Barre City Preschool Programs

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Eleven of the fourteen staff who have been employed over six (6) months do not have up to date BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts. Corrective Action: Since the licensing visit, documents have been submitted to Northern Lights at CCV tor entrance into BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts. Submit a plan on who will be overseeing BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts to ensure that they are kept up to date.”

Correction date in the state record: May 8, 2026

Regulation 5.3.2: Daily Health Check Upon arrival into the CBCCPP staff shall observe each child for symptoms of communicable disease and signs of injuries. Any obvious injuries shall be documented along with any comments from the parent pertaining to the child's condition. This documentation shall be maintained in the child's file for a minimum of 365 days.

“On September 26, 2025, Child X's family reported that Child X came home with mulitple bruises on the front and back their forearm that were not there when they brought him to school in the morning. During staff interviews, Child X's paraprofessional, shared that she observed bruising on the child's forearm Thursday morning while helping them wash their hands. She reportedly shared this information with the special educator. Both stated they did not document the bruising and did not contact the family to discuss the bruises. When the special educator was shown a picture of the bruises she confirmed that was what she observed on Child X on Friday after Child X biting their arm. A conversation with the classroom teacher indicates that she has observed new bruises on Child X prior to 09/26/2025, reportedly spoke to the family about the bruises but did not document the conversation or any information she may have been provided with about the bruises. Based on staff interviews and a lack of documenation on site indicates that staff are not conducting daily health checks and have not documented signs of new injuries upon arrival. Corrective Action: The director shall review this regulation will all Pre-K staff. During a follow up visit this licensor will review the program's daily health check documentation procedure. The program will ensure future compliance and will review this regulation with new staff.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 5, 2025

Regulation 5.8.2: Staff shall ensure that if an accident or injury occurs to a child, while in attendance, immediate action is taken to protect the child from further harm and notification of the child's parents as quickly as possible.

“On September 26, 2025, Child X sustained a significant head injury at approximately 9:45 a.m. after reportedly falling in the hallway. The bump on Child X's forehead was approximately 2 inches long and included bruising that went up to the hairline. The family was not notified about the injury until the child's grandmother was informed by the paraeducator during pickup at 11:15 a.m. A written injury report was not provided as required. Details about the fall and what transpired after the fall were only disclosed when the mother contacted the school. Information provided by the special educator who was with Child X when they fell and the school nurse that treated Child X, inidcates that after the fall, Child X became escalated. Child X's subsequent escalated bahaviors, including hitting their head on the floor multiple times and biting their arm, was not recognized by staff as a potential response to the head injury and were instead perceived and described to this licensor as a behavioral incident. Furthermore, the nurse reported she was unable to apply ice or provide any other type of treatment because Child X was flailing on the floor. Interventions such as holding Child X, putting them on a swing and moving them to a padded space did not calm Child X's body. Child X is non verbal and has special medical needs as such they could not communicate if they were feeling pain or experiencing concerning symptoms that would indicate immediate medical attention was needed. The mother was advised by non-school professionals to seek medical attention for Child X. Child X was seen at CVMC's emergency room where medical professionals determined that a CAT scan was needed. The program's lack of appropriate response to Child X's injuries resulted in delayed medical treatment and directly put Child X's health and safety at risk. This is considered a serious violation. Corrective Action: Licensing will conduct a follow up visit and will require that all Barre City School staff that work in the Pre-K classroom meet with this licensor to review regulations in section 5.8. The program shall create a written injury response procedure in accordance with regulation 5.8.1. During interviews the school nurse stated she was unsure of who should have called Child X's family. For that reason please develop clear communication procols that will be utilized by Pre-K staff and the school nurse to ensure parents are notified when significant injuries occur or there is a circumstance in which the child is at risk of further injury, as was the case when staff could not adequately calm Child X's body.The program is also required to provide this licensor with parent contact information for all children currently enrolled in morning and afternoon Pre-K. Corrective action will be complete once this licensor approves the injury response procedure, meets with staff and confirms that all Pre-K parents/guardians were provided with a copy of this licensing site visit report.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 5, 2025

Regulation 5.8.3: Staff shall create and file an incident report for each accident, injury or medical emergency that leaves a visible mark, or first aid has been administered, even when medical treatment is not required. An incident report shall include the name of the child, date, description of the injury or medical emergency, how it occurred, adult witnesses, first aid provided, and medical care required. The child's parent shall be provided a copy of the report at pick up that day. Serious injuries, animal bites and death must be reported to the Division as specified in the rules in section 3.2 of these regulations.

“Child X sustained a significant head injury that required a visit to the emergency room. The program did not provide any written information about the head injury to the family. Additionally Pre-K staff stated that Child X recently started to bite their forearm when upset. Staff stated that sometimes it would leave a red mark. Pictures taken the afternoon of 09/26/2025 show little scratch like marks on Child X's hand and bruising on their forearm. The special educator stated she observed the injuries shown in the photos on Child X before they went home on 09/26/2025. It should be noted that conflicting information was provided about the bruising. The school nurse stated she did not see bruising on Friday and the paraprofessional stated she saw the bruising Thursday. The family stated the child was not sent to school with the injuries he arrived home with on 09/26/2025. Corrective Action: Complete an injury report for Child X that captures the information required in this regulation. Email the injury report to this licensor by the corrective action due date. This licensor will provide a copy of the injury report to the family. Although the family is now aware of what occured they are entitled to a written explanation of the injury for their records. During a follow up licensing visit this licensor will review a template copy of an incident report, that the program will create, and utilize moving forward when injuries occur. The director will review this regulation with all Pre-K staff and the school nurse. The forms will be kept in a location easily accessible to staff and the school nurse.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 5, 2025

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“Upon review of BFIS it was observed that a staff member did not complete the required professional development trainings for their previous annual requirement, which was 5/20/2023-5/20/2024. Corrective Action: Complete fifteen (15) hours of professional development and send via email the completed certificates with a cover sheet to Northern Lights and copy the licensor by 5/30/2025. Develop a plan to complete the remaining twelve (12) professional development hours for this year's annual required amount plus the fifteen (15) hours for the current year's required training hours to be completed by 5/20/2026 and send the plan via email to the licensor by 5/30/2025.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 4, 2025

Regulation 5.10.1.1.2: Children shall be protected from choking hazards presented by cords on window coverings, electric or electronic appliances or equipment and telephones.

“During the visit, it was noted that there was one unsecured cord to the large visual board in room 121 and unsecured cords to window fixtures in rooms 121 and 125. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to make all cords inaccessible to children. In the corrective action email, provide details of how the program has come back into compliance and a system for routinely checking all classrooms and securing all cords moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 10, 2024

Regulation 7.3.2.4: "Trainee" A trainee is at least fifteen (15) years of age, able to comprehend basic written format, and meets one (1) of the following qualifications: 1) At least a high school graduate or has completed a GED and completes the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals'course or the Vermont Afterschool Essentials Certificate within the first twelve (12) months of employment; or 2) At least a high school graduate or has completed a GED and successful completion of a three (3) college credit course in child or human development or in school age care and education within the first twelve (12) months of employment; or 3) At least is enrolled in or has received a State Board of Education approved Human Services Program Certificate that emphasizes child development or early childhood education.

“A Trainee that was hired 4/21/2021 did not complete a Fundamentals, Afterschool Essentials or three (3) college credit course in child or human development as required within twelve (12) months of employment. Corrective Action: It is required to develop a plan to come into compliance with qualifications. It is also required to develop a plan on how qualifications of trainees are monitored in the future to ensure the required qualifications are met within the identified timeline.”

Correction date in the state record: May 25, 2022

Regulation 3.4.4.1: The program director shall maintain a complete and up-to-date enrollment file on-site for each child enrolled in the CBCCPP. A complete file shall contain, at minimum, the following information: A completed child's admission form signed and dated by the parent that includes the first date the child attended the CBCCPP and the days and hours the child is regularly scheduled to attend the CBCCPP; The child's name, current home address, and current home telephone number; Identification of child's home language; The child's date of birth; Name, address, and all applicable current telephone numbers for parents; Name, address, and all applicable current telephone numbers for at least two (2) other people designated by the parents as emergency contacts; Names for all persons authorized to pick the child up from the CBCCPP; Record of an annual physical and health history as required in the rule 5.1.2 of these regulations that includes the name and telephone number of the child's primary health care and dental care providers (if the child has a dental care provider); A description of any special medical, developmental, emotional, or educational needs of the child including allergies, existing illnesses or injuries, previous serious illnesses or injuries and any prescribed medication including those for emergency situations; Written authorization from the parent for the CBCCPP to be able to obtain emergency medical care and transportation; Child's immunization record or Vermont Department of Health approved exemption document as required in the rules in section 5.1.3 of these regulations; Written permission from parents for the CBCCPP to transport the child, if transportation is provided, as required in the rule 5.10.6.6.1 of the regulations; Written permission from parents for the child to participate in swimming activities, if swimming activities are a part of the program, as required in the rule 5.10.5.1 of these regulations; If applicable, a copy of court orders on custody and visitation arrangements as required in the rule 3.6.4 of these regulations; and If applicable, any obvious injuries discovered and documented on daily health check as required in the rule 5.3.2 of these regulations.

“A sample of children's files was reviewed and found that the program did not have a solid system to ensure all required items were present in each child's file. It was found that five (5) children's files were missing one or more piece of required information that included immunizations and/or general health exams, and it was confirmed children were enrolled for more than forty-five (45) days. Corrective Action: It is required to review all children's files to ensure all required documentation is present. The program shall create a plan to review all children's files to determine what is missing and also develop a plan on how the program will create a system that ensures all required items for children's files are obtained in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: May 20, 2022