493010545-8-11-2026-01-CC-MAUN-DX4R7A-20260819124602

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493010545
Report Date: 08/11/2026
Date Signed: 08/11/2026 04:23:40 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/20/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20260520140555

FACILITY NAME:	LEARNING EXPERIENCE, THE		FACILITY NUMBER:	493010545
ADMINISTRATOR:	ZETTLER, MARIO		FACILITY TYPE:	860
ADDRESS:	6150 COMMERCE BLVD		TELEPHONE:	(707) 847-4894
CITY:	ROHNERT PARK	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	94928
CAPACITY:	170	CENSUS: 65	DATE:	08/11/2026
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:14 PM
MET WITH:	Mario Zettler		TIME COMPLETED:	03:25 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Day care children were able to leave the facility unsupervised

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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An unannounced follow-up complaint investigation visit was conducted by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Yang to deliver the findings of the complaint investigation. The allegation stated that daycare children were able to leave the facility without staff supervision. Specifically, it was alleged that on two separate occasions, child C1 eloped from the classroom and was subsequently located in the facility's parking lot. It was further alleged that, during one of those incidents, child C2 also eloped from the classroom and accompanied C1 into the parking lot.
During the initial complaint investigation on May 26, 2026, LPA Yang interviewed Center Director Mario Zettler (Staff S1) regarding the allegation. Director Zettler confirmed that the allegation was true and acknowledged that children C1 and C2 left their classroom without staff supervision. Director Zettler stated that on May 14, 2026, children C1 and C2 exited their classroom through an emergency exit door located inside the classroom and were later found together in the facility's parking lot. He further stated that on May 19, 2026, child C1 again exited the classroom through the same emergency exit door and was subsequently located in the parking lot. According to Director Zettler, the May 14 incident was discovered by a different child's authorized representative arriving at the facility, while the May 19 incident was observed by a teacher who was sitting in her vehicle during a scheduled break. (Continued on LIC9099-C)

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/11/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/11/2026

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20260520140555

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING EXPERIENCE, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 493010545
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 08/11/2026

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A 08/12/2026 Section Cited CCR 101229(a)(1)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision: (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs.1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time... Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	The Director stated that the facility's supervision policies and applicable Title 22 requirements have been reviewed with all staff. Staff were reminded that they must maintain continuous visual supervision of children at all times and ensure required teacher-child ratios are maintained during classroom activities, transitions, and outdoor play. The facility representative also stated that all staff will complete documented training on active supervision and supervision responsibilities by August 13, 2026. To monitor compliance, the Director will conduct classroom observations for the next 30 days, provide coaching or corrective action as needed.The facility will continue ongoing monitoring to ensure children receive adequate supervision at all times and to prevent recurrence of this deficiency.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on interviews conducted, Director Zettler’s admission, and information obtained during the investigation, the Department determined that the facility did not provide adequate supervision of children, resulting in children being able to leave the classroom and building without staff supervision. This poses an immediate health and safety risk to children in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Proof of staff training, training attendance records, and classroom observation documentation will be submitted to the Department by the Plan of Correction (POC) due date.
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/11/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/11/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20260520140555

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING EXPERIENCE, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 493010545
	VISIT DATE: 08/11/2026

NARRATIVE

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Director Zettler stated that both incidents lasted approximately two minutes before the children were located and reunited with a staff member.

Director Zettler stated that, during both incidents, classroom staff attempted to verbally redirect the children back into the classroom. However, the children did not comply, and the teachers did not pursue them because each was the only staff member assigned to the classroom at the time. He explained that after exiting the classroom, the children entered an enclosed side alley surrounded by fencing before proceeding toward the facility's main emergency exit gate at the front of the center. Director Zettler confirmed that the emergency exit door is not used during routine classroom activities or when transitioning children to the outdoor play yard. Instead, teachers escort children through the classroom's interior door into the main hallway and then use a separate exit to access the playground.

Director Zettler stated that the emergency exit door was equipped with an audible alarm intended to alert classroom staff whenever the door was opened. However, the alarm was not functioning at the time of either incident. As a result, classroom staff were not immediately alerted when the children opened the emergency exit door and were only able to respond after the child or children had already exited the classroom. Director Zettler stated that new alarms have since been installed on the doors. He further explained that because the door serves as an emergency exit, the facility could not lock it or install a latch that would prevent it from being opened.

Director Zettler also reported that he conducted debriefings with the classroom staff following both incidents. According to the Director, staff reported observing the children move toward the emergency exit door and verbally directing them to return to the classroom; however, the children did not comply and continued toward the exterior of the facility. Staff further reported that they did not pursue the children because each was the only teacher assigned to the classroom at the time and believed that leaving the room would have resulted in the remaining children being left unsupervised. Director Zettler acknowledged that, despite these circumstances, the incidents demonstrated deficiencies in classroom supervision.

Both of these incidents were reported to Community Care Licensing as required per regulations. As part of the investigation, the LPA interviewed Staff S2 through S12 on May 11, May 26, and June 18, 2026. The staff interviews were generally consistent with Director Zettler's account. Staff S6 and S7, the teachers involved in the elopement incidents, confirmed that C1 and C2 acted quickly and without any apparent antecedents before leaving the classroom. They stated that although they did not hear the emergency door alarm activate, they became aware that the classroom's emergency exit door had been opened and attempted to verbally redirect the children; however, the children continued toward the exterior emergency exit. Staff S6 and S7 further confirmed that they did not pursue the children because each was the only staff member assigned to the classroom at the time and believed doing so would have required leaving the remaining children unsupervised. (Continued on LIC9099-C)

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/11/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/11/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20260520140555

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING EXPERIENCE, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 493010545
	VISIT DATE: 08/11/2026

NARRATIVE

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Other staff members acknowledged that supervision within some preschool classrooms could be improved. Several staff reported that maintaining constant visual supervision of every child can be challenging due to the developmental needs, behaviors, and activity levels of preschool-aged children. Staff explained that teachers are routinely required to provide individualized care, including diaper changes, restroom assistance, addressing behavioral concerns, comforting upset children, and responding to minor injuries or other immediate needs. During these interactions, a teacher's attention may be temporarily focused on one child, allowing other children to move quickly throughout the classroom or toward exits before staff are able to intervene. Staff further stated that preschool-aged children can move rapidly from one area of the classroom to another within seconds, making continuous visual supervision difficult during periods when only one teacher is present.

Based on Director Zettler's admissions, staff interviews, and information obtained throughout the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met. Therefore, the allegation is substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. An exit interview was conducted and his report was reviewed and discussed with the center director, Mario Zettler. A civil penalty is being assessed. Appeal rights were provided, and the Notice of Site Visit was issued and shall be posted in a prominent location for 30 days.

Reports citing Type A violations are to be provided to parents/guardians of children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to parents/guardians of children newly enrolled at the facility for the next 12 months from the date of this report. Parents/guardians must sign form LIC 9224 to be kept in each child's file.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 08/11/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/11/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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