Esperanza Montessori Academy

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings:1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the CO's observation, in toilet room #1, there was one multi-shelf storage unit that contained exposed classroom supplies. In toilet room #2 there were several bottles of paint and a pillow located on top of the 4-drawer metal file cabinet. *Previously cited: 10/10/2023, 5/08/2023, 4/21/2022, and 5/07/2024”

ARS § 36-883.02.A. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, child care personnel, including volunteers, shall submit the form prescribed in subsection C of this section to the employer and shall have valid fingerprint clearance cards issued pursuant to section 41-1758.07 before starting employment or volunteer work.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO’s observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 8/5/2024) lacked a Criminal History Affidavit.”

AAC R9-5-512.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each toilet room in a facility contains, within easy reach of enrolled children: a. Mounted toilet tissue; and b. Except as provided in subsection (G): i. A sink with running water; ii. Soap contained in a dispenser; and iii. Disposable, single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser, or a mechanical air hand dryer; 2. Staff members wash their hands with soap and running water after toileting; 3. An enrolled child’s hands are washed with soap and running water after toileting; 4. Except for a cup or receptacle used only for water, food waste is stored in a covered container and the container is clean and lined with a plastic bag; 5. Food waste and other refuse is removed from the facility building at least once every 24 hours or more often as necessary to maintain a clean condition and avoid odors; 6. A staff member or an enrolled child does not draw water for human consumption from a toilet room handwashing sink; 7. Toys, materials, and equipment are maintained in a clean condition; 8. Plumbing fixtures are maintained in a clean and working condition; and 9. Chipped or cracked sinks and toilets are replaced or repaired.

“Findings: Based on the CO’s observation, toilet room #2 lacked disposable single use paper towels in the mounted dispenser.”

AAC R9-5-203.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member completes, signs, dates, and submits to the licensee, before the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service:1. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); and 2. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, the form in A.R.S. § 8-804(I).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s (CO’s) observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 8/5/2024) lacked the DCS Central Registry Affidavit.”

AAC R9-5-303.A. A. A licensee shall post in a place that can be conspicuously viewed by individuals entering or leaving the facility or activity area, the:1. Facility’s license; 2. Name of the facility director; 3. Name of the individual designated to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility, as prescribed by R9-5-301(B)(1); 4. Schedule of child care services fees and policy for refunding fees as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-882(P); 5. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack menus for each calendar week at the beginning of the calendar week; 6. Notice of the presence of any communicable disease or infestation listed in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 2, Table 2, from the date of discovery through the incubation period of the communicable disease or infestation; 7. Notice of the Department’s intent to deny, revoke, or suspend as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-888 at the expiration of time in the notice for the licensee to respond; 8. Notice of an intermediate sanction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-891.01 within 10 calendar days after the licensee received notice of the intermediate sanction; 9. Notice of a legal injunction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-886.01 when the licensee receives the legal injunction; and 10. Notice of the availability of facility inspection reports for public viewing at the facility premises.

“Findings: Based on the CO’s observation, the posting area lacked a copy of the current facility license, and the name of the Facility Director and the name of the designee to act on behalf of the Director when they are not present.”

AAC R9-5-309.C. C. A licensee shall maintain on facility premises: 1. A current fire inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the fire inspection report; and 2. If there are gas pipes that run from a gas meter to an appliance or location on the facility premises, a current gas inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the gas inspection report.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO’s observation, the facility lacked a current fire inspection. (Expired 4-18-2025)”

AAC R9-5-401.4. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:4. An assistant teacher-caregiver is 16 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Current and continuous enrollment in high school or a high school equivalency class; b. High school or high school equivalency diploma; c. Enrollment in vocational rehabilitation, as defined in A.R.S. § 23-501; d. Employment as a teacher-caregiver aide for 12 months; or e. Service as a volunteer in a child care facility for 12 months;

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO’s observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 8/5/2024) lacked an evaluation and verification that the Foreign degree was equivalent to a minimum of a high diploma in the United States.”

AAC R9-5-402.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a file for each staff member containing:1. The staff member’s name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number; 2. The staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service; 3. The staff member’s ending date of employment or volunteer service, if applicable; 4. The name and telephone number of an individual to be notified in case of an emergency; 5. The staff member’s written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis; 6. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); 7. Documents required by R9-5-203; 8. Documents required by R9-5-301; 9. Documents required by R9-5-401, if applicable; 10. If applicable: a. The form required in A.R.S. § 8-804(I), b. Documentation of the submission required in A.R.S. § 8-804 and the information received as a result of the submission, and c. Documentation of training provided by a licensee as required by R9-5-403, if applicable; 11. A copy of any current license or certification required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1. or this Chapter; and 12. Documentation of the requirements in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(D).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO’s observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 8/5/2024) lacked the following information: *Written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis *The name and telephone number of an individual to be notified in case of emergency *Documentation of a Mantoux skin test *Documentation of two good faith references”

AAC R9-5-403.A. A. Within 10 calendar days of the starting date of employment or volunteer service, a licensee shall provide, and each staff member who provides child care services shall complete, training for new staff members that includes all of the following:1. Facility philosophy and goals; 2. Names and ages of and developmental expectations for enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 3. Health needs, nutritional requirements, any known allergies, and information about adaptive devices of enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 4. Lesson plans; 5. Child guidance and methods of discipline; 6. Hand washing techniques; 7. Diapering techniques and toileting, if assigned to diaper changing duties; 8. Food preparation, service, sanitation, and storage, if assigned to food preparation; 9. If a staff member is assigned to feeding infants, the preparation, handling, and storage of infant formula and breast milk; 10. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; 11. Child abuse or neglect detection, prevention, and reporting; 12. Accident and emergency procedures; 13. Staff responsibilities as required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1 and this Chapter; 14. Sun safety policies and procedures; 15. Safety in outdoor activity areas; 16. Transportation procedures, if applicable; and 17. Field trip procedures, if applicable.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO’s observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 8/5/2024) lacked documentation of the new employee training to be completed within 10 calendar days of hire.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings:1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the CO's observation, in Restroom #1, there was one multi-shelf storage unit that contained exposed classroom supplies. In Restroom #2 there was a 4-drawer metal file cabinet, and an open red container with exposed classroom materials. *Previously cited: 10/10/2023, 5/08/2023, and 4/21/2022”

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on the CO's observation, in the Preschool classroom, there was an exposed hot light bulb in a lamp located on a low shelf on the North wall.”

AAC R9-5-303.A. A. A licensee shall post in a place that can be conspicuously viewed by individuals entering or leaving the facility or activity area, the:1. Facility’s license; 2. Name of the facility director; 3. Name of the individual designated to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility, as prescribed by R9-5-301(B)(1); 4. Schedule of child care services fees and policy for refunding fees as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-882(P); 5. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack menus for each calendar week at the beginning of the calendar week; 6. Notice of the presence of any communicable disease or infestation listed in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 2, Table 2, from the date of discovery through the incubation period of the communicable disease or infestation; 7. Notice of the Department’s intent to deny, revoke, or suspend as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-888 at the expiration of time in the notice for the licensee to respond; 8. Notice of an intermediate sanction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-891.01 within 10 calendar days after the licensee received notice of the intermediate sanction; 9. Notice of a legal injunction imposed as prescribed by A.R.S. § 36-886.01 when the licensee receives the legal injunction; and 10. Notice of the availability of facility inspection reports for public viewing at the facility premises.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the CO's observation, the main posting area lacked the following information: *The name of the facility director and the facility director designee *A schedule of childcare services fees and policy for refunds *Posted menu *Notice of the availability of facility inspection reports for public viewing at the facility premises”

AAC R9-5-301.I. I. At least once a month, and at different times of the day, a licensee shall ensure that an unannounced fire and emergency evacuation drill is conducted and each staff member and enrolled child at the facility participates in the fire and emergency evacuation drill. 1. If child care services for a child with special needs are provided at a facility, the licensee shall provide for the enrolled child’s participation in each fire and emergency evacuation drill according to the enrolled child’s individualized plan as specified in R9-5-507(A)(1). 2. A licensee shall document each fire and emergency evacuation drill and maintain the documentation on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the fire and emergency evacuation drill.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's (CO's) observation the facility lacked a documented fire drill for 8 of the 9 months of the current school year.”

AAC R9-5-512.C. C. A licensee shall ensure that floor coverings are:1. Clean; and 2. Free from: a. Dampness, b. Odors, and c. Hazards.

“Findings: Based on the CO's observation, in the Preschool classroom, the carpet had brown stains throughout.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.6. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 6. Except for a room used only for an enrolled school-age child, each unused electrical outlet is covered with a safety plug cover or insert;

“Findings: Based on the CO's observation, in the Preschool classroom, there were 4 unused electrical outlets (1 on the South wall, 1 on the North wall, and 2 on the East wall) that lacked a safety plug cover or insert.”

AAC R9-5-305.B. B. A licensee shall attach an enrolled child’s written immunization record or exemption affidavit, required in subsection(A), to the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card, required in R9-5 304(B).

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observation, it was determined that 10 out of 10 enrolled children's Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card lacked an attached written immunization record.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings: 1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation, in the toilet room, there was one multi-shelf storage unit that contained classroom supplies. Previously cited: 5/8/2023 and 4/21/2022.”