BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The license to operate for a Brunswick child care facility at the center of the death of a 16-month-old was revoked, according to the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
The Kids Nest Learning Center on Benedict Road was shut down on May 23 following the death of Jamal Bryant Jr., who choked on a watermelon two days before.
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The center’s owner, Charles Grant, appealed the closure, citing that his staff followed all proper protocols and administered first aid to the toddler.
RELATED: Documents detail moments before the death of a 16-month-old at now-closed Brunswick day care
Bright from the Start opened an investigation into the facility.
According to DECAL’s letter to the center, the investigation concluded that several “rule violations occurred which seriously affected the health and safety of children and demonstrated the intentional and reckless disregard for the physical and mental health and safety of children.”
The center was hit with 11 rule violations, which included inappropriate supervision, not following a written emergency plan and failing to have at least 50% of staff CPR certified.
Two staff members, who were attending to a classroom for 1-year-olds, were not sitting within “arm’s length” from the nine children who were snacking, DECAL said.
The staff did not keep a “watchful eye” after the incident. The letter reported that the children were seen walking around eating the inappropriately-cut, two to three-inch cubed watermelon, sharing it with other children.
The watermelon pieces were not cut into the appropriate size for a 1-year-old to consume, DECAL said. The letter said the morning cook prepared the watermelon, which had been donated by a staff member for the children to eat. The afternoon cook, who did not have the required food service training, then served it to the children, according to DECAL.
The snack substation was also not updated on the center’s menu, according to the letter.
The letter said “uncorrectable abuses, derelictions and deficiencies” at the center led to the license being revoked.
The center also did not have liability insurance.
The center can appeal the revocation within 10 days. However, it cannot reopen during an appeal process since an emergency closure was issued.
If the center chooses not to appeal, the license revocation will remain finalized.