NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KOUNTRY KIDS LEARNING CENTER PRESCHOOL Facility ID: 62000086 Consultant: MICHELL KOCAN Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/19/2025 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 9/19/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 154 Time In: 09:01 AM Time Out: 11:35 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor compliance with all applicable child care requirements. Upon arrival, I met with Sandra Pegues, Administrator, and stated the purpose of the visit. Leigh Broome, Investigations Consultant, accompanied me on this visit. A walk-through of the facility was conducted. The facility operates with a 4-star license with 6 points in program standards, 5 points in education and 1 quality point. The license was issued 12/22/20. The facility had a 99% compliance history prior to this visit. This facility operates one (1) NC Pre-K classroom. The NC Pre-K monitoring was completed during this visit. There are 26 children currently enrolled, and 21 children were present during the visit. The children present were observed engaged in the following activities: large group activity, free play in choice activity areas, outdoor play, and bathroom/handwashing routines. The "Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers" was used to note the requirements monitored today. Prior to the visit an email requesting the staff and training worksheets was sent to Sandra Pegues, Administrator. The worksheets were received prior to the visit. The information on the staff and training worksheet was verified during the visit for accuracy. There have not been any new staff hired since the last monitoring visit was conducted. The file of one (1) existing staff member was monitored today. Three (3) children's files were monitored during the visit. Two (2) of the three (3) children's files reviewed were those of NC Pre-K children. The last fire inspection was conducted on 5/13/2025 and the facility was found to be satisfactory and approved for daytime care only. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 6/23/25. The facility received a Superior rating with 0 demerits. The center’s Emergency Drill Log report form was reviewed during the visit and completion of fire drills and emergency drills were documented as required. The last documented fire drill was conducted on 9/8/25 and the last shelter-in-place drill was conducted on 8/15/25. The monthly outdoor inspections have been completed as required. The following items were posted for easy reference: license, NC Summary of Child Care Law, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, emergency telephone numbers, daily schedules, current activity plans, menu, applicable staff/child ratio charts, tobacco free signage, mat lists, and evacuation routes. One (1) van was monitored for transportation requirements during this visit. All transportation requirements are being met. The following items were monitored during today’s visit: supervision, staff/child ratio, staff, health, safety, medication, and program records and management. NC Pre-K: This facility has one (1) NC Pre-K classroom. The NC Pre-K program operates from 7:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. to meet the 32.5 hours per week requirement. The classroom currently serves eighteen (18) NC Pre-K children. The NC Pre-K classroom following the 1:9 staff-child ratio requirement. The children were observed during free play, teacher-directed activities, and bathroom/handwashing routines. The facility uses the Creative Curriculum for the NC Pre-K program. On-going developmental assessments are completed during the school year. The checkpoints will be completed three (3) times per year, in the fall, winter and spring assessing the children’s progress in personal/social, language, math, scientific thinking, social studies, arts and physical development. The school year just began; therefore, none of the development assessments have been completed. Parents participate in Family Engagement activities, monthly take home projects and other activities. An open house event was held on 8/6/25. Newsletters are sent home monthly. Parent/teacher conferences are held two (2) times per year. Progress reports are shared with parents during parent/teacher conferences. There were four (4) violations of child care requirements observed during the visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 843 A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. Medication was observed in space #1b with an expiration date of January 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(d) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. Medication observed in space #1b was not in the original container. .0803(2)(a) 853 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. One (1) child's file contained an incident report that was not recorded on the incident log. .0802(g)(1-6) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Staff P.D.hired 8/5/25 has not completed the required health and safety training topics. .1102(a) The violations documented during the visit must be corrected immediately. To verify correction of the violations you shall submit a signed letter to me explaining in detail how you have corrected the violations described above. The letter should include the facility name and facility ID number. List each item using the item number located to the left of the violation description. When submitting an email for corrections, that email must be sent from the email address of the person designated to submit corrections (example: director) and must include this person’s name and title at the end of the email. I must receive the letter by email or at the address below on or before 10/03/25. You are required to maintain compliance with all applicable childcare rules and regulations at all times. NC GS 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history score of at least 75% for the past 18 months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action. Violations cited during the visit may negatively affect this score. Failure to maintain compliance with our requirements may result in administrative action against your license, which could include civil penalties. Repeated violations may significantly affect your compliance history. Technical Assistance: *Information on the Pathways to the Stars was shared with S. Pegues, Administrator, during this visit. We discussed that a technical assistance visit will be scheduled with the facility at a later date to further discuss the pathways and what option the facility has chosen. The paperwork process to transition the facility to a new child care license will begin during the TA visit. Together we visited the DCDEE website and viewed the documents under the QRIS Modernization tab. *Rule Rollout Training in Moodle: The Child Care Commission adopted rules to support QRIS modernization. The new section, .3200, provides the standards for earning a two-though five-star-rated license. To support the QRIS changes, additional rules were amended within the following sections: definitions, developmental day services, and NC Pre-Kindergarten services. You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, use this link to get one: https://ncid.nc.gov/ncidsspr/. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the previous Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and how to navigate, please visit: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Learning-Resources/How-to-Navigate-Moodle. For assistance with Moodle, contact DCDEE_MOODLE_SUPPORT@dhhs.nc.gov *Today I assisted you, Ms. Pegues, with accessing the website where you will update the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. The website is listed below: https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/# Resources: *The North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a great resource for information and free child care publications/posters. The website is healthychildcare.unc.edu. The visit summary was reviewed with S. Pegues, Administrator, at the conclusion of the visit and an opportunity to ask questions was provided. You may contact me if you have questions or need assistance. Phone: 910-610-7525 Email: michell.kocan@dhhs.nc.gov The DCDEE website has changed and has a lot of useful information and resources to help you succeed in providing a safe and healthy environment for the children in your care. You are encouraged to utilize the website on a regular basis. https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov Thank you for your assistance during the visit. Michell Kocan Child Care Consultant Regulatory Services Section/DHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education P.O. Box 2694 Rockingham, NC 28380 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.