Barstow Unified Union Early Childhood Preschool

Regulation 6.2.6.1: Staff shall be able to hear all children of pre-kindergarten age and younger at all times, shall be able to see the children with a quick glance, and shall be able to physically respond immediately.

“On 02/04/2026, three(3) year old Child X, was left behind in the classroom during an emergency evacuation. Staff A did not realize Child X was not in the group until they arrived at their evacuation spot and the children were counted. Staff A believes the child was left unattended for approximately two(2) minutes. When Staff A entered the classroom Child A was in the bathroom and did not appear upset. At the time of the incident Staff A was in the classroom with six(6) three(3) year old children. Staff A stated that some of the children needed extra help getting their shoes on and it was a challenge to quickly evacuate as she was the only staff person present. This is a serious violation. Corrective Action: Update the emergency response plan to identify additional staff responsible for assisting the preschool classroom during emergencies, and ensure preschool staff verify that all bathrooms and blind spots are cleared before evacuating. At the start of each school year and when a new child enrolls, staff will assess the mobility or developmental needs of the children to determine if strollers or wagons are necessary during an evacuation; furthermore if an evacuation drill exceeds three(3) minutes, staff must collaborate with school administrators to develop a formal action plan. A Parental Notification Letter, which is a copy of this licensing report, must be provided to each parent of every child enrolled within ten(10) days of the report submission. Provide a list of parent's names and contact information for each child enrolled to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 4, 2026

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to 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 during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Two (2) staff have not completed Orientation, to include Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse & Neglect training. Corrective Action: Ensure all staff required to complete Orientation do so. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 6, 2023

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“Staff A has been present eighteen (18) times in the program since 09/28/2022; a record check had not been received by the Division. Staff B was due for fingerprinting by 12/5/2021 but has not completed them; a fingerprint authorization form was generated on 3/30/2022. Staff C had their fingerprint authorization form generated on 4/20/2022 and has not completed this process. This is a repeat violation. Corrective Action: Ensure Staff A submits a record check prior to working in the program again or prior to the due date, whichever comes first. Ensure Staff B and Staff C complete fingperprinting by the due date. Develop a system to ensure all staff, and auxiliary staff submit a record check to the Division prior to working with children and that fingerprinting is completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 7, 2023

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.

“Upon review of BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, and through confirmation from Northern Lights at CCV it was determined that seventeen (17) staff did not meet this requirement. In addition to documents not being in BFIS, documents were not available on site to confirm staff qualfications or completion of required trainings. Corrective Action: Submit all missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV for those staff required to have an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential account. Submit a program improvement plan outlining how ongoing compliance to this rule will be met, by identifying who will be responsible for ensuring documents are submitted, and monitoring to ensure documents are reflected in staff accounts.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 10, 2022

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“Six (6) staff required to complete fingerprinting had not done so by the date of the visit. Those staff had their fingerprint authorization forms generated between March 2021 and December 2021. Staff A, Staff B and Staff C are employed at the program but a record check authorization form has not been received by the Division. Corrective Action: Ensure all staff required to submit a record check to the Division and/or complete fingerprinting as part of the background clearance process do so as required by this rule. Develop a system to ensure all staff submit record checks to the Division, are reflected on the Associated Parties list, and complete fingerprinting in a timely manner.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 30, 2022

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

“In a sampling of five children's files, four out of five files were missing documentation of a general health examination. Corrective Action: Review all children's files and ensure that there is documentation of a general health examination. If documentation is missing contact parent/caregiver and request documentation. Email this licensor with a program improvement plan describing how compliance with this regulation will be met and maintained.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 24, 2020