Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Respondent: SPECIAL TREASURES PRESCHOOL
Judges: DANIEL M. KILBRIDE
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Locations: Winter Haven, Florida
Filed: Nov. 19, 2003
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, January 30, 2004.
Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
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Nov 13 03 08:33a D1i4 DCF (86 Cf Ar 7
Yok
3 (ATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Florida Department of
Children and Families,
Petitioner,
v. Child Care License No. 000000380
Special Treasures Preschool
Anita Jones, Owner
120 Avenue E. S. W.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
ee eS
The State of Florida, Department of Children and Families (DCF or the
Department) files this administrative complaint against the special Treasures Preschool
{the facility), Anita Jones, Owner, 120 Avenue E, S. W., Winter Haven, FL 33880. The
Department proposes to revoke the facility's child care license for violations of Florida
Statutes and the Florida Administrative Code. The Department alleges that:
1. The Department enfc.rces provisions of Chapter 402, Florida Statutes, and
Chapter 65C-22, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), pertaining to the operation of
child care facilities licensed by the Department. in this complaint, the Department uses
information from the Florida Abuse Hotline Information System (FAHIS) by authority of
section 39.201(6), Florida Statutes.
2. Special Treasures Preschool (the facility) is owned and operated by Anita
Jones, 120 Avenue E, S. W., Winter Haven, Florida 33880, pursuant to child care facility
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license number 000000380, fast ic~ued by the Department +n January 1, 2003.
Anita Jones is also the director of the facility.
COUNT ONE
3. On March 10, 2003, the Florida Abuse Hotline Information System
(FAHIS) received report number 2003-034398 alleging lack of child supervision at the
facility. A child, D. D., age four, was locked in a closet for fifteen to twenty minutes
before he was discovered by staff. The report was closed with some indicators of
inadequate supervision, caretakers present
4. On March 10, 2003, a Department child care licensing inspector visited
the facility and found that staff were not within sight and nearing of all the children
during nap time. During another inspection on March 26, 2003, a Department inspector
found that four year old children were allowed to wander throughout the facility without
supervision.
5. The above conditions violate Rule 65C-22.001 (5)(a) and (b), F.A.C.,
requiring that facility staff watch and direct children’s activities within the same room and
remain present with the children a. ail times to respond to the children’s needs.
COUNT TWO
6. During a routine inspection on March 10, 2003, a Department inspector
found facility areas not clean or in good repair, including an unflushed toilet, a clogged
air conditioner filter, and black grease on a stove hood. The inspector also found that
children had access to dirty clothes .and bed linens.
7. At a re-inspection or May 5 2003, the Department's inspector again cited
the facility for similar violations, namely, paper towels and tinen on the floor of the
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Nov 13 O03 08:34a D14 DCF (863
facility. An inspection on July 3, 2003, revealed the facility had frayed carpet which
presented a tripping hazard to children.
8. The conditions violate Rute 95C-22.9G2c ic), FA.C., requiring that a child
care facility must be clean and in good repair, free from hazards and vermin infestation.
COUNT THREE
9. On March 10, 2003, a Department inspector found that children in the
facility had access to Drano and other cleaning supplies including Lysol, bleach and
spray disinfectant.
10. During a re-inspection on May 5, 2003, the Department's inspector found
that children had access to MiracleGro fertilizer, and found an air sanitizer being used in
a room where the children were sleeping
11. These conditions violate Rule 65C-22.002(1)(d), F.A.C., requiring that all
areas and surfaces accessible to children shall be free of toxic substances and
hazardous materials.
COUNT FOUR
12. On March 10, 2003, the Department's inspector observed a facility fence
that was not safe because of broken and missing pieces causing a gap sufficient for
children to exit from facility premises. Routine re-inspections on May 5, July 3, and
July 22, 2003 revealed similar violations including a fence less than four feet in height.
13. These conditions violate Rule 65C-22.002(4)(e), F.A.C., requiring a child
care facility to maintain safe and adequate fencing, a minimum of four feet in height
without gaps.
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Nov 13 03 08:34a Di4 DCF (863) 64
COUNT FIVE
14. On March 10. Ma: 7 and July 3, 2002, < 3-9... anent inspector observed
facility floor mats not covered with an impermeable surface.
15. This condition violates Rule 65C-22.002(5)(b), F.A.C., requiring that floor
mats must have an impermeatile surface.
COUNT SIX
16. On March 10, and May 5, 2003, a Department inspector observed facility
children napping in spaces less than eighteen inches apart, and also saw a facility exit
blocked with bedding.
17. These conditions violate Rule 65C-22.002(5)(e), F.A.C., requiring that a
minimum distance of eighteen inches be maintained around individual napping and
sleeping spaces and that all exits rernain clear in accordance with fire safety regulations.
COUNT SEVEN
18. On March 10, May 5, and Juty 3, 2003, a Department inspector observed
facility staff not washing their hands after changing childrens’ diapers and assisting
children with toileting.
19. This violates Rule 65°-22.002(8)(b)1., F.A C. requi‘ing that facility staff
must wash and dry their hands thoroughly after diapering children or assisting them with
toileting procedures.
COUNT EIGHT
20 On March 10 and July 3. 2003, a Department inspector did not find a
resilient surface in the fall zones beneath the facility's climbing equipment for children.
Pp.
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Nov 13 03 08:34a D14 DCF
21. ‘This violates Rule 65C-22.002(9)(b)3, F.A.C. requiring that a facility’s
permanent playground equipr -"t must have grourc: cor: ~ ~» other resilient protective
Surfaces under the equiprrerit ic reduce injuries to children if they should fall.
COUNT NINE
22, On March 10, 2003 during a routine inspection, and also March 26, 2003
while investigating a complaint, the Department's inspector learned that facility staff did
not share accident and incident reports with childrens’ parents the day they occurred.
23. This situation violates Rule 65C-22.004(2)(d)3., F.A.C., requiring a facility
to document ai facility accidents and incidents, and share this information with the
involved child’s custodial parent or legal guardian on the day of occurrence.
COUNT TEN
24. On March 10, and again on July 3, 2003. a Department inspector cited the
facility for failure to administer medication as directed, for retaining expired medication
and for falsely documenting dispensed medication. The inspector found that facility staff
persons were logging medications as having been given to children before the children
actually received the medication.
25. These conditions violate Ruts 65C-22.004(3)(a) and (c), F.A.C., requiring
facility staff to dispense all Presciption and non-prescription medication according to the
written directions on the label and to return any expired medications to a child's custodial
parent or legal guardian.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION PROPOSED
26. For these violations, the Department proposes to revoke the facility's child
Care license.
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Nov 13 03 08:35a D14 DCF °363) &
NE IFICATION OF RIGHTS
27. — Special Treasures Preschool, Anita Jones, Owner, has a right to request
an administrative hearing within twenty-one (21) days of receiving this complaint; to be
represented by an attorney or other qualified representative; to present testimonial and
documentary evidence; to have subpoenas issued: to present argument; and other
rights. Sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes.
28. Any hearing cancerning this complaint shall be conducted pursuant to
Chapter 120, Florida Statutes and Chapter 28-106, Florida Adininistrative Code.
Any request for hearing must be made in writing and sent to the Department's attorney
whose name and address appears below. A request shall include:
a. The name and address of the Department and the case number
above.
b. The name. address and telephone number uf the person representing
the respondent, which shall be the address for service Purposes during
the course of any proceedings or hearing; and, an explanation of how
the respondent's Substartial interests will be affected by the
Department's action.
c. A statement as to when and how the respondent received notice of the
Department’s complaint.
d. A statement of all disputed issues of materiat fact. If there are none,
the request for hearing must indicate this
e. A concise staten.cnt of the ultimate facts aileged, as well as, the rules
or statutes, whicr: entitle tha respondent to relief.
f. A statement of the relief sought by the respondent.
29. All factual allegations in this complaint which are not denied or disputed in
the request for hearing or answer to this complaint shali be presumed admitted, and any
defense not raised shall be considered waived,
30. THE RESPONDENT IS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT FAILURE TO
REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF
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RECEIPT OF THIS COMPLAINT WILL RESULT IN AN ADMISSION OF THE FACTS
ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT AND THE ENTRY OF A FINAL ORDER BY THE
DEPARTMENT.
31. This compiaint is made on October < , 2003.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
oH
ynthia A. Schuler
District 14 A\ ministrator
\
fx , hy _A~./ rr
Pat Hamilton, Supervisor !
Child Care Licensing
4720 Old Highway 37
Lakeland, FL 33813
EG SE Be
State of Florida
County of Polk
Subscribed and swom to before me on October 3, 2003, by
Pat Hamilton, an employee of the Department of Children and Families, who is
personally known to me, ZL
Marita L Ledford Vuk. bt
COMMISSION # D0055153 ExpiREs Notary Public, State of Florida
October 9, 2005
BONDED THRY TROY FAIN INBURANGE, ING
F 863) 648-3336
Nov 13 03 08:35a Di4 DCF (
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The Department's counsel certifies that copy hereof has been sent by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to {peciai Treasures Prescnool, Anita Jones,, Owner,
and to Pat Hamilton, Child Care Licensing Supervisor, at the addresses shown
below on October S , 2003.
Copies to:
Anita Jones, Owner Pat Hamilton, Supervisor
Special Treasures PreSchool DCF Child Care Licensing
120 Avenue E, S. W. 4720 Old Highway 37
Winter Haven, FL 33880 Lakeland, FL 33813
Phone 813 293-2113 Phone 863 619-4138 Fax 863 648-3349
Docket for Case No: 03-004287
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 30, 2004 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 30, 2004 |
(Joint) Settlement Agreement filed.
|
Dec. 03, 2003 |
Motion for Administrative Hearing Proceedings to be Held in Abeyance Pending Informal Settlement Negotiations filed by Respondent.
|
Dec. 02, 2003 |
Order Placing Case in Abeyance (parties to advise status by January 6, 2004).
|
Dec. 02, 2003 |
Motion for Administrative Hearing Proceedings to be Held in Abeyance Pending Informal Settlement Negotiations (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
|
Nov. 19, 2003 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Nov. 19, 2003 |
Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing Pursuant to Section 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes filed.
|
Nov. 19, 2003 |
Notice (of Agency referral) filed.
|
Nov. 19, 2003 |
Initial Order.
|