Inspection reports for daycare agencies - 2009-2011
The following is a compilation of comments from state inspection reports for area child care facilities from 2009 to present. The information is summarized from Bright From the Start’s Internet website www.decal.state.ga.usInspection
> Progressive Childcare & Learning Center, Parker Road, Statesboro - four citizen complaints (complaint investigations Sept. 3, 2010; Oct. 6, 2010; Oct. 25, 2010 and Jan. 31, 2011).
Feb. 5, 2011 monitoring visit – no soap or paper towels in any bathroom. Feces, urine stains on toilet, not cleaned and disinfected daily. Eleven children in a space licensed for 10. Outlets uncovered, several minor safety violations. Chemicals accessible to children. Scissors, push pins, knife within children’s reach.
Hole in fence, fence in poor repair. Shovels, rakes, splintered boards within children’s reach. Bag of trash, open can of chicken inside transport van. Safety belts broken, inadequate first aid kit.
Three-year-olds in area with older children. Two children napping unsupervised. Children left unattended, activities inadequate. Staff member knew none of her children’s names. Inadequate toys, dirty. Unacceptable hygiene (handwashing, diaper change violations.) Feeding chairs with dried food, unclean. Insufficient bread, fruit and meats available. Kitchen counters stained.
Jan. 31, 2011 complaint inspection – several children found with dirty diapers and runny noses “without teacher’s knowledge.” Breakfast did not contain sufficient components from bread/grain group. Leftovers that had been served were saved, per sign posted to reuse leftovers. This is a violation – uneaten food is to be discarded.
Unsafe storage (open bag of meat in freezer). Dishes not properly washed; sign posted instructing staff to wash and reuse disposable utensils (a violation.)
Oct. 6 and 25 complaint investigations – fencing safety violations. Overcrowding, outlets uncovered, inadequate staff. No director at times. No substitute teachers available. Toys inadequate, unclean.
Sept. 3, 2010 complaint investigation – dirty, stained toilets, minor repairs needed. Fencing violations – unsafe. Equipment unsafe, broken. Three-year-olds with older children (a violation). A child suffered a head injury and parents were not notified.
July 2010 technical assistance – state recommended a playground safety checklist, gave tips on proper supervision in response to prior violations in these areas.
January 2010 licensing study visit – two toilets found inoperable, clogged sink, trash on playground, broken swing. One staff member did not have a criminal background check.
October 2009 monitoring visit – fence hazards, not secure. (Listed previous violations Aug. 2008, Jan. 2009, June 2009.) Minor hygiene violations, food complaint.
> ABC Daycare, West Main Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspections found incomplete training for two staff members, and the business was late in applying for a license renewal.
> Lisa Anderson (private home day care), Brannen Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. No 2010/2011 violations noted.
> Bible Baptist Church, Ga. 24, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. No major violations.
> Brooklet United Methodist Preschool, Parker Avenue, Brooklet – no citizen complaints. No major violations.
> Bumblebee Childcare & Learning Center, Ga. 24, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspections found chemicals within children’s reach, fencing hazards, minor cleaning violations.
> Dale T. Carrell (private home daycare), Northlake Drive, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no major violations.
> Charlotte’s Daycare, Wilburn Circle, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no major violations.
> Childcare Network, Williams Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection in 2011 found minor facility repairs needed, scissors accessible to children, fence not secure, two staff members with no criminal records check. Inspections in 2010 found minor facility repairs needed, outlets uncovered, chemicals accessible to children, fencing hazards, no criminal check on two staff members, training incomplete, no lesson plan for school age children, incomplete child records.
> Creative Kids, North Cromley Street, Brooklet – no citizen complaints, minor gate latch issue reported during inspection.
> Dorothy Cummings (private home daycare), James Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection in 2010 found hazards in the play area, inadequate fencing, minor hygiene infractions, records inadequate.
> Eagles Nest Learning Center, North College Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection in 2010 found inadequate bathroom supplies, electrical outlets uncovered, minor infractions. Inspection in 2011 noted all issues were corrected.
> First United Methodist Church, South Main Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no major violations.
> Betty Givens (private home daycare), Best Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no violations.
> Great Beginnings Daycare & Learning Center, James Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, inspection found minor fencing hazards.
> Mary D. Hall (private home daycare), Success Court, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no reports available.
> Hill’s Jump Start Childcare & Learning Center, North Foss Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor recordkeeping inadequacies. Disposable plastic eating utensils washed and reused, not in dishwasher, but sink. Minor food storage violations. Overcrowding, teacher found sleeping during nap time.
> Kids’ World Learning Center, Savannah Avenue, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, fencing violations found in reports, corrected upon next inspection.
> Kidovations Childcare II, Stambuk Lane, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no violations.
> Kidovations Childcare, Brampton Avenue, Statesboro – no citizens complaints, minor fencing violations, corrected upon next inspection.
> Kidovations Childcare, Burkhalter Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor fencing issues, minor housekeeping violations.
> Little Rascals Childcare & Learning Center, Zetterower Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Purse, scissors and shaving cream within reach of children. Minor medicine dispensing infractions, medicines accessible to children, incomplete records.
> Little Stingers Daycare, Ga. 67, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor fencing hazard.
> Mary Littles (private home daycare), Mincey Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection found outlets uncovered, knives, scissors and chemicals accessible to children, antifreeze accessible to children outside.
> Love’s Childcare, Denmark Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Last visit recorded was in 2009; minor violation with over the counter medicines dispensed without permission on record.
> Lynn’s Learning Academy, South Womack Road, Portal – no citizen complaints. Last inspection 2009; light bulbs needed replacing, minor equipment repairs, ant beds outside, inadequate age-appropriate activities.
> Helen McCorkle (private home daycare), Ephesus Church Road, Register – no citizen complaints. Space heater found in classroom.
> Pamper Me Daycare, Ga. 67, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, no major violations.
> Brenda L. Rushing (private home daycare), Pretoria-Rushing Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor playground hazards, records inadequate. Corrected upon next inspection.
> Deana J. Skrak (private home daycare), North Edgewood Drive, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor records violations.
> Smiles, Giggles and Hugs Child Development Center, Joe Kennedy Boulevard, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Unsafe storage practices, minor playground and facility hazards.
> Tiyana M. Snelling (private home daycare), Lester Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection found no fire drill records as required, minor training and records infractions.
> Sonshine Christian Childcare, Institute Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection in 2009 found playground, staffing, supervision and medication records citations, all minor infractions.
> Sonshine Christian Childcare, U.S. 301 South, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection in 2010 showed outlets uncovered, minor repairs including carpet needed, minor equipment hazards.
> Cheryl Stephens (private home daycare) Lewis Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection found fire extinguisher not charged, incomplete first aid kit, fire drill violation, records incomplete.
> Steps to the Future Daycare & Learning Center, Orange Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Minor medication dispensing violation.
> Sugar & Spice Learning Center, North College Street – no citizen complaints, no major violations.
> Super Kids Child Care, Lester Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints, minor violations.
> Lavieta Williams (private home daycare), West Main Street, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Inspection found broken glass in walkway to playground.
> Mary A. Youngblood (private home daycare), Lotts Creek Road, Statesboro – no citizen complaints. Fire drill record violation, no thermometer in first aid kit, training incomplete, records violations, fire extinguisher not charged.
A Statesboro child care facility closed last week after a 23-month-old child was found wandering around outside the fenced area of Progressive Childcare and Learning Center. The closing follows a history of state-recorded violations by the center, including numerous fence safety infractions.
Bulloch County Sheriff's reports state the toddler possibly escaped from a hole in the daycare fence, and that the center's staff had to perform a headcount to see whether the child belonged there.
Stacy Moore, social worker with Bright From the Start, a state agency that inspects and governs child care facilities, said the closure of Progressive Childcare on Parker Street "was a voluntary closure."
Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for oversight of child care agencies to ensure they meet state mandated requirements. A Statesboro Herald investigation of inspections done by Bright From the Start at all day care facilities in Bulloch since 2009 found Progressive was the only one of 40 to receive formal complaints from citizens.
Reports listed on the agency's website (www.decal.state.ga.us.) show a history of citizen complaints and violations, including repeated violations regarding fencing safety.
Progressive Childcare owner Milton Evans did not return several calls seeking comment regarding the Friday, Feb. 18 incident where the child escaped from the center.
Tim Freeman, owner of Affordable Mini Storage, found the little girl clinging to the fence outside his business, off U.S. 301 North near the intersection of Veteran's Memorial Parkway.
"She just walked up to the fence and was trying to get in while we were working," he said. "She was crying and making noises, so I walked up to the fence and she came right up to me."
He said he did not see an adult anywhere, and when his wife pulled up, the little girl climbed into her vehicle willingly. The Freemans called the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department and waited with the child until deputies arrived.
According to Deputy Richard Beckum's report, he contacted Progressive's director Roslyn Thomas and she had another worker conducted a head count to determine whether a child was missing.
When the count came up short, another daycare worker told deputies the toddler was one of their charges. Deputies contacted the child's mother, who said the girl's father was on the way to pick up the girl and her siblings.
"There are no words that can describe how I feel," said mother Mary Adams, still stunned several days after the incident.
"I was terrified. The lady could not give me a reason - she said she was going to fire the young lady (responsible)," she said. "I thought my children were safe in daycare. We never imagined I would get a phone call that my child got out of a facility that was supposed to be safe."
Thomas would not comment on the situation, referring calls to Evans.
Adams took all four of her children - ages 9, 5, 3e and 23 months - from the center.
"I snatched them all out of there," she said.
She has spoken with an attorney and may file charges. She said Evans did not return calls to her, either.
Deputies reported the incident to Bulloch County Department of Family and Children Services, as well as the state agency.
Rebecca Boston, county director for Bulloch and Bryan County DFCS, said such complaints are referred to the Office of Regulatory Services, of which Bright From the Start is a part.
When local or state authorities need help, "They sometimes ask DFCS to assist," she said. Otherwise, DFCS is usually not involved.
On the local level, the case was turned over to Bulloch County Sheriff's Inv. Jared Akins, who said he turned over the case to the state.
"The sheriff (Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson) says our agency will cooperate with the state's investigation and assist in any way they request," he said.
History of violations
Progressive Childcare and Learning Center has a history of violations, with four citizen complaints since September 2010. The most recent before the Feb. 18 child escape was Jan. 31.
A Feb. 5 monitoring visit by the state found several violations, including notations regarding a hole in the fence and fence in poor repair. According to the reports, there were no soap or paper towels in any of the bathrooms. The toilets were stained with feces and urine and inspectors stated they were not cleaned and disinfected daily.
Outside, shovels, rakes, and splintered boards were within children's reach, and an open can of chicken was found in a transport van, along with trash and broken seat belts.
Inside, inspectors noted there were several children left unattended at times, and one staff member knew none of her children's names. The inspector noted several hygiene violations, as well as dried food on feeding chairs, and insufficient food available to children.
The Feb. 5 inspection was a follow-up after the Jan. 31 complaint inspection, where state workers noted children with dirty diapers and runny noses "without teacher's knowledge." Also, the inspector saw a note in the kitchen ordering staff to reuse leftovers, and wrote in reports that leftovers "that had been served" were saved for future use.
Fencing violations were noted in inspection reports for Oct. 6 and 25, 2010; Sept. 3, 2010; and as far back as October 2009.
According to the Bright From the Start website, Progressive Childcare and Learning Center was the only Bulloch County child care center that received citizen complaints since 2009.
Other centers
Rebecca Beasley, director and owner of Creative Kids in Brooklet, has had only one minor notation in reports since 2009 - a gate latch issue that was corrected immediately.
Maintaining a clean center and complying with requirements "takes a lot of effort," but that is part of the job, she said.
Her center's staff uses daily checklists to make sure equipment is safe, everything is cleaned and disinfected, and children are accounted for, she said.
Toys are disinfected daily and cleaned thoroughly weekly, and the facility is "swept, mopped, sinks cleaned, everything is kept well," she said.
If toys or equipment are broken, they are "fixed or replaced," Beasley said. If people are complaining or inspectors are finding violations, "somebody is not doing what they are supposed to be doing."
Andrea Hendley, owner and director of Smiles, Giggles and Hugs on Joe Kennedy Boulevard, said owning and operating a daycare is her lifelong dream. Her facility also has a clean record with the state since 2009.
"Children need to be on the forefront and safety needs to be the main concern," she said. Keeping up with state requirements is" not difficult."
Each family has a personal key code to enter the building, and staff knows who enters and leaves. They count children every time they go outside or come back inside, and have a daily checklist of children who are present, she said.
Checklists also help keep ahead of facility repairs and cleaning, she said.
Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.