G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: NORTH HARNETT PRIMARY SCHOOL Facility ID: 43000533 Consultant: MASHEKIA RAINES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 16 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 105 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 11:30 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp w/Rated Lic Assess Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an Annual Compliance visit. Your Rated License assessment was also completed during the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Upon arrival I was greeted by the Administrator, Mrs. Moore. I completed a general walk through of the indoor and outdoor environment. Ratio, group size, supervision, capacity and approved space were in compliance. The license, restrictions, and emergency care plan were posted. CPR, First-Aid and storage of hazardous materials were monitored. The NC Child Care Law was posted. The children were observed in teacher-directed center-time activities. During today’s review I monitored program requirements, equipment and furnishings, medications, outdoor area, and transportation and all items were in compliance. I reviewed a selection of children’s records and the completed staff and training worksheets. Your signature on these forms will serve as further verification the information provided is accurate and complete. Your facility information and e-mail address were reviewed, and no changes were made. The following violations were observed during today’s visit; Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. One staff in the classroom for preschool children had not completed a Criminal Background Check prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff had not completed the First Aid certification. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff had not completed the CPR certification. .1102(d) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One staff in the classroom for preschool children did not have a valid qualification letter on file. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff had not completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training. .1102(g) In response to the violations that were cited during today’s visit I provided technical assistance and clarification on the following items; I reviewed training requirements and explained that all staff who provide care for children must successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a First-Aid course appropriate to the ages of children in care. Please be reminded that new employees must complete CPR and First-Aid within 90 days of employment. I suggested that you place renewal dates on a calendar, spreadsheet, or bulletin board to help keep you reminded of when it's time for renewals and new staff to complete CPR and First-Aid. I also recommended that you utilize and review the staff file checklist on a regular basis, and this will help to maintain compliance in this area. Please be reminded that child care administrators and staff members must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment, unless the staff member has completed the training within the year prior to beginning employment. Health and safety training must be in addition to the new staff orientation requirements that are in rule section 1101. The child care administrator and all staff must also complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Health and safety trainings are important because it helps providers create a safe and healthy environment for children and staff. Receiving this training helps providers identify and respond to potential hazards, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and respond effectively to emergencies and provide quality care. I reviewed the Criminal Background Check application and explained that it will be completed online at www.ncchildcare.nc.gov/general/dhhscrc.asp. The payment for a Criminal Background Check will be part of the online application process. Fingerprints must be completed through live scan at your local county Sheriff's Office. I recommended that you visit our website and stay familiar with the Criminal Background Check procedures. During today’s review I observed that one of the NC Pre-K staff, Tammy Capps had not completed the criminal background check process and obtained an approved qualifying letter. Due to the violation of requirement observed during the visit, I did not send the staff home, because it would leave the remaining lead teacher out of ratio and there was not an available qualified staff on site to work in the classroom. I contacted the Harnett County Preschool Director, Clara Clinton and informed her of the situation and asked if she had any available qualified staff that could substitute at this site. She informed me that she was able to find a qualified staff that could come and work at this site until the violation was corrected. I informed you that Mrs. Capps could not return to work until an approved qualifying letter was on file. I explained that an approved qualifying letter must be obtained, and a copy sent to my information below by 03/05/2024. Please be reminded that all staff members must complete the entire process initially and obtain an approved qualifying letter before they are hired or begin working. The General Assembly of North Carolina enacted G.S. 110-90.2(b) which explains that CBC renewals are currently due for all employees every five years. I also explained that you must place the correct e-mail on the CBC application to ensure that your qualifying letter is received in a timely manner. I explained that you can renew criminal background checks up to six months ahead of time. I also recommended that you place renewal dates on a calendar, spreadsheet, or bulletin board to help keep you reminded of when it's time for renewals to be completed and this will help to maintain compliance in this area. Although violations were not observed, I provided clarification and technical assistance regarding the following items; I reviewed and explained that each operator must schedule a Sanitation and Fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous inspections. You must submit the original of the completed Sanitation and Fire inspection report to me within one week of the inspection, on the state form provided by the Division. Please be reminded your fire inspection will expire on 03/07/2024. Your sanitation inspection will expire on 12/05/24. Please contact Environmental Health and your local fire inspector within 30 days of the due date to request an inspection be completed. Once your inspection has been received, you will need to email them to me or mail two copies to PO Box 2306 Lillington, NC 27546. Health Guidance has been established through NCDHHS that provides childcare facilities with steps to take that will help minimize the risk of exposure to both staff and the children in their care and reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 and communicable disease transmission in the facility and community. Specific to childcare facilities, continue to follow sanitation policies as a means to try to stop the spread of illness. Due to the current state of things, childcare facilities are encouraged to be hyper-vigilant with these actions. This includes hand washing, sanitizing, removing mouthed toys from the classroom for sanitizing, cleaning toys, and teaching the children to sneeze and cough into their elbows. For more information, the following resources are available: NC COVID-19 website, CDC COVID-19 website, NC environmental cleaning guidance, and CDC guidance for schools and childcare facilities. The NC Pre-K program was monitored on today. You currently have one NC Pre-K classroom with 18 children and two staff. I monitored a selection of files for completed health assessments, developmental screenings and all required information. All health assessments and developmental screenings were completed and on file. The Brigance screenings were reviewed and completed within the 90 days of enrollment timeframe. The facility uses the Creative Curriculum and you are also using the Teaching Strategies Gold checklists to document the evidence of children's ongoing progress. I observed artwork, photographs, writing samples, number concepts, shapes and alphabet knowledge that promotes independence, self-exploration, global awareness, literacy activities, as well as emotional, social, cognitive and physical development. The evaluations are completed in the fall, winter and at the end of the school year. Additional self-made assessment tools are completed throughout the year for each child. The self-made tools assess the children in letters, numbers, counting, colors, shapes, cutting and writing. Parent/Teacher conferences are held at least three times per year. Activities are sent home throughout the year to encourage student and family involvement. The activities are authentic and hands-on exploration-based projects that connect children’s home culture/diversity to various learning experiences. It also provides opportunities for exploration and time to experience different topics related to various units of study. A parent communication and engagement log are maintained to track parent involvement. Monthly newsletters and parental information are sent home regularly to inform parents of units of study and activities that can be completed at home. I also reviewed with you a list of trainings that were available through the Southwestern Child Development Commission which can also be found at www.swcdcinc.org. All health and safety trainings have now been relocated from Pro-Solutions to Moodle on our website free of charge. I observed that the lead teacher has completed the five-year renewal for the required health and safety trainings. Professional development training and education provides early childhood staff with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their duties and provide quality child care. Training is an on-going process which prepares educators to develop and expand upon their skills and knowledge. During today’s visit, I reviewed your Rated License Assessment information. Although it is not mandatory, we encourage providers to pursue certification and/or re-certification procedures through CEU's and reduced costs with the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals. You can follow-up with additional information at www.ncicdp.org to learn more about certification, rewards and benefits. I reviewed your education information, along with explaining your Quality point options. In education, you have earned 7 points, because all staff are at the seven-point level. You have earned a quality point, because all lead teachers have an AAS or higher in early childhood education or child development. In program, you have chosen to take the ERS and I explained that I would order the scales today and they will contact you with a time frame. Once the scales have been completed, I will contact you with that information and the number of stars the facility has earned will be determined at that time. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all the licensing requirements that apply to your program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all of the applicable laws and rules at all times. The best way for you to make sure that you are meeting all requirements is to periodically review the childcare law and rules. I explained that you have access to the on-line version of the Child Care Rule Book, as well as a hard copy of the rules. I recommended that you visit the Division of Child Development's website (www.ncchildcare.nc.gov) on a regular basis to find out what's new in childcare. You could also find any needed Child Care forms by going on the web site and clicking on the "Provider" tab and then clicking on the "Provider Documents" tab. All violations must be corrected immediately. Please send me a compliance letter (written statement) and photos describing in detail how and when the above violations were corrected. The compliance letter must be received no later than 03/05/2024. The compliance letter may be sent to me via email, if you do not have access to email, please ensure that your compliance letter is mailed in a timely manner and that you allow for delays with the mail service. If your compliance letter is mailed, a handwritten signature must be included. Contact me if you have questions regarding correction of the violation documented during today’s visit. If you are unable to correct the violation within the specified timeframe, send a compliance letter regarding the violation that was not corrected and a specific plan to correct the violation. A follow up visit may be conducted soon to verify compliance with violations documented during the visit. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 910-824-0137 or at mashekia.raines@dhhs.nc.gov and my mailing address is P.O. Box 2306 Lillington, NC 27546. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times