New Here With a Center Question

[Unregistered]

I am in MN looking at opening a center. I have over 10 years in child care experiance and was teacher qualified before I had my own children and have sence had just one family in my home that I have cared for. I have done the book work for my husbands business for the last nine years as well so I have the book keeping background. I have spent the last months planning out and arranging the building that I am looking at doing it in but I have one question that is not clear in the state guild line. If I have a preschool room does the bathroom need to be connected? How do those of you that have a center with the bathroom not attached do it? It might make or brake the purchase of the building I am looking at. The remodel cost is vary different due to in floor heat I can't just punch a hole in the floor and pipe in a bathroom.

Thanks,

[Happy Hearts]

What do you mean by 'not attached'? Does it mean you have to leave the building to find a bathroom? Or, is the bathroom far away down a long hallway?

[Blackcat31]

I don't think the bathroom has to actually be in the preschool room but you would be required to have enough staff to take a child to the bathroom when necessary as well NOT leaving children in the preschool room without the proper amount of adults to children ratios.

You should probably call your licensor to clarify but the couple centers we have in my community have rest rooms in the hall ways but then they must account for a staff member leaving the room.

Subp. 18.

Toilets and hand sinks.

Toilets and hand sinks must be provided as specified in items A to G:

A. The center must have at least one hand sink and one toilet for each 15 children or portion of 15 children specified in the licensed capacity. One toilet training seat or training chair must be provided for every 15 toddlers specified in the licensed capacity. Any hand sink required for children, other than infants, must be in the toilet area.

B. In newly constructed centers or those undergoing major remodeling to the plumbing system, foot or wrist operated sinks must be provided in the diaper changing area.

C. Hand sinks for children must not be used for custodial work or food preparation.

D. The temperature of hot water in the hand sinks used by children must not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

E. Single service towels or air dryers must be available to dry hands and designed for easy use by the children.

F. Toilets, sinks, faucets, and hand drying devices in the toilet area used by children under school age other than infants must be placed at a height appropriate to the ages of the children.

G. Portable steps may be used to meet the requirement in item F for toddlers and preschoolers, if the steps are sturdy and washable

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=9503.0155

[heyhun77]

I'm in a center in MN in a church and our bathroom is not in the room we use for a classroom. We have to stay within ratio while taking kids to the bathroom and it's a complete pain in the butt! I have said a ton of times that if I had a million dollars I would start by installing a bathroom in the room. I previously worked in a center where the room had a bathroom in it and there were a lot less behavior issues because the kids aren't constantly standing in line.... to go to the bathroom, once they are in the bathroom (threre are only 2 stalls plus 2 uninals for 20 kids in our classroom), then waiting while everyone else finishes up then repeat in about an hour (mine are older 2's and younger 3's). :-(