Incident investigation·August 24, 2021

On 08/24/21 at 04:05 PM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Mabika conducted an inspection at the Mc Donald Learning Center. The purpose of the inspection was to conduct a Case management deficiencies Inspection to review the "A" deficiencies cited on the wrong complaint. Present during the time of this inspection was licensee, 35 preschool children under the supervision of 3 teachers and 1 aide; 7 infants under the care of 1 teacher and 1 aide; and 14 school-age children under the care of 1 teacher and 1 aide. . LPA was led on a tour of the facility. The visit concerns the June 7 incident in which Child # 1 along with two other children in care wandered off the facility and were found by Law Enforcement one and a half miles away. A full investigation was instituted and consisted of a document review, interviews of children, staff and other relevant witnesses revealing that the children wandered off from the unfenced part of the play area where there was no deterrence abated by a lack of close visual supervision and other measures. There is evidence this severe incident was not handled in a timely and proactive manner. Based on the information obtained during the interviews conducted and LPA’s own observations, the preponderance of evidence has been met; therefore, the facility was cited a Type A deficiency per Title 22 regulations. As for a related incident where Child # 1 wandered off to the park on another day, it could not be fully established that the child had boarded the bus to Mc Donald Learning Center, therefore, the center could not be held liable for this incident. Photographs of the center were taken and saved on file. Please see Complaint Investigation LIC 809C for additional information and 809D for citations. Licensee was advised that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted at the entrance of the facility for a period of 30 days. A copy of this licensing report (LIC9099) must also be posted for 30 days. If these requirements are not met, civil penalties in the amount of $100 per violation will be assessed. Copies of the reports must also be provided to each parent and a copy of the Acknowledgment of receipt of licensing report (LIC9224) must be kept in each child's file. In addition, any child enrolled within the following 12 months must also receive a copy of the Type A Citation. An exit interview was conducted, a copy of this report, and notice of site visit were provided to Licensee, Lisa Burtner.