Gundersen Child Care Center

700 Bennora Lee Ct, La Crosse, WI 54601 · La Crosse County

12cited violations

7marked serious

13inspection visits

4enforcement actions

Program

Type: Group center
Licensed capacity: 101
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years, 11 months
Hours: 06:00 AM-06:00 PM (Jan-Dec)
Licensee: Scott Rathgaber
Contact: Mcginley, Alyssa
Phone: 608-775-4714
YoungStar: 2 Stars
Regulated since: 08/20/1990
DCF IDs: Facility 520211 · Provider 0000556110/001
Official record: DCF Child Care Finder

Violations by category

Illness & medication 1
Supervision & ratios 4
Food & allergies 3
Staff background & training 2
Records & paperwork 1
Other 1

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	4	2	Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Food & allergies (1), Records & paperwork (1)
2025	5	2	Supervision & ratios (1), Food & allergies (2), Staff background & training (2)
2024	3	3	Supervision & ratios (2), Other (1)

Enforcement actions

May 20, 2026 — Forfeiture: $200 ($200)
251.055(1)(a) (Supervision Of Children ) on 5/8/2026 : On 5/8/2026 the center self-reported that on 5/8/2026 1 child age 20 months was not closely supervised by child care workers when the child was left outside unsupervised for approximately 10 minutes. $100 251.055(1)(f) (Child Tracking Procedure ) on 5/8/2026 : On 5/8/2026 the center self reported that the tracking method was not followed when the staff failed to count the children as they entered the classroom after being outside resulting in one child being left outside unsupervised for 10 minutes. $100
May 20, 2026 — Orders Letter
251.055(1)(a) (Supervision Of Children ) on 5/8/2026 : On 5/8/2026 the center self-reported that on 5/8/2026 1 child age 20 months was not closely supervised by child care workers when the child was left outside unsupervised for approximately 10 minutes. 251.055(1)(f) (Child Tracking Procedure ) on 5/8/2026 : On 5/8/2026 the center self reported that the tracking method was not followed when the staff failed to count the children as they entered the classroom after being outside resulting in one child being left outside unsupervised for 10 minutes.
Jun 24, 2025 — Orders Letter
251.055(1)(a) (Supervision Of Children ) on 6/18/2025 : Center director self reported that a child was unsupervised by staff when he followed a family out of the park area for approximately 1 - 1.5 minutes when the family returned him to the group. Per rule: Each child shall be supervised by a child care worker who is within the sight and sound of the children to guide the children's behavior and activities, prevent harm and ensure safety.
Jul 1, 2024 — Warning Letter

A warning letter is not an enforcement action under Wisconsin law and carries no appeal rights. Orders and forfeitures are enforcement actions and can be appealed.

Inspection visits

Sep 8, 2026 Licensing visit · 2 rules checked, 2 not met
- Illness & medication
  Per rule, Notification shall be make immediately and shall provide sufficient detail to reasonably apprise the parent in all of the following situations: On 8/30/26 a child grabbed a bottle containing another child's breastmilk and consumed the breastmilk. Parents were not notified until 9/1/2026
  
  DCF 251.04(4)(a)2.c. — Parent Notification - Injury, Consumption Of Allergen, Incorrect Medication
- Food & allergies
  Per rule, ensure each infant and toddler is correctly fed the food, breastmilk, or formula labeled with the infants or toddlers name. On 8/30/26 a infant grabbed a bottle of another child and consumed the breastmilk inside.
  
  DCF 251.09(3)(a)2m. — Infant & Toddler - Correct Food, Breastmilk, Or Formula
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jun 8, 2026 Licensing visit · 453 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
May 8, 2026 Licensing visit · 2 rules checked, 2 not met 2 serious
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  On 5/8/2026 the center self-reported that on 5/8/2026 1 child age 20 months was not closely supervised by child care workers when the child was left outside unsupervised for approximately 10 minutes.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
- Records & paperwork Serious
  On 5/8/2026 the center self reported that the tracking method was not followed when the staff failed to count the children as they entered the classroom after being outside resulting in one child being left outside unsupervised for 10 minutes.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Nov 20, 2025 Licensing visit · 466 rules checked, 0 not met

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Staff background & training
  Fingerprints not completed for the following individuals: Individual 003
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Nov 20, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Staff background & training Serious
  Fingerprints Not Completed For The Following Individuals: Individual 003
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report
Jul 21, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met
- Food & allergies
  On 7/8/25 a Child Was Served Discarded Milk From The Day Before. This Child Has A "No Cow's Milk" Preference And The pitcher of Milk Contained Cow's Milk.
  
  DCF 251.06(9)(f)2. — Food - Returned From Plates Or Tables
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jun 18, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  Center director self reported that a child was unsupervised by staff when he followed a family out of the park area for approximately 1 - 1.5 minutes when the family returned him to the group. Per rule: Each child shall be supervised by a child care worker who is within the sight and sound of the children to guide the children's behavior and activities, prevent harm and ensure safety.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Apr 22, 2025 Licensing visit · 497 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Feb 19, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met
- Food & allergies
  Per DCF 251.09(3)(a)2m Ensure each infant and toddler is correctly fed the food, breastmilk, or formula labeled with the infant's or toddlers name. On 2/12/25 a toddler took the sippy cup of another child containing breastmilk and took a drink.
  
  DCF 251.09(3)(a)2m. — Infant & Toddler - Correct Food, Breastmilk, Or Formula
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Oct 8, 2024 Licensing visit · 135 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jun 26, 2024 Licensing visit · 2 rules checked, 2 not met 2 serious

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  Per An Email From The Center Director, On 6/26/24 1 Child In The Pre-K Room Was Not Within Sight Or Sound Supervision Of A Child Care Worker When The Teacher Took The Group Of Children To Deliver Laundry Leaving 1 Child Behind In The Classroom For Approximately 2 Minutes.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
- Other Serious
  On 6/26/24, Center Tracking Procedure Was Not Followed When A Teacher Failed To Count Children Prior To Leaving The Classroom To Deliver Laundry Leaving 1 Child Alone In The Classroom For Approximately 2 Minutes.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Mar 26, 2024 Licensing visit · 561 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Mar 8, 2024 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  On 3/1/24 The Center Self Reported That At 9:40 Am A Child Drinking A Bottle Of Breastmilk Was Not Closely Supervised By Child Care Workers Who Were Within Sight And Sound Of The Child When Another Child Took The Bottle Of Breastmilk And Drank Out Of It.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)

Get the full file

DCF publishes about 3 years of monitoring. Older history, complaint files and self-reported incidents require a public records request. Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why. Electronic copies are generally free.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: DCF Records Custodian · DCFRecordsRequest@wisconsin.gov · fax (608) 422-7161 · 201 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
Copy: DCF Western Regional Licensing Office · DCFPlicBRLWRO@wisconsin.gov · 715-930-1148

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Records Custodian,

Under Wisconsin's public records law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, I request copies of the following records for the child care program Gundersen Child Care Center, 700 Bennora Lee Ct, La Crosse, WI 54601 (DCF facility number 520211; provider number 0000556110, location 001; applicant/licensee number 3100000536), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every licensing or certification monitoring, renewal and follow-up visit report, including noncompliance statements, compliance statements and rule-monitoring summaries.
2. Every complaint investigation: intake summaries, investigation reports, and the finding for each allegation.
3. Every warning letter, order, forfeiture or other enforcement action, with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of correction the program submitted, and the department's response.
5. Every incident the program reported to the department (for example under DCF 251.04(3) or 250.04(3)): injuries requiring medical care, prohibited actions, suspected abuse or neglect, communicable disease, and children whose whereabouts were unknown.

I understand that child and reporter identities, and material made confidential by Wis. Stat. § 48.981, may be redacted; please release the remainder and cite the basis for anything withheld. Please provide the records electronically (PDF by email). If the estimated cost exceeds $5.00, please send me an estimate before proceeding. Please confirm receipt of this request.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, file a child care complaint with DCF. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, via the Child Care Finder and the licensed and certified directories. History last read Sep 30, 2026. Violation text is DCF's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan.