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August 14, 2025 ISSUED VIA PROVIDER HUB Channon Richardson, Authorized Agent University Nursery School 916 E 3rd St. Ste. 1 Duluth, MN 55805 License Number 802580 (Child Care Center) Report Number 202501720 ORDER TO PAY A FINE Dear Channon Richardson: The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is ordering you to pay a fine of $200 for failure to report maltreatment at University Nursery School, located at 916 3rd St., Suite 1 in Duluth, Minnesota. Details of our findings are provided below. Our next steps and your options are also detailed. REASON FOR FINE Failure to Report Maltreatment It was reported that a staff person pushed a child down onto his/her cot causing a bruise on the child’s head. DCYF investigated the report as alleged maltreatment by abuse and neglect. Based on the maltreatment investigation, DCYF determined that an administrative staff person had knowledge of the incident of maltreatment, but did not make a report as required. Specifically: · On November 15, 2024, a staff person told the administrative staff person that s/he “pushed” the child down onto his/her cot “too hard” and that the child hit his/her head. · On the same date, there was a photograph of the child with a red and purple mark on his/her forehead documented in an application the facility used to communicate with families. · The staff person documented in the facility’s incident log that on November 15, 2024, s/he “got frustrated and grabbed and put [the child] down hard and [the child] hit [his/her] head on the cot handle hard and got bruised.” · Mandated reporters at the facility did not report the incident as required. The Department of Human Services received an anonymous report about the incident on February 18, 2025. Fine: $200 Corrective Action Required: Submit written documentation to your DCYF licensor within 30 days from the date of this letter showing that all staff have been retrained on the reporting requirements for alleged maltreatment. The documentation must identify: names of staff persons completing the training; the date of the training; and who provided the training. Documentation must be maintained in each staff person’s record. Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 260E.06, subdivision 1. Billing and Payment of the Fine After 10 calendar days from the date of this letter, DCYF will send you an invoice for the $200 fine through the Provider Hub. Payment must be made as directed on the invoice. If you request a contested case hearing, as described below, do not pay the fine at this time. Following the contested case hearing, the Commissioner of DCYF will issue a final order on this matter. Please note, you may not avoid payment of this fine by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the license to a third party. If this occurs, each controlling individual is personally and jointly responsible for payment. If you do not pay the fine on or before the date specified on the invoice and you did not request a contested case hearing, as described below, the Commissioner may issue a second fine, may not issue or reissue a license, or may suspend the license until the license holder pays the fine. YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL You have the right to appeal the fine. If you choose to appeal the fine, you must use the Provider Hub (https://providerhub.DCYF.mn.gov/) to submit your request. Your request must be made before the deadline provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to an administrative appeal. The timeline to appeal began when this order was issued in the Provider Hub. Your request for an appeal must be submitted in the Provider Hub within 10 calendar days from the date it was issued in the Provider Hub. Upon DCYF’s receipt of your timely appeal, your case would be scheduled for a contested case hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. Following this hearing, the Commissioner of DCYF will issue a final order. Legal representation at the contested case hearing You do not need a lawyer to appeal. However, a lawyer can help you with your appeal. The state or county will not get you a lawyer and will not pay for a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free legal advice or help with your appeal. To find out if free help is available, contact: Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612-752-6677; Central Minnesota Legal Services at 612-332-8151; Southern Minnesota Legal Services at 651-222-4731; or go to www.lawhelpmn.org to find a local legal services program that may be able to help you. You can also find information on contested cases from the Office of Administrative Hearings website at https://mn.gov/oah/self-help. Click on Administrative Law Overview, then click on Administrative Law Contested Case Hearing Guide for a list of frequently asked questions. Posting of this licensing action You are required to place this Order to Pay a Fine and the accompanying Investigation Memorandum in a place that is clearly noticeable to the people receiving services and all visitors to the facility for four years, even if you appeal. Legal authority for this licensing action · This action is taken under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), which describes under which conditions DCYF may impose a fine against a license. · DCYF may impose a $200 fine for each health, safety, or supervision licensing violation under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c)(4)(iv). · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c)(5) states that license holders may not avoid payment of a fine by closing, selling, or transferring a license. · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.12, subdivision 8, states that DCYF shall not issue or reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is delinquent. · Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 4, paragraph (c)(2), states that that the license holder shall pay the fine assessed on or before the payment date specified, and if the license holder does not do so the commissioner may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies. · License holders have a right to appeal licensing actions and request a contested case hearing, under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612. · The requirement to post this order and the accompanying investigation in a clearly visible location is required under Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.18, subdivision 6. Questions If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact Marie Tierney, Intake & Investigations Supervisor, at 651-539-8273. Sincerely,
Mary Kelsey, Division Director Licensing Division Office of Inspector General
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