I would just like to respond to Ms. Lizcano's comments regarding supervision on the field trip at the park. I am the owner of A Child's Reflection and we take all comments like Ms. Lizcanos serious and we take action any time we receive comments from the public regarding our childrens' or our teachers behavior on field trips. As space allows, I will try to address each of the issues raised in the previous posting. On the field trip mentioned to the park, we had 4 teachers present for 38 children. This is a ratio of just under 10 children to each teacher (the state mandated ratio is 12:1). Additionally, the teachers present were of the ages of 21,28,30 and 36 years old- none of which were teen-agers as alleged in the posting. \r
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We have specific safety procedures in place to try to address the restroom incident alleged by Ms. Lizcano. When we first arrive at the park, teachers willl inspect both restrooms to ensure that there are no strangers lurking/waiting for children (as well as for general cleanliness and usefulness). When we depart from the bus, children will then generally go to the restroom in pairs and often larger groups. Likewise, the same routine before re-boarding the bus for the trip back to the school. While on the field trip, children are usually sent to the restroom in pairs or larger groups with staff nearby (but not necessarily accompanying them inside the restroom). If a single child goes to the restroom, the teacher will generally wait outside the restroom and not accompany a child inside the restroom- this may have been what happened when the posting stated that the teacher was ""yards"" away. \r
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We are always looking to improve our security meaures and we are constantly making improvements in response to situations encountered and advice of others. We have met with our teachers regarding this alleged incident and will alter our procedure so that the teacher inspects the restroom immedately prior to a single child entering.\r
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