State investigation reveals multiple violations related to bleach incident at local daycare
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Two days after The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) confirmed to 13 Investigates that they were looking into allegations of improper supervision during an incident at Kid City USA, a local Colorado Springs daycare, multiple violations have been found.
The incident involved a three-year-old preschooler and bleach at the daycare facility in the 5700 block of Constitution Avenue on Oct 17. A Colorado Springs mother told 13 Investigates a bleach bottle was easily accessible to her child.
“Over the phone, I was told that they believe that he got into bleach,” Nicole Hawley, the mother of the 3-year-old boy told 13 Investigates. “He came out of the bathroom crying and his black uniform shirt was covered in bleach. And that he was saying his mouth hurt. They helped him throw up. They don't know how much he ingested.”
According to the investigation report obtained by 13 Investigates, CDEC made contact with multiple representatives from Kid City USA on October 24. The report states, "At the time of inspection there was a bleach bottle accessible to children in the pre-k classroom." The management was asked to keep bleach bottles "out of reach of children" and demonstrate compliance by October 31.
Another violation outlined in the report was that Kid City USA did not, "file an injury report for an injury requiring emergency medical attention using the online injury system within 24 hours of the incident." Moving forward, CDEC asks the day car to "Immediately ensure that all injuries that require medical attention are reported within 24 hours on the online injury reporting system."
Those two violations were directly related to the child's injuries from the incident on October 17. In addition, Kid City USA was cited for allowing a staff member to supervise children who was "not qualified as an Early Childhood teacher." Similarly to the previous violations, CDEC asks the daycare to "immediately ensure there is at least one qualified Early Childhood teacher supervising each group of children."
The full report can be read here.
13 Investigates reached out directly to Kid City USA’s daycare facility on Constitution Ave and the Kid City USA headquarters in Port Orange, Florida about the 911 call of a poisoning one day after the incident occurred. Neither responded to 13 Investigates questions.
Two days after the incident and after 13 Investigates reached out for comment, the daycare facility’s owner, Ashely Amaya, sent an email to parents of students and children at Kid City USA on Constitution Ave. 13 Investigates obtained this email from Hawley and her husband.
“Monday, 10/17, a preschooler gained access to a sanitation bottle and spilled the solution on his shirt. As a precaution, EMS was called to confirm no substances were ingested. The child was cleared as never having ingested anything. Unfortunately, KRDO is reporting a “potential poisoning” situation. Out of respect for you as the families we serve, I felt that you be informed on the situation before it becomes a public issue. The safety and well being of the children within our care are not compromised in any way. As always, transparency of the state of our center is available to you. Please reach out to me directly via text or email if I can clarify anything for you at this time.”
Ashley Amaya, Kid City USA
13 Investigates reached out to Kid City USA and Amaya requesting comment about the state investigation or the email sent out to parents. At the time of publication, neither have responded to our request.
