Southwood Elementary Preschool

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: Southwood Elementary Preschool Facility ID: 54000365 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/14/2026 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 4/14/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 115 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in space #116, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. S. Coombs was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today and she arrived and was able to assist with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on February 6, 2025, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having at least 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. This is your first annual compliance visit since receiving your star rated license. The last sanitation inspection was completed on January 26, 2026, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on June 5, 2025, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers, group time, art activities, and personal care routines. Children also were engaging in gross motor activities on the playground. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The site visit was conducted on January 12th/13th, 2026, and all requirements were met. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are A. Coombs, lead teacher, and N. Mosely, a long-term substitute teacher, and Y. Jackson long-term substitute teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three (3) times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 28, 2025, which began your staggard enrollment process. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, a daily report is sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented during today's visit; however, the violation was corrected during the visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A lockdown drill was conducted on November 20, 2025, and a shelter-in-place drill was conducted four months later on March 4, 2026. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. N. Mosley’s file was reviewed today. Ms. Mosley is a long-term substitute and meets all the requirements to be counted in ratio in the classroom. LOCKDOWN/SHELTER IN PLACE DRILLS: A lockdown drill was conducted on November 20, 2025, and a shelter-in-place drill was conducted four months later on March 4, 2026. Please remember all drills must be conducted every three (3) months. This was corrected during the visit. RMINDERS: CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK LETTERS: Y. Jackson’s CBC letter will expire on August 23, 2026, and N, Mosley’s CBC letter will expire on August 31, 2026. Please remember CBC letters are valid for five (5) years from the date issued on the CBC letter. You may want to begin the process of renewing the CBC letters for both of the long-term substitutes. ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONTH: Your annual compliance month will be April, since I conducted your annual compliance visit during the month of April. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONEMENT: As we are entering to warmer months, please keep an eye out for insects that may build nest under playground equipment and under awnings. Remember to keep the grass cut so it doesn’t provide a space for unwanted insects and other animals to nest and keep an eye out for ant hills. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions about what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you last tested your water for lead on May 24, 2024. You must test your drinking and cooking water every three (3) years. RTI is currently reviewing the facilities surveys for lead paint testing and asbestos testing. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: Southwood Elementary Preschool Facility ID: 54000365 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/14/2026 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 4/14/2026 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 115 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 11:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in space #116, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. S. Coombs was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today and she arrived and was able to assist with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on February 6, 2025, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having at least 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. This is your first annual compliance visit since receiving your star rated license. The last sanitation inspection was completed on January 26, 2026, with a “Superior” classification “0” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on June 5, 2025, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers, group time, art activities, and personal care routines. Children also were engaging in gross motor activities on the playground. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The site visit was conducted on January 12th/13th, 2026, and all requirements were met. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are A. Coombs, lead teacher, and N. Mosely, a long-term substitute teacher, and Y. Jackson long-term substitute teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three (3) times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 28, 2025, which began your staggard enrollment process. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, a daily report is sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented during today's visit; however, the violation was corrected during the visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A lockdown drill was conducted on November 20, 2025, and a shelter-in-place drill was conducted four months later on March 4, 2026. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. N. Mosley’s file was reviewed today. Ms. Mosley is a long-term substitute and meets all the requirements to be counted in ratio in the classroom. LOCKDOWN/SHELTER IN PLACE DRILLS: A lockdown drill was conducted on November 20, 2025, and a shelter-in-place drill was conducted four months later on March 4, 2026. Please remember all drills must be conducted every three (3) months. This was corrected during the visit. RMINDERS: CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK LETTERS: Y. Jackson’s CBC letter will expire on August 23, 2026, and N, Mosley’s CBC letter will expire on August 31, 2026. Please remember CBC letters are valid for five (5) years from the date issued on the CBC letter. You may want to begin the process of renewing the CBC letters for both of the long-term substitutes. ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONTH: Your annual compliance month will be April, since I conducted your annual compliance visit during the month of April. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONEMENT: As we are entering to warmer months, please keep an eye out for insects that may build nest under playground equipment and under awnings. Remember to keep the grass cut so it doesn’t provide a space for unwanted insects and other animals to nest and keep an eye out for ant hills. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions about what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you last tested your water for lead on May 24, 2024. You must test your drinking and cooking water every three (3) years. RTI is currently reviewing the facilities surveys for lead paint testing and asbestos testing. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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

10A NCAC 09 .3009 · Violation

Name of Operation: Southwood Elementary Preschool Facility ID: 54000365 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/1/2025 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 5/1/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 110 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 11:40 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in space #116, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. S. Coombs was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today and she arrived and was able to assist with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on February 6, 2025, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having at least 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. This is your first annual compliance visit since receiving your star rated license. The last sanitation inspection was completed on February 7, 2025, with a “Superior” classification “6” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on June 6, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers, group time, and personal care routines. Children also were engaging in gross motor activities on the playground. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K Site Monitoring tool was reviewed by the monitoring agency Lenoir-Greene Partnership for Children on December 12, 2024. There everything was in compliance and no recommendations were made. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are A. Coombs, lead teacher, and S. Brown, teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three (3) times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 29, 2024, which began your staggard enrollment process. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, a daily report is sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In space #116 there was a Ventolin inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag. The permission to administer medication was signed on September 4, 2024, by the child’s parent; however, the permission to administer needed to be updated and resigned on or prior to March 4, 2025. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 15, 2025. I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 100%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. N. Mosley’s file was reviewed today. Ms. Mosley is a substitute and met all the requirements to be counted in ratio in the classroom. MEDICATION: In space #116 there was a Ventolin inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag. The permission to administer medication was signed on September 4, 2024, by the child’s parent; however, the permission to administer needed to be updated and resigned on or prior to March 4, 2025. Please remember that emergency medication permission to administer medication form must be resigned every six (6) months. Please have the parent resign the permission to administer medication form and place it in the child’s file. RMINDERS: ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONTH: Your annual compliance month will be May, since I conducted your annual compliance visit during the month of May. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONEMENT: As we are entering to warmer months, please keep an eye out for insects that may build nest under playground equipment and under awnings. Remember to keep the grass cut so it doesn’t provide a space for unwanted insects and other animals to nest and keep an eye out for ant hills. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions about what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. START RATED LICENSE/QUALITY IMPROVEMENT RATING SYSTEM (QRIS) UPDATE: The Governor signed 12 bills on July 8, 2024. Including the Adjustments to the Appropriations Act (SB 357), which includes the $67.5 million for reduced compensation payments for the first two quarters of FY 24-25 and the DHHS Agency Bill (Senate Bill 425) which includes the QRIS provisions: • QRIS modernization (3 new pathways to stars) is now approved (SB 425). • Hold harmless has been extended until the new QRIS is implemented (SB 425). Providers in Cohort 1 are not required to go any further with a rated license assessment unless they want to, and providers in Cohort 2 do not need to start their preparation year unless they want to. • SB 425 does mean that programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies can move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation certificate for processing. • SB 425 also requires that we move to the ERS-3 versions for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. Self-paced online training modules regarding the new assessments will be available in September 2024. • SB 357 provides $67.5 million dollars to continue a reduced level of funding for the compensation portion only of the Child Care Stabilization Grant. Funding is designated for the first two quarters of FY 2024-25 and provides only about 75% of funding needed to maintain compensation payment amounts provided through ARPA funding which ended June 30, 2024. DCDEE will continue to utilize the NC FAST Stabilization Grant portal to distribute funds. CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you last tested your water for lead on May 24, 2024. You must test your drinking and cooking water every three (3) years. RTI is currently reviewing the facilities surveys for lead paint testing and asbestos testing. Due to the recent impacts of Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters, the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ enrollment deadline has been revised statewide, and schools and child care facilities that have not yet enrolled should complete the online process by May 31, 2025. The lead-based paint and asbestos enrollment surveys must be completed for ALL schools and child care facilities within school districts prior to receiving on-site inspections. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: Southwood Elementary Preschool Facility ID: 54000365 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/1/2025 Number Present: 17 Completed Date: 5/1/2025 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 110 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 11:40 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000 in space #116, where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. S. Coombs was present and available to assist with today’s visit. You made E. Dawson, Pre-K Coordinator, aware of my visit today and she arrived and was able to assist with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license issued on February 6, 2025, earning seven (7) points in the education component, seven (7) points in the program standards component and one (1) quality point for having at least 75% of lead teachers have a BA/BS or higher in ECE/CD. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum, the curriculum you are implementing is Creative Curriculum 6th edition as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. This is your first annual compliance visit since receiving your star rated license. The last sanitation inspection was completed on February 7, 2025, with a “Superior” classification “6” demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on June 6, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Seventeen (17) children from ages four (4) to five (5) were present during the visit. A walk-through of the classroom was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. When I arrived, the children were participating in free play in centers, group time, and personal care routines. Children also were engaging in gross motor activities on the playground. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today. The NC Pre-K Site Monitoring tool was reviewed by the monitoring agency Lenoir-Greene Partnership for Children on December 12, 2024. There everything was in compliance and no recommendations were made. The Staff-child ratios and maximum group sizes required in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3009 were verified in compliance. The current NC Pre-K staff are A. Coombs, lead teacher, and S. Brown, teacher. A selection of files was monitored for completed health assessments and developmental screenings. You stated you use the Dial 4 for your developmental screenings. The facility uses the Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. The checkpoint assessments are conducted three (3) times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The first day of school was August 29, 2024, which began your staggard enrollment process. The classroom operates from 7:45 am-2:30 pm. Parent conferences are held once a year in February and when needed throughout the year. You stated that you use the Class DoJo app to communicate with parents. In addition, a daily report is sent home to the parents which includes any information about the child’s day and any reminders. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. In space #116 there was a Ventolin inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag. The permission to administer medication was signed on September 4, 2024, by the child’s parent; however, the permission to administer needed to be updated and resigned on or prior to March 4, 2025. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before May 15, 2025. I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Angela Nieves, Child Care Consultant PO Box 8741 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The two-week time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This time frame is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. Please be aware that any written information submitted by you regarding correction of violations documented during today's visit is legal documentation. Therefore, it is important that all information submitted be accurate and truthful. Please be aware that if it is determined that information submitted was inaccurate or willfully falsified, an Administrative Action, including Revocation of the facility's license could be issued. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit, your program’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 100%. OWNER/FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: Lenoir County Public Schools is listed as the current owner of this center. You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/CONSULTATION: STAFF RECORD/CHILDREN RECORDS: Ten (10%) percent of all staff records were reviewed today and were found to be incompliance. Ten (10%) percent of all children’s files were monitored today and found to be incompliance. N. Mosley’s file was reviewed today. Ms. Mosley is a substitute and met all the requirements to be counted in ratio in the classroom. MEDICATION: In space #116 there was a Ventolin inhaler stored in the emergency medication bag. The permission to administer medication was signed on September 4, 2024, by the child’s parent; however, the permission to administer needed to be updated and resigned on or prior to March 4, 2025. Please remember that emergency medication permission to administer medication form must be resigned every six (6) months. Please have the parent resign the permission to administer medication form and place it in the child’s file. RMINDERS: ANNUAL COMPLIANCE MONTH: Your annual compliance month will be May, since I conducted your annual compliance visit during the month of May. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONEMENT: As we are entering to warmer months, please keep an eye out for insects that may build nest under playground equipment and under awnings. Remember to keep the grass cut so it doesn’t provide a space for unwanted insects and other animals to nest and keep an eye out for ant hills. DCDEE WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. We discussed making sure new employees you hire and any current staff working on education submit any education transcripts to the “WORKS” system, so their education can be evaluated. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please print each staff member’s DCDEE WORKS letter and file. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions about what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. START RATED LICENSE/QUALITY IMPROVEMENT RATING SYSTEM (QRIS) UPDATE: The Governor signed 12 bills on July 8, 2024. Including the Adjustments to the Appropriations Act (SB 357), which includes the $67.5 million for reduced compensation payments for the first two quarters of FY 24-25 and the DHHS Agency Bill (Senate Bill 425) which includes the QRIS provisions: • QRIS modernization (3 new pathways to stars) is now approved (SB 425). • Hold harmless has been extended until the new QRIS is implemented (SB 425). Providers in Cohort 1 are not required to go any further with a rated license assessment unless they want to, and providers in Cohort 2 do not need to start their preparation year unless they want to. • SB 425 does mean that programs currently accredited through the approved accrediting bodies can move to a 3- or 5-star license if they are not already at this star level. Providers will need to submit a request to their consultant and provide a copy of their accreditation certificate for processing. • SB 425 also requires that we move to the ERS-3 versions for ECCERS. ITERS and FCCERS, effective February 1, 2025. Self-paced online training modules regarding the new assessments will be available in September 2024. • SB 357 provides $67.5 million dollars to continue a reduced level of funding for the compensation portion only of the Child Care Stabilization Grant. Funding is designated for the first two quarters of FY 2024-25 and provides only about 75% of funding needed to maintain compensation payment amounts provided through ARPA funding which ended June 30, 2024. DCDEE will continue to utilize the NC FAST Stabilization Grant portal to distribute funds. CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you last tested your water for lead on May 24, 2024. You must test your drinking and cooking water every three (3) years. RTI is currently reviewing the facilities surveys for lead paint testing and asbestos testing. Due to the recent impacts of Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters, the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ enrollment deadline has been revised statewide, and schools and child care facilities that have not yet enrolled should complete the online process by May 31, 2025. The lead-based paint and asbestos enrollment surveys must be completed for ALL schools and child care facilities within school districts prior to receiving on-site inspections. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. 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