ATHENS, W.Va. — An investigation is underway after workers at Concord University’s on-campus Child Development Center left a baby boy unattended earlier this week.
Concord Vice President for Business and Finance Charles Becker tells MetroNews children that are part of the child care center are cared for in the upstairs and downstairs of a building on campus. The children are transferred upstairs during the afternoon to make it easier for pick-up. He said the incident under investigation happened Monday.
“A child was left sleeping in a crib in one of the classrooms at that lower level and not brought to the upper level. This wasn’t discovered until the parent came to pick-up the baby about an hour later,” Becker said.
Two workers have been suspended while the investigation takes place. Becker said the information has been reported to the state DHHR’s Child Protective Services and those in charge of child care center licensing. Becker said he didn’t know how long the state investigation would take.
It’s only natural for the mother to be upset, Becker said.
“I can only imagine that she was upset that her child wasn’t readily available where she expected him to be,” he said.
The baby was unharmed.
“Fortunately it did not have a bad outcome and we’re thankful for that,” Becker said.
The center was caring for 46 children Monday ranging from infants to middle school-aged. Becker said the center has had a good track record. He said it’s used by faculty, staff, students and the community. Becker said Concord takes what happened Monday very seriously.
“We’re reviewing what it is we do (in transferring children between floors) and what’s our understanding of how that takes place. We’ve already implemented some measures to further tighten up that process and we may further things down the road when have the opportunity to look at it more closely,” Becker said.