and put time out for 3 minutes?.”