Lexington Head Start

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LEXINGTON HEAD START Facility ID: 29000044 Consultant: RENA MCCAFFREY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/22/2026 Number Present: 22 Completed Date: 4/22/2026 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 75 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's Routine Unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. This facility currently operates with a Five-Star Child Care License that was issued on June 17, 2025. The last Fire Inspection was conducted on September 2, 2025, and the facility was approved for daytime care only. The last Sanitation inspection was conducted on December 16, 2025, they received zero (0) demerits and a “Superior “classification. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the director, Japonica Hopkins. I stated the purpose of my visit and was assisted on a walkthrough of the facility, where attendance was documented, and observations made. The three-year-old class were going outside. The four-year-old's were busy playing in centers. The last Fire Drill was conducted on April 17, 2026. The last Lock Down/ Shelter-in-Place was conducted on April 17, 2026. The last Playground Inspection was conducted on April 17, 2026. Today I monitored one new employee's file, C. Hamilton. Today, a partial assessment of applicable child care requirements was conducted, which included license posted, permit restrictions, supervision, staff/child ratio, qualified criminal background checks, staff training and general safety. The following violations were cited, and technical assistance was offered to maintain compliance. Violation Number Comment Rule 1805 A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. All employee's were not listed in the ABCMS Portal and this includes one new hire Ms. Hamilton. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) The above violations must be corrected immediately. A Corrective Action Letter must be drafted with the name of your facility, the facility identification number, and your signature. The letter must be received by my office on, or before 5:00 pm May 5, 2026. The letter should include: Each item number of noncompliance cited. Describe how and when the violations were corrected. Please include accompanying documentation of compliance. The letter can be emailed to rena.mccaffrey@dhhs.nc.gov . If a compliance letter is not received at my office by 5:00 pm May 5, 2026, a return visit may be conducted to ensure the violations cited have been corrected or addressed. Additional violation may be documented if each violation has not been properly corrected or otherwise addressed. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: Today we discussed making sure that all staff were recorded in the ABCMS Portal. Ms. Japonica stated that maybe someone from the main office input some of her staff but three staff were not recorded. We discussed that there is training in "Moodle" for the ABCMS Portal. Once you complete the training you will be provided with a code to access the system. Please make sure to enter all new staff within five days of hire date. The staff that are missing from the system are J. McNair, C. Hamilton and T. Kirkland. Childcare Centers: The process of notifying the Division of new employees has changed and is now captured in ABCMS. This change has been in effect since February 2024. Effective immediately, you will need to obtain a Business NCID and complete Provider Portal training in Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/view.php?id=119. No action is needed on your part if you have completed the reference training and are currently using the ABCMS Provider Portal to update information regarding new hires or residents. Once the training has been completed and access has been given, you must verify your facility roster to ensure current staff are noted on the roster. This information should be updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new childcare providers working who were hired or moved into the childcare facility within five business days. Please note, the hard copy of the Change of Information form will no longer be needed or accepted. Should you need assistance please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-6401 and someone will assist you. You and your staff were provided with an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all child care requirements. Child care licensing rules and regulations are established to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in care. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all the licensing requirements that apply to your program. UPDATES: Checkout our “What’s New” at DCDEE website https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov . Thank you for your assistance during today’s visit. If you have further questions or concerns, I can be reached at rena.mccaffrey@dhhs.nc.gov or by calling; 336-580-5670. You may also contact my supervisor, Kaye Adkins at kaye.adkins@dhhs.nc.gov . Thank you for all that you do to serve the children and families of North Carolina. 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 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: LEXINGTON HEAD START Facility ID: 29000044 Consultant: RENA MCCAFFREY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/5/2024 Number Present: 22 Completed Date: 9/5/2024 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 75 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's Routine Unannounced visit was to monitor compliance for applicable child care requirements. This facility currently operates with a Four-Star Child Care License that was issued on February 12, 2018. The last Fire Inspection was conducted on August 31, 2023, and the facility was approved for daytime care only. The last Sanitation inspection was conducted on January 18, 2024, they received four (4) demerits and a “Superior “classification. This facility just opened on September 3, 2024. The last Fire Drill is scheduled for tomorrow September 6, 2024. The last Lock Down/ Shelter-in-Place is scheduled for tomorrow September 6, 2024. The last Playground Inspection was conducted on August 3, 2024. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the director, Japonica Hopkins. I stated the purpose of my visit and was assisted on a walkthrough of the facility, where attendance was documented, and observations made. The children were observed playing outside and playing in centers. Today Ms. Japonica explained that the children enrolled at Cotton Grove Head Start are currently enrolled at this facility due to a staff shortage. The children will go back to Cotton Grove facility when more staff is employed. Today I made an attempted visit to Cotton Grove to find it closed temporarily due to this shortage of staff. Today, a partial assessment of applicable child care requirements was conducted, which included license posted, permit restrictions, supervision, staff/child ratio, qualified criminal background checks, staff training and general safety. During today’s visit the following violations were cited and technical assistance was offered. Violation Number Comment Rule 106 Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was on August 30, 2023. 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) The above violations must be corrected immediately. A Corrective Action Letter must be drafted with the name of your facility, the facility identification number, and your signature. The letter must be received by my office on, or before 5:00 PM September 18, 2024. The letter should include each item’s number of noncompliance cited, describe how and when the violations were corrected. Please include accompanying documentation of compliance. The letter can be emailed to rena.mccaffrey@dhhs.nc.gov. If a compliance letter is not received to my office on, or before 5:00 PM September 18, 2024, a return visit may be conducted to ensure the violations cited have been corrected or addressed. Additional violation may be documented if each violation has not been properly corrected or otherwise addressed. Please be aware that any information received during this monitoring visit and any violations cited may be included in any future administrative actions. Violations of child care requirements, particularly repeated violations, could result in a civil penalty and/or administrative action that could jeopardize the status of the license for the child care facility. Technical Assistance: Please make sure your fire inspection does not lapse. Please contact your local fire department for an inspection. It is good practice to call them in advance to schedule an inspection before it expires. You and your staff were provided with an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all child care requirements. Child care licensing rules and regulations are established to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in care. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all of the licensing requirements that apply to your program. RESOURCES: -The Health and Safety Trainings are being offered on the Division’s website. Under the “SERVICES” tab look for “DCDEE Moodle”. These trainings are free, and participants will receive training certificates when completed. -For other upcoming ongoing training opportunities please visit your local Smart Start agency at: https://partnershipforchildren.org/. -Child care programs can order free posters from the NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center athttps://healthychildcare.unc.edu/. -For information on recalls regarding children’s products, food, medicine, and other products please visit www.recalls.gov. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts for recalled products at this site. -Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care. Thank you for your assistance during today’s visit. If you have further questions or concerns, I can be reached at rena.mccaffrey@dhhs.nc.gov or by calling; 336-580-5670. You may also contact my supervisor, Kaye Adkins at kaye.adkins@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for all that you do, to serve the children and families of North Carolina. 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