Berkshire Elementary School Early Childhood Program

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.

“A child opened the classroom door, went across the hall to the office window where Teacher X was standing talking to the staff at the desk, the child stood next to Teacher X and then walked behind them, opened the main door of the school and exited the building without Teacher X's knowledge or awareness of the child standing next to them. Teacher A was in the classroom, saw the child open the classroom door and exit the classroom but did not follow the child when the door closed. The child was outside the school building alone for approximately two (2) to three (3) minutes until Teacher A went outside and found the child. This child was known to attempt to elope the classroom and the school building on several occasions prior to this incident. Corrective Action: Immediately instruct staff to always communicate when a child is seen leaving the classroom and provide resources and measures to prevent a child from leaving the classroom. By 5/23/25 submit a program improvement plan that shows what was been implemented and is working for the staff and child.”

Correction date in the state record: May 21, 2025

Regulation 5.6.5: All prescription medication administered by staff shall be in its original container, properly labeled for the child, and administered prior to the expiration date on the container.

“Two children's rescue inhalers and one child's Epi pen were not in the original boxes properly labeled for these children. The children were in care during this licensing visit. Corrective Action: By 9/29/2023, all rescue medications for these children shall be current and in the original box with the child's name.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 25, 2023

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios 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 shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“A review of staff's BFIS quality and credential account and verbal confirmation from the staff member that they had not renewed their CPR and First Aid certificate prior to the expiration date of 6/2022. This staff member counted in staff/child ratio during this licensing visit. Corrective Action: Immediately complete the CPR and First Aid training and maintain currently certified. By 10/27/2022, submit the CPR and First Aid training certificate to Northern Lights with the proper cover sheet.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 26, 2022

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“Three (3) people listed as staff on the BFIS Associated Party List have not been in the program since 9/01/2021. Corrective Action: By 11/12/21 review and update the program's associated parties list. Remove the names of persons no longer associated with the program. Develop a system to monitor and maintain the associated parties list in compliance with this rule. Notify ellen.livingston@vermont.gov when you have updated the program's associate parties list.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 9, 2021

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 of staff who have been with the program more than 6 months and discussion with the program director, it was found that several staff accounts had missing educational documentation. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 2/4/2020 Corrective Action: By 11/12/2021, review all staff's BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, submit all missing educational documentation, such as transcripts, high school diplomas or GED diploma to Northern Lights at CCV with the required cover sheet. Submit confirmation to ellen.livingston@vermont.gov that all required information has been sent to Northern Lights at CCV.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 9, 2021

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment, staff working with children 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 NLCDC to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“After a review of BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, it was determined that several staff employed longer than six (6) months did not have up to date BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts as required and were missing qualification information, required trainings, and/or annual professional development documentation. Corrective Action: By 2/15/2020, review all staff's BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, submit all missing documentation for professional development, required trainings and qualifications such as transcripts or high school diplomas to Northern Lights at CCV with the required cover sheet. Submit confirmation to this Licensor that all required information has been sent to Northern Lights at CCV.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 14, 2020

Regulation 7.2.1: The licensee shall ensure that any new individuals regularly present at the CBCCPP submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division prior to working with children in the CBCCPP.

“A Partner Staff who has been working in the program since October and was working with a child during this licensing visit had not submitted a record check authorization form to the Division. Corrective Action: Immediately submit the record check authorization form for this Partner Staff and any other individuals regularly present in the program. Create a system to ensure all new individuals working in the program will submit a record check authorization form to the Child Development Division.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 4, 2020

Regulation 3.7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that evacuation drills are conducted at least once a month, and children and staff are evacuated in under three (3) minutes.

“The program has not conducted fire drills monthly. The program had a fire drill in August 2019, October 2019 and December 2019. This rule was cited previously on 5/5/2015. Corrective Action: Conduct two fire drills in February and two fire drills in March then monthly thereafter to meet compliance to this rule. By 2/11/2020 submit confirmation of understanding to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 7, 2020

Regulation 5.4.3.2: Children shall not be required to sleep. Children who do not nap shall be provided space and equipment for quiet play.

“Only 1 preschool child took a nap out of 16 preschool children. [name] stated that typically only 3 children may take a nap during quiet time. Preschool children were required to lay quietly on their nap mats for up to 30 minutes with no activity. When two children didn't remain, quiet or stay on their nap mats, they were sent to the office across the hall for time out. One child was required to sit in time out for approximately 15 minutes. It is a violation of this rule when children who do not nap are required to lay quietly without activities for them to self-entertain. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, provide quiet activities for children to do on their nap mats that include a variety of options such as books, puzzles, manipulatives, and etcetera. By 3/24/2017, submit a program improvement with the changes you will implement for nap/quiet time.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 18, 2024