10A NCAC 09 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0514 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1703 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .2806 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .2902 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .2904 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .2905 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .3010 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .3222 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: MONICA HOUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/21/2025 Number Present: 8 Completed Date: 10/21/2025 Age: From 3 To 4 Total Minutes: 240 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. Bridget Owen, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, a signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Rebecca Touzel, NC Pre-K Teacher assisted with the visit and was available to answer and ask questions. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. The center’s compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred percent (100%) percent as of 10/20/25. The ownership of the child care facility is Jackson County Schools. Permit type – Five Star License dated 8/5/25, capacity of thirty-six (36) children ages 3-5 years. Special Services/Restrictions – Approved for daytime care only, meets enhanced space, meets reduced staff/child ratios, certified developmental day, approved as a NC Pre-K site, and approved for transportation. The last fire drill was practiced on 10/1/25. There was not documentation of a fire drill practiced in September 2025. The last lockdown drill was practiced on 9/24/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 8/4/25. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/18/25 with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. Lead water testing was completed on 9/18/24. The lead based paint survey and asbestos survey have not been completed. The surveys have been completed by the elementary school and must be linked to smokey mountain elementary school. Children were observed during outdoor play, large group story time, large group dance, lunch, large group fine motor activities, and nap. The pre-k schedule stated that choice of learning center occurs between 9:30am-10:45am, 11:30am-12:15pm, and 1:30pm-2:00pm. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture. The lunch today chicken or yogurt, nacho chips, cheese, salsa, sour cream, corn, black beans, pineapple tidbits, and milk. Teachers reported there were no children using medications in the classroom and no medication on-site. There are nine (9) staff that include the principal/administrator, assistant principal, program director, pre-k coordinator, teaching staff, and bus drivers. The two (2) teaching staff files were monitored. There are ten (10) children enrolled, and one (1) NC Pre-K child file was monitored. The program does provide transportation. The program uses public school buses. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. Buses were not in use to be monitored during the visit. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for the two (2) teaching staff. The children's files are kept on-site. An off-site verification form must be on-site for the bus drivers, and any other staff that have certain records off-site and not at the child care facility (classroom). The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not reviewed today and the teacher stated it is in process for the beginning of the school year. The site monitoring tool will be reviewed at the next monitoring visit. Creative Curriculum for Preschool is implemented. Teaching Strategies Gold is the ongoing formative assessment used with children. The developmental screening tool used with children is Brigance Early Childhood Screen II. The classroom operates from 7:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. The Certified Developmental Day requirements in section .2900 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. Children who receive developmental day services are currently cared for in space #6. The Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) was used as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The following violations were documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 124 The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for bus driver staff records. There was not a 2025-26 public school off-site records verification form on file for transportation records. The requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms were not on-site. G.S. 110-91(9); .0304(g); .2318 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. Per teacher report, water play has not been offered to children this school year. The school year began on 8/13/25. .0510(c)(3) 523 The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan dated 10/20/25 through 10/24/25 did not include a daily gross motor activity. Free play was listed in the section of outdoor play. .0508(g)(3) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. There was no documentation on the fire drill logs of a fire drill being practiced in May 2025 and September 2025. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The new administrator has not completed the DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) application process. G.S. 110-90.2(b) 1232 Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired on 8/13/18 did not have a staff development plan on file for 2025. Refer to the staff and training worksheet. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) 1246 All 5 of the following activity areas were not available daily to each group art/creative play, children's books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play. Indoor free choice activities were not observed today due to the dramatic play area, block area, and manipulative area being blocked off by furniture during the visit. GS 110-91(12); .10A NCAC 09 .2806(b) 1538 Activities did not allow children to participate in whole group, as part of the group or independently. During the visit, only indoor group activities were offered and there was no opportunity for children to play independently. 10A NCAC 09 .2904(a) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. A DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) qualifying letter was not on file for the new administrator prior to employment. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 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. The child care facility began operation on 8/13/25 for the new school year. The child care operator has not notified the Division of one (1) of two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the assistant principal and pre-k coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility. G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last lockdown drill practiced for the 2024-2025 school year was documented as being practiced on 12/13/24. The first shelter-in-place drill practiced for the 2025-2026 school year was documented as being practiced on 8/18/25. .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. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Signed statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/4/25. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Monica Houck 151 Creekview Rd Hendersonville, NC 28792 Please call me at 828-243-2154, or email monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical Assistance for Compliance – rule references can be found in the cited violations *DCDEE Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Items #1041, #1757, and #1805 **The DCDEE CBC application process must be completed prior to employment and prior to expiration. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, cannot be in the child care licensed spaces until he receives a qualification letter from DCDEE and provides a copy to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **The qualification letter must be on file prior to employment. To achieve compliance, the principal/administrator, Charles Condill, must provide a copy of the DCDEE CBC qualification letter to the pre-k coordinator to be on file. A copy of the letter must also be emailed to the child care consultant for verification. **New and terminated staff notification requirement: As stated in G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) child care operators are to notify the Division of any new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The process of notifying the Division 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. 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 in an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care 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. Gross Motor Activity - Item #523 To achieve compliance, a gross motor activity must be added to the activity plan. There was a dancing activity that occurred indoors during the visit that was not listed on the activity plan. Water Play - Item #475 To achieve compliance, weekly water play must be offered to children to allow the opportunity for water play. We discussed you have small containers that can be used for water with water toys either indoors or outdoors. Monthly Fire Drills and Quarterly Shelter-in-Place or Lockdown Drills - Item #805 and #1811 To achieve compliance for monthly fire drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced monthly. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a fire drill during the month, you will need to practice a fire drill independent of the school. To achieve compliance for quarterly shelter-in-place or lockdown drills, a plan must be created to state how fire drills will be practiced every three months. We discussed if the elementary school does not practice a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill, you will need to practice the drill independently within the timeframe required. Enhanced Standards for Activity Areas and Children Playing Independently - Item #1246 and #1538 To achieve compliance for the activity areas, all five (5) activity areas must be available to children to play independently away from the group and during free choice time. We discussed that furniture could not be used to block access for children from the activity areas. To achieve compliance for children playing independently, a plan must be created to state how children will be allowed to play independent of group activities. It is developmentally appropriate to allow children to have choice of where they would like to play and what they would like to play with in the classroom. Annual Staff Development Plan - Item #1232 To achieve compliance, a staff development plan must be completed for G. Simmons. Off-site verification forms and transportation requirements for DPI programs - Item #124 To achieve compliance, the 2025-2026 off-site verification form, requirements for preschool children on public school buses forms, and off-site verification form for bus drives must be on-site at the child care facility (in the classroom). Consultation is provided as follows: If any DPI staff are left alone with children, including but not limited to the school nurse, assistant principal, etc., they must have a DCDEE CBC qualifying letter on file. We discussed that school bus drivers are counted in staff/child ratio and are required to meet all applicable child care requirements, including but not limited to; DCDEE CBC qualifying letter, staff medical report, TB Test/Screening, the prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy acknowledgement, CPR/First Aid training, Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training, and health and safety trainings (bus training can count towards health and safety trainings). This will be monitored at the next visit. New rated license rules went into effect on 7/1/25. The child care facility has the option to choose pathway 1, program assessment or pathway 2, classroom and instructional quality pathway. It is recommended to review the child care rules below and determine which pathway is the best option for the program. SECTION .3200 - STANDARDS FOR TWO THROUGH FIVE STAR RATED LICENSES DCDEE WORKS accounts are as follows: C. Condill needs to upload his Principal License and apply for the DPI EC Administrator position. R. Touzel has a valid education status letter, meeting lead teacher requirements with the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, along with a four-year degree in EC/CD and SA, and a B-K License. G. Simmons has a valid education status letter, meeting DPI teacher assistant requirements with HS plus ECE hours earned, as well as twenty-seven (27) additional ECE semester hours. The rule changes below applies to the child care facility. 10A NCAC 09 .2902 LICENSE (d) A child care center with a temporary license may receive certification status if all rules in this Section are met, except for Paragraph (c) of this Rule, and an application for a two to five star rated licensed has been submitted in accordance with Section .2800 of this Chapter. At the end of the temporary license period the child care center shall obtain a four or five star rated license as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule. Failure to receive and maintain a four or five star rated license shall result in the removal of certification status as a Developmental Day Center. In addition to the certified developmental day services rule change in 10A NCAC 09 .2902(c) LICENSE, the certified developmental day rule below also changed. 10A NCAC 09 .2905 FAMILY SERVICES The center shall facilitate family involvement as evidenced by meeting the following requirements. The activities used to meet this requirement may not be used to meet the requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter. (1) Providing quarterly parent education sessions; (2) Communicating on an individual basis with parents daily; and (3) Having parents as members of a center advisory board. 10A NCAC 09 .3010 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NC Pre-K programs shall develop a plan for family engagement consisting of strategies designed to develop partnerships with families that promote shared decision-making opportunities. These opportunities shall include: (1) An enrollment orientation that includes an opportunity for families and child(ren) to visit the assigned classroom and lead teacher prior to the first day of enrollment. (2) Family and teacher conferences are offered at least twice annually to discuss child needs and progress toward individual goals and to receive feedback from families regarding their child(ren)'s experiences at home and at the child care facility. During each conference, families are offered an opportunity to set goals for their child. Conferences shall be conducted in a manner that is convenient for the family such as by telephone, virtually or in-person. (3) Classroom visits and options for parents and families to participate in classroom activities. (4) At least one family event annually that includes an educational opportunity for staff and families to learn together. (5) Allowing family members the opportunity for involvement in decision making about their own child and about their child's early childhood program; and (6) Opportunities to engage families outside of the regular school day, including at least two family events annually. Items (1), (2), (4) and (6) of this Rule may be used to meet requirements set forth in Rule .3219 of this Chapter regarding family and community engagement. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .3222 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in noncompliance with or failure to meet the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within six months. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within six months, the operator shall notify the Division. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any monitoring visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at monica.houck@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.273-4569, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:45 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this routine unannounced visit was to conduct limited compliance monitoring and offer consultation to the program. Cassie Rogers, Administrator, was available to assist with questions and show me around. The program’s annual compliance visit was conducted on 10/6/23. Today the program had twenty-one (21) three to five-year-old children with four (4) teachers. The following items were monitored today: Supervision Staff Child Ratios CPR First Aid Special Training Criminal Record Checks Emergency Medical Care Plan Administration of Medication Storage of Hazardous Substances Storage of Medication Adequate/Approved Space General Safety Discipline Program Records License Posted/ Permit Restrictions Upon arrival I was greeted by Cassie Rogers, Preschool Coordinator. The group of three- to five-year-old were observed reviewing their sounds and Alphabet and then moving to centers. The children were observed washing hands and eating a healthy lunch. The teachers were actively supervising and engaging in conversations with the children. The last fire drill was practiced on1/31/24. The last shelter-in-place drill/lockdown drill was practiced 11/23/24. The last fire inspection was approved 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 2/12/24 with four (4) demerits for a Superior rating. The Emergency Medical Care Plan is posted and current. The incident log is in use and maintained. The following violation was documented today Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) Technical Assistance for Correction Plan: Electrical Outlets Item 812- Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Note: A power cord had two (2) open outlets at floor level and one (1) outlet on the wall was uncovered. This was fixed during the visit. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (c) When not in use, electrical outlets and power strips located in space used by children shall have safety outlets or be covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. We discussed: You discussed you are in Cohort two (2) and you will receive more information in June. The teachers in your program are working on continue education for your Cohort year. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify me, may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you as needed. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.McCrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:45 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this routine unannounced visit was to conduct limited compliance monitoring and offer consultation to the program. Cassie Rogers, Administrator, was available to assist with questions and show me around. The program’s annual compliance visit was conducted on 10/6/23. Today the program had twenty-one (21) three to five-year-old children with four (4) teachers. The following items were monitored today: Supervision Staff Child Ratios CPR First Aid Special Training Criminal Record Checks Emergency Medical Care Plan Administration of Medication Storage of Hazardous Substances Storage of Medication Adequate/Approved Space General Safety Discipline Program Records License Posted/ Permit Restrictions Upon arrival I was greeted by Cassie Rogers, Preschool Coordinator. The group of three- to five-year-old were observed reviewing their sounds and Alphabet and then moving to centers. The children were observed washing hands and eating a healthy lunch. The teachers were actively supervising and engaging in conversations with the children. The last fire drill was practiced on1/31/24. The last shelter-in-place drill/lockdown drill was practiced 11/23/24. The last fire inspection was approved 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 2/12/24 with four (4) demerits for a Superior rating. The Emergency Medical Care Plan is posted and current. The incident log is in use and maintained. The following violation was documented today Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) Technical Assistance for Correction Plan: Electrical Outlets Item 812- Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Note: A power cord had two (2) open outlets at floor level and one (1) outlet on the wall was uncovered. This was fixed during the visit. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (c) When not in use, electrical outlets and power strips located in space used by children shall have safety outlets or be covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. We discussed: You discussed you are in Cohort two (2) and you will receive more information in June. The teachers in your program are working on continue education for your Cohort year. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify me, may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you as needed. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.McCrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:45 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this routine unannounced visit was to conduct limited compliance monitoring and offer consultation to the program. Cassie Rogers, Administrator, was available to assist with questions and show me around. The program’s annual compliance visit was conducted on 10/6/23. Today the program had twenty-one (21) three to five-year-old children with four (4) teachers. The following items were monitored today: Supervision Staff Child Ratios CPR First Aid Special Training Criminal Record Checks Emergency Medical Care Plan Administration of Medication Storage of Hazardous Substances Storage of Medication Adequate/Approved Space General Safety Discipline Program Records License Posted/ Permit Restrictions Upon arrival I was greeted by Cassie Rogers, Preschool Coordinator. The group of three- to five-year-old were observed reviewing their sounds and Alphabet and then moving to centers. The children were observed washing hands and eating a healthy lunch. The teachers were actively supervising and engaging in conversations with the children. The last fire drill was practiced on1/31/24. The last shelter-in-place drill/lockdown drill was practiced 11/23/24. The last fire inspection was approved 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 2/12/24 with four (4) demerits for a Superior rating. The Emergency Medical Care Plan is posted and current. The incident log is in use and maintained. The following violation was documented today Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) Technical Assistance for Correction Plan: Electrical Outlets Item 812- Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Note: A power cord had two (2) open outlets at floor level and one (1) outlet on the wall was uncovered. This was fixed during the visit. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (c) When not in use, electrical outlets and power strips located in space used by children shall have safety outlets or be covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. We discussed: You discussed you are in Cohort two (2) and you will receive more information in June. The teachers in your program are working on continue education for your Cohort year. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify me, may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you as needed. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.McCrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:45 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this routine unannounced visit was to conduct limited compliance monitoring and offer consultation to the program. Cassie Rogers, Administrator, was available to assist with questions and show me around. The program’s annual compliance visit was conducted on 10/6/23. Today the program had twenty-one (21) three to five-year-old children with four (4) teachers. The following items were monitored today: Supervision Staff Child Ratios CPR First Aid Special Training Criminal Record Checks Emergency Medical Care Plan Administration of Medication Storage of Hazardous Substances Storage of Medication Adequate/Approved Space General Safety Discipline Program Records License Posted/ Permit Restrictions Upon arrival I was greeted by Cassie Rogers, Preschool Coordinator. The group of three- to five-year-old were observed reviewing their sounds and Alphabet and then moving to centers. The children were observed washing hands and eating a healthy lunch. The teachers were actively supervising and engaging in conversations with the children. The last fire drill was practiced on1/31/24. The last shelter-in-place drill/lockdown drill was practiced 11/23/24. The last fire inspection was approved 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 2/12/24 with four (4) demerits for a Superior rating. The Emergency Medical Care Plan is posted and current. The incident log is in use and maintained. The following violation was documented today Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) Technical Assistance for Correction Plan: Electrical Outlets Item 812- Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Note: A power cord had two (2) open outlets at floor level and one (1) outlet on the wall was uncovered. This was fixed during the visit. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (c) When not in use, electrical outlets and power strips located in space used by children shall have safety outlets or be covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. We discussed: You discussed you are in Cohort two (2) and you will receive more information in June. The teachers in your program are working on continue education for your Cohort year. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify me, may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you as needed. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.McCrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1703 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/21/2024 Number Present: 21 Completed Date: 2/21/2024 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 10:45 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this routine unannounced visit was to conduct limited compliance monitoring and offer consultation to the program. Cassie Rogers, Administrator, was available to assist with questions and show me around. The program’s annual compliance visit was conducted on 10/6/23. Today the program had twenty-one (21) three to five-year-old children with four (4) teachers. The following items were monitored today: Supervision Staff Child Ratios CPR First Aid Special Training Criminal Record Checks Emergency Medical Care Plan Administration of Medication Storage of Hazardous Substances Storage of Medication Adequate/Approved Space General Safety Discipline Program Records License Posted/ Permit Restrictions Upon arrival I was greeted by Cassie Rogers, Preschool Coordinator. The group of three- to five-year-old were observed reviewing their sounds and Alphabet and then moving to centers. The children were observed washing hands and eating a healthy lunch. The teachers were actively supervising and engaging in conversations with the children. The last fire drill was practiced on1/31/24. The last shelter-in-place drill/lockdown drill was practiced 11/23/24. The last fire inspection was approved 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 2/12/24 with four (4) demerits for a Superior rating. The Emergency Medical Care Plan is posted and current. The incident log is in use and maintained. The following violation was documented today Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) Technical Assistance for Correction Plan: Electrical Outlets Item 812- Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Note: A power cord had two (2) open outlets at floor level and one (1) outlet on the wall was uncovered. This was fixed during the visit. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (c) When not in use, electrical outlets and power strips located in space used by children shall have safety outlets or be covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. We discussed: You discussed you are in Cohort two (2) and you will receive more information in June. The teachers in your program are working on continue education for your Cohort year. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify me, may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you as needed. Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website to get the latest COVID-19 information for child care at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.McCrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .0102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0302 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .1703 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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 .2830 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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: SMOKEY MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY PRE-K Facility ID: 50000124 Consultant: SIDNEY MCCRORY Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/26/2023 Number Present: 30 Completed Date: 10/26/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor compliance during an annual compliance visit. A computerized generated report of today’s visit was completed, reviewed with you, and signed by Sidney McCrory, Child Care Consultant and also signed by Georgeanna Simmons , Lead Teacher, during the visit. A signed copy of the visit summary was left on-site for you. Today, Georgeanna Simmons, Lead Teachers, accompanied me today. The indoor and outdoor areas were monitored today, including supervision, staff/child ratios, permit restrictions, discipline, nutrition and routine caregiving activities. An annual compliance monitoring checklist for child care centers was used to note the requirements monitored and is attached to the computerized generated visit summary for your records. Permit type – Five Star Child Care License Special Services/Restrictions – NCPK; Daytime care only; Meets reduced staff/child ratios; Meets enhanced space. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 11/8/22. The last fire drill was practiced on 9/29/23. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 4/28/23. The last playground inspection was documented on 9/19/23. The last fire inspection was approved on 8/14/23. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 9/5/23with zero (0) demerits for a Superior classification. The Emergency Medical Care plan was posted and current. The approved curriculum for four-year-old children is Creative Curriculum. Upon arrival I introduced my presence to the Lead Teachers. I observed the group in Space one engaged in story time with their teacher then wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch. In space two (2) children were observed eating a healthy lunch and then wash hands and transition to center time. Teachers in the class have come up with inventive ways to help every child in the class room succeeded. I used the Child Care Center Item Number Listing (DCDEE-0357) as a basic monitoring tool to assess compliance with all applicable child care requirements pertinent to this facility. For specific rule references, refer to Chapter 110 General Statues Child Care Facilities, Chapter nine (9) Child Care Rule (10A NCAC 09) and Section 2800 Sanitation of Child Care Center (15A NCAC 18A) for additional information. Updated copies of these rules can be located on our website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ The program uses public school transportation. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the childcare rules were monitored for compliance. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was reviewed today. The classroom operates from 7:30 a.m. to -2:30 p.m. The following violations were documented during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. D.H did not have here 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. Five Bus drivers did not have First Aid Make sure this is completed for all staff within the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .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. Five Bus drivers did not have CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. .1102(d) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) Technical assistance was provided as follows: Missed Emergency Drill Item 1811- an emergency drill either a “shelter-in-place’ or lockdown must be completed every three months. Note: The last Lockdown was completed on 4/28/23. This has been 7 months since a emergency drill has been performed. If you are a DPI and are out for the summer an emergency drill needs to be completed within the first Thirty Days. According to 10A NCAC 09 .0604 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS (u) A "shelter in place drill" or "lockdown drill" as defined in 10A NCAC 09 .0102 shall be conducted at least every three months and records shall be maintained as required by 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(8). Item 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Note: D.H did not have here Criminal Background check prior to employment. Make sure all employees have their criminal back ground letter onsite before their start date. According to G.S. 110-90.2(b) Effective January 1, 1996, the Department shall ensure that, prior to employment and every three years thereafter, the criminal history of all child care providers is checked and a determination is made of the child care provider's fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children based on the criminal history. The Department shall ensure that all child care providers are checked for county, State, and federal criminal histories. First AID and CPR Item 1048 and 1049 All staff that provide direct care must completed First Aid and CPR training within ninety (90) days of employment and it must be renewed on or before expiration date. Note: Five Bus drivers did not have first aid and CPR. Make sure this is completed for all staff with the first ninety (90) days of employment. This includes bus drivers that are counted in ratio. According to 10A NCAC 09 .1102 HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS (c) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall be completed by June 30, 2018, or for new staff hired on or after September 1, 2017, training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for First Aid training. At all times when children are in care at least one staff member present must have successfully completed First Aid training, as evidenced by a certificate or card from an approved training organization. First Aid training shall be renewed on or before expiration of the certification. "Successfully completed" is defined as demonstrating competency, as evaluated by the instructor. Verification of each required staff member's Effective April 1, 2022 55 completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. (d) All staff who provide direct care or accompany children when they are off premises shall successfully complete certification in a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course appropriate to the ages of children in care. At all times when children staff hired on or after September 1, 2017 training must be completed within 90 days of employment. Distance learning shall not be permitted for CPR training. CPR training shall be renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. Verification of each staff member's completion of this course from an approved training organization shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. The Division shall post a list of approved training organizations on its website at http://ncchildcare.nc.gov/providers/pv_sn2_ov_pd.asp. Corrective Action Plan: 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. 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 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 will be conducted. The violations documented above must be corrected immediately. Send me a letter of compliance describing in detail specifically how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. Include the following: • Facility name • Facility ID# • Date of visit • Violation item number • Statement of compliance I must receive your compliance statement by 11/9/23. Email the compliance letter on signed letterhead or in the email identifying your facility name, ID#, name and position to: Sidney.Mccrory@ dhhs.nc.gov or you can mail to: Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education Attn: Sidney McCrory 172 Streamwood Circle Waynesville, NC 28786 Please call me at 828-550-7655, or email Sidney.mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov, if you need assistance. Please note: if mailing the letter of compliance, I must receive it by the due date listed above. You will need to mail a compliance statement three to five days prior to the due date to ensure receipt is within the designated timeline. Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date listed above may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted. Based on Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 Section .2200, the Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Consultation is provided as follows: We discussed getting new Lead Teacher in works. We discussed your in Cohort 2 and that your Prep Year will be July 2025 to July 2026 If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Stabilization Grant, please contact Kaitlyn Marshall, Child Care Consultant, at 828-713-8192 or email kaitlyn.marshall@dhhs.nc.gov. If you elect to change and/or alter any previously approved spaces used by children as indicated on the approved indoor and outdoor floor plan, you will need to contact me within thirty (30) days prior to the change. Failure to notify a DCDEE representative may result in a violation of child care requirements. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) states “Each operator shall schedule and obtain a fire inspection within 12 months of the center's previous fire inspection. The operator shall notify the local fire inspector when it is time for the center's annual fire inspection. The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division.” As child care providers, you are a vital part in the prevention and intervention of child maltreatment! You may see potential indicators of maltreatment in the children under your care. Some children may even be more likely to disclose maltreatment to a child care provider than to a family member. It is required that all providers are aware of maltreatment indicators and to report any suspicions of maltreatment. Follow child care rules related to child maltreatment training: 10A NCAC 09 .1102(g) and 10A NCAC 09 .1703(a)(5) states the child care administrator, operator, and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 MAINTAINING THE STAR RATING (a)A representative of the Division may make announced or unannounced visits to facilities to assess on-going compliance with the requirements of a star rating after it has been issued. It is the center operator’s responsibility to make sure each staff person has registered for a WORKS account, submit an official transcript (if applicable) and apply for a position for evaluation. This should be completed immediately upon hiring or at the latest, by the end of the six-week orientation process. Failure to maintain the same education point level may result in a violation of the above rule reference and may result in a reduction of stars. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .2830 (c) If employment-related changes occur at a facility that result in the operator not complying with the standards in the Section for the star rating issued, the operator shall correct the noncompliance within 120 days. If the operator does not correct the noncompliance within 120 days, the operator shall notify the Division. It is your responsibility to understand the health and safety requirements in child care rule .1102. If the program is out of compliance in accordance with health and safety requirements, Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), it may affect subsidy funding. Stay updated with changes and new rule updates by visiting the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/.It is your responsibility to understand the rules and laws that are applicable your program. All rules/laws cannot be verbally reviewed during any licensing visit. Please ask questions if you are having difficulty and would like additional technical assistance. I welcome your questions and want to be a resource for you. We appreciate all you are doing to serve the children and families of NC. If you have questions, please contact me at Sidney.Mccrory@dhhs.nc.gov or 828.550.7655, or Bonnie Mathis, Licensing Supervisor, at bonnie.mathis@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