13-002393
Department Of Children And Families vs.
Amanda's Childcare And Preschool Inc., D/B/A Amanda's Childcare And Preschool
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
Recommended Order on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
1STATE OF FLORIDA
4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
8DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
12FAMILI ES ,
14Petitioner ,
15Case No s . 13 - 2377
22vs. 13 - 2393
26AMANDAÓS CHILD CARE AND
30PRESCHOOL INC., d/b/a , AMANDAÓS
34CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL,
38Respondent .
40/
41RECOMMENDED ORDER
43A n administrative hearing was conducted in this case on
53September 4, 2013 , in Deland , Florida, before James H. Peterson,
63III, Administrative Law Judge with the Division of
71Administrative Hearings.
73APPEARANCES
74For Petitioner: Jane Almy - Loewinger , Esquire
81Department of Children
84and Famil ies
87210 North Palmetto Avenue, Suite 447
93Daytona Beach , Florida 32114
97For Respondent: Joseph Corneck, pro se
103AmandaÓs Child care and Preschool
108123 West Rhode Island Avenue
113Orange City, Florida 32763
117STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE
121W hether AmandaÓs Child care and Preschool is subject to a
132civil penalty and licensure action for failing to comply with
142staff - to - student ratios and for having tools on the daycare
155playground, in violation of Florida Administrative Code Rule s
16465C - 22.001(4) and 65C - 22.002(1)(a) , and chapter 402, Florida
175Statutes .
177PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
179Following a routine inspection of AmandaÓ s Child care and
189Preschool (Respondent) conducted on January 28, 2013, the
197Department of Children and Famil ies ( Department ) issued an d
209served an Administrative Complaint upon Respondent by certified
217mail on February 13, 2013, seeking civil penalt ies against
227Respondent . The Administrative Complaint alleged that
234Respondent violated r ule 65C - 22. 001(4) by having only one staff
247person for 21 children when one staff person for every 20
258children is required , and also alleged that Respondent violated
267r ule 65C - 22.002(1)( a) by having lumber and electrical cutting
279tools within reach of children on a playground. The
288Administrative Complaint ad vised Respondent that it had 21 days
298from receipt within which to request a hearing.
306Respondent, through its owner, Joseph Corneck , timely filed
314a written request for a h earing on the Administrative Complaint .
326T he Department referred the case to the Division of
336Administrative Hearings (DOAH) , apparently twice, resulting in
343assignment of two cases with two separate case numbe rs, DOAH
354Case N umber 13 - 2377 and DOAH Case N umber 12 - 2393. Thereafter,
369the two cases were consolidated by an o rder of c onsolidation
381dated July 5, 2013.
385At the administrative hearing in t his matter, the
394Department presented the testimony of Department family services
402counselor Kalyn Yeager and Department family counselor
409supervisor , Jennifer Adams . The Department offered two exhibits
418that were received into evidence as E xhibits P - 1 and P - 2 , with
434the caveat that statements therein could not be relied up on for
446the truth of matter s asserted unless corroborative of competent
456e vidence. (Transcript, p. 76) . Mr. Corneck te stified on behalf
468of Respondent, but did not offer any exhibits. The parties were
479given 10 days from the filing of the transcript within which to
491file proposed recommended orders. A one - volume T ranscript of
502the proceedings was filed on September 13, 2013 . The Department
513timely filed a Proposed Recommended O rder which has been taken
524into consideration in preparing this Recommended Order.
531Respondent did not file a proposed recommended order.
539FINDINGS OF FACT
5421. Respondent is licensed by th e Department to operate a
553facility known as AmandaÓs Child care & Preschool located at 123
564W est Rhode Island Avenue, Orange City, Florida 32763.
5732. Respondent is owned by Joseph Corneck.
5803. During the morning of January 28, 2013, Mr. Corneck was
591working on the construction of a climbing apparatus in a
601playground at RespondentÓs daycare facility .
6074. There were no children playing on th e playground at the
619time of Mr. Corneck Ós construction activities.
6265. Rather, there were 20 kindergarten - aged children inside
636an adjacent classroom while Mr. Corneck was outside working.
6456. Near lunchtime, Ms. Carolyn, a staff member who was
655supervising the classr oom , lined the children up so that they
666could use the two available bathrooms and wash up for lunch.
6777. Because of crowding by the number of children lining up
688for only two bathrooms, Ms. Carolyn asked seven boys in the
699group to line up outside the classroom along the exterior wall
710near the door adjacent to the playground.
7178. Ms. Caroly n asked Mr. Corneck to assist in watching the
729boys while they were in line.
7359. Mr. Corneck left the apparatus that he was working on,
746which was approximately 30 fe et away, and came over to the boys
759to watch over them while they were in the line.
76910. Mr. Corneck left the tools that he was working with ,
780consisting of a hammer and a cordless drill gun , back on a
792platform of the app aratus. The platform where he left the tools
804was approximately four to six feet high. He also left the
815materials he was working with and a ladder near the apparatus.
82611. While Mr. Corneck was watching the boys, Department
835family services counselor Kalyn Yeager stopped by for a routine
845in spection. She noticed the boys outside the classroom and
855apparently concluded that they had access to the tools and
865materials.
86612. Mr. Corneck , however, did not allow the boys to play
877on the playground that day . There is no evidence that the
889children were allowed access to the tools or playground
898apparatus, and there is insufficient evidence to suggest that
907the children otherwise had access to those tools or materials,
917or that they were ever in danger or potential danger because of
929hi s construction act ivities.
93413. After the inspection, Ms. Yea ger had a conversation
944with Mr. Corneck in which he advised that he had shown some of
957the day care students how to use tools. Mr. Corneck , however,
968never told Ms. Yeager that he had given a demonstration to the
980k indergarten - aged children who were present on the day of the
993inspection . Rather, his reference to a tool demonstration was
1003about another occasion or occasion s whe n he had demonstrated the
1015use of tools to some of the older boys in RespondentÓs after -
1028school care.
103014. At the final hearing, Ms. Yeager could not recall the
1041number of children who were there the day of her inspection .
1053The evidence is otherwise inadequate to show that Respondent
1062violated any applicable staff - to - child ratio standards.
107215. In sum, the Department failed to prove the alleged
1082violations set forth in the Administrative Complaint .
1090CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
109316. The Division of Administrative Hearings has
1100jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this
1109proceeding. See §§ 120.569 and 120.57(1 ) Fla. Stat . 1/
112017. The Department, as t he party asserting the affirmative
1130in this proceeding, has the burden of proof. See , e.g. , Balino
1141v. DepÓt of Health & Rehab. Svc s . , 348 So. 2d 349 (Fla. 1st DCA
11571977). Because the Department is seeking to prove violations of
1167a statute or rule and impose administrative fines or other
1177penalties , it has the burden to prove the allegations in the
1188complaint by clear and convincing evidence. Dep Ót of B anking &
1200Fin. , Div. of Sec s . & Investor Prot. v. Osborne S tern & Co. ,
1215670 So. 2d 932 (Fla. 1996); Ferris v. Turlington , 510 So. 2d 292
1228(Fla. 1987).
123018. As th e licensing authority for child care facilities,
1240the Department has the authority to investigate and take action
1250to enforce lice nsing standards for child care facilities found
1260in s ections 402.301 th rough 402.319, Florida Statutes, and in
1271rules developed by the Department pursuant the statutory
1279authority set forth in s ection 402.305 .
128719. As a licensed child care f acility, Responden t is
1298subject to rules 65C - 22.001(4) and 65C - 22.002 . 2/
131020. Rule 65C - 22.001(4), under which the staff ratio
1320allegation is based, provides:
1324(4) Ratios.
1326(a) The staff - to - child ratio, as
1335established in Section 402.305(4), F.S., is
1341based on primary responsibility for the
1347direct supervision of children, and applies
1353at all times while children are in care.
1361(b) Mixed Age Groups.
13651. In groups of mixed age ranges, where
1373children under one year of age are included,
1381one staff member shall be responsible f or no
1390more than four children of any age group, at
1399all times.
14012. In groups of mixed age ranges, where
1409children one year of age but under two years
1418of age are included, one staff member shall
1426be responsible for no more than six children
1434of any age group, a t all times.
1442(c) For every 20 children, a facility must
1450have one credentialed staff member pursuant
1456to Section 402.305(3), F.S.
146021. Rule 65C - 22.002(1)(a), cited by the Department in the
1471portion of the Administrative Complaint regarding tools and
1479materi als on the playground, provides:
1485Physical Environment.
1487(1) General Requirements.
1490(a) All facilities must be clean, in good
1498repair, free from health and safety hazards
1505and from vermin infestation.
150922 . As noted in the Findings of Fact, above, the
1520Department did not prove by clear and convincing evidence facts
1530sufficient to show that Respondent violated r ule 65C - 22.001(4)
1541or 65C - 22.002(1)(a) as alleged in the Administrative Complaint.
1551RECOMMENDATION
1552Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and C onclusions of
1563Law, it is
1566RECOMMENDED that the Department of Children and Famil ies
1575enter a Final Order dismissing the Administrative Complaint.
1583DONE AND ENTERED 15th day of October , 20 13 , in Tallahassee,
1594Leon County, Florida.
1597S
1598JAMES H. PETERSON, III
1602Administrative Law Judge
1605Division of Administrative Hearings
1609The DeSoto Building
16121230 Apalachee Parkway
1615Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 3060
1620(850) 488 - 9675
1624Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847
1630www.doah.state.fl.us
1631Filed with the Clerk of the
1637Division of Administrative Hearings
1641t his 15th day of October, 2013 .
1649ENDNOTE S
16511/ Unless otherwise indicated, all references to the Florida
1660Statutes are to the 2012 version.
16662/ References to the Florida Administrative Code are to the
1676versions in effect on January 28, 201 3 .
1685COPIES FURNISHED :
1688Jane Almy - Loewinger, Esquire
1693Department of Children and Families
1698Suite 430
1700210 North Palmetto Avenue
1704Daytona Beach, Florida 32114
1708Joseph Corneck
1710AmandaÓs Childc are and Preschool
1715123 West Rhode Island Avenue
1720Orange City, Florida 32763
1724Gregory D. Venz, Agency Clerk
1729Department of Children and Families
17341317 Winewood Boulevard
1737Tallahassee, Florida 32399
1740Marion Drew Parker, General Counsel
1745Department of Children an d Families
1751Building 2, Room 204
17551317 Winewood Boulevard
1758Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0700
1763Esther Jacobo, Interim Secretary
1767Department of Children and Families
1772Building 1, Room 202
17761317 Winewood Boulevard
1779Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0700
1784NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS
1790All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within
180015 days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions
1811to this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that
1822will issue the Final Order in this case.
- Date
- Proceedings
- PDF:
- Date: 10/22/2013
- Proceedings: Department of Children and Families' Exceptions to Recommended Order filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 10/15/2013
- Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
- Date: 09/10/2013
- Proceedings: Transcript of Proceedings (not available for viewing) filed.
- Date: 09/04/2013
- Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
Case Information
- Judge:
- JAMES H. PETERSON, III
- Date Filed:
- 06/25/2013
- Date Assignment:
- 06/25/2013
- Last Docket Entry:
- 02/14/2014
- Location:
- Deland, Florida
- District:
- Northern
- Agency:
- ADOPTED IN PART OR MODIFIED
Counsels
-
Jane Almy-Loewinger, Esquire
Address of Record -
Joseph Corneck
Address of Record -
Paul Sexton, Agency Clerk
Address of Record -
Lacey Kantor, Esquire
Address of Record