Wausau Child Care West Side Ctr

505 N 28th Ave, Wausau, WI 54401 · Marathon County

6cited violations

5marked serious

9inspection visits

1enforcement actions

Program

Type: Group center
Licensed capacity: 132
Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years, 11 months
Hours: 06:30 AM-05:30 PM (Jan-Dec)
Licensee: Kay Palmer
Contact: Klement, Joann
Phone: 715-848-1436
YoungStar: 5 Stars
Regulated since: 07/06/1981
DCF IDs: Facility 620079 · Provider 0000557000/001
Official record: DCF Child Care Finder

Violations by category

Cleanliness & sanitation 3
Discipline & child guidance 2
Staff background & training 1

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	3	3	Cleanliness & sanitation (3)
2025	2	2	Discipline & child guidance (2)
2024	1	0	Staff background & training (1)

Enforcement actions

Aug 21, 2026 — Warning Letter
251.055(1)(f) (Child Tracking Procedure ) on 8/5/2026 : Per self report, Teacher A did not follow child tracking procedures as Child 1 was left the bathroom by himself while the rest of the group transitioned back to the classroom. Staff were unaware the child was in the bathroom until he was returned by center staff.

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

Aug 5, 2026 Licensing visit · 2 rules checked, 2 not met 2 serious
- Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
  Child 1 was left alone and unsupervised in the bathroom for approximately one minute.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
- Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
  Per self report, Teacher A did not follow child tracking procedures as Child 1 was left the bathroom by himself while the rest of the group transitioned back to the classroom. Staff were unaware the child was in the bathroom until he was returned by center staff.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jul 7, 2026 Licensing visit · 351 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Apr 3, 2026 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
  Per Self Report, without classroom staff knowledge, Child A left the classroom to use the bathroom. The child's whereabouts were unknown for approximately 5-10 seconds.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jan 12, 2026 Licensing visit · 254 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Aug 21, 2025 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Discipline & child guidance Serious
  Per interview of staff, Staff A has been counting down time while children are in the bathroom. She has given children 20-30 seconds to use the bathroom.
  
  DCF 251.07(2)(e)5. — Prohibited Actions - Cruel, Aversive, Frightening, Humiliating Actions
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Aug 13, 2025 Licensing visit · 306 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Jan 29, 2025 Licensing visit · 277 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Discipline & child guidance Serious
  Staff A sprayed a child with a bottle that contained soap and water solution.
  
  DCF 251.07(2)(e)5. — Prohibited Actions - Cruel, Aversive, Frightening, Humiliating Actions
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Sep 10, 2024 Licensing visit · 289 rules checked, 1 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
  Staff A And B Do Not Have Documentation Of Completion Of Orientation.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(gr)2. — Meal Prep Personnel - Orientation
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Mar 12, 2024 Licensing visit · 224 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

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 Northern Regional Licensing Office · DCFPlicBRLNRO@wisconsin.gov · 715-361-7700

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 Wausau Child Care West Side Ctr, 505 N 28th Ave, Wausau, WI 54401-4104 (DCF facility number 620079; provider number 0000557000, location 001; applicant/licensee number 5100001356), 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.