Mary Elizabeth Farm School

Regulation 2.3.11.5: The licensee shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable state and federal laws even when they are more stringent than the rules in this set of CBCCPP regulations.

“Upon consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, it was determined they have not received installation certificates for the wastewater system and portable water supply that is serving the licensed program, and therefore not in compliance with this agency. Corrective Action: Consult with the Agency of Natural Resources to determine next steps and timeframes for the program to meet compliance with this agency. Provide the Division with the contact name and due dates provided by this Division to demonstrate compliance. Continue to meet their deadlines as required by that agency.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 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.

“A review of each staff member's BFIS Quality and Credential account and staff files, the program was unable to provide the certificate that shows completion of the VT Orientation for Staff A and Staff B. This violation was cited previously on 3/7/2025. Corrective Action: By 4/6/2026, submit the VT Orientation certificate for the two (2) staff members to Licensor [name] and to Northern Lights at CCV through Direct Send.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

Regulation 2.3.12: Changes that Impact a License The licensee shall notify the Division prior to any of the following changes in the operation of the CBCCPP. The Division shall determine whether it will be possible to modify a current license, approve a time limited variance or if the licensee must submit an application for a new license: * A reduction, addition or substantial change in the indoor or outdoor spaces utilized for the care of children in the CBCCPP; * A change in the name of the CBCCPP; * A change in the CBCCPP's Taxpayer Identification Number; * A change in the authorized license type of regulated service as defined in these rules; * A change in the number of children the CBCCPP serves at any one (1) time; * A change in the ages of children the CBCCPP serves; * A personnel change designating a new/different program director; or * A change naming a new designated representative for the licensee.

“The program has been operating with more than twelve (12) children permitted by their license. The program failed to notify the Division of this desired increase, and subsequently have not been approved to provide care beyond twelve (12) preschool children at one (1) time. Corrective Action: As previously indicated, immediately maintain the current number of children listed on the license certificate which is twelve (12) children. By 3/30/2026, submit a schedule which demonstrates compliance with the limit of children at any given time, and will include how compliance will be maintained ongoing. Additionally, provide a statement of understanding on how and when changes of the license can occur in the future, which will include the steps required prior to making the desired change.”

Correction date in the state record: May 4, 2026

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.

“There were three (3) staff members not listed on the associated parties list, and therefore have not undergone any type of background check through the Child Development Division. Two (2) of these staff have worked in the program since September and one (1) since December. The director had the staff fill out and sign the record checks but never sent them to be processed by the Child Development Division. Corrective Action: Immediately send record checks for staff who work at the program who have not gone through a background process with the Child Development Division. By 04/06/2026 submit fingerprint receipts for the staff to this Licensor. Develop a plan and identify that plan to this Licensor on what the program will do to ensure ongoing compliance with this rule in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 27, 2026

Regulation 3.4.6.1: The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years. When the CBCCPP counts lock-down drills as allowed in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations, the licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each lock-down drill, the number of CBCCPP children and staff who participated, and note that the drill performed was a lock-down drill.

“The fire drill log was not available during this licensing visit as the fire drills have been listed on the attendance sheets since September, and were not on site during this visit. Once reviewed, after the licensing visit, it was noted that the drills documented did not reflect how many staff were present, nor if a fire drill was conducted during nap or rest time at least once per year, which is required in this rule. Corrective Action: Immediately create a system where the fire drill logs can be viewed during a licensing compliance visit and includes the number of staff and drills during rest time. By 4/03/2026, submit a confirmation of understanding and include the system in which fire drill log will include all the required information.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

Regulation 2.3.1.5: The licensee shall not interfere with, impede, deter, provide false information or cause another to do any of the aforementioned, or in any manner hinder the Department or its agent(s) in an investigation or inspection.

“The program presented itself to the public and families of children that the care provided to school aged children was operated under the oversight of the Child Development Division as the program accepted subsidy certificates for those children confirming this understanding. The program billed hours for those children under their licensed childcare program, but was not authorized to serve that age group, nor did they receive care at the licensed program. Corrective Action: Submit a statement to the Division regarding your understanding of being licensed to provide care to preschool aged children only and can only submit for subsidy reimbursement for preschool aged children. Additionally, in that statement ensure the public and families of children of other age groups will be advised the program is not permitted to provide care to them, nor accept subsidy certificates under the licensed program.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

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.

“A review of the staff's BFIS quality and credential accounts, staff files, and the support from Northern Lights to find missing documentation, it was determined that three (3) staff members employed longer than six (6) months did not have an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential account as required. The missing documentation included education documentation, professional development certificates, CPR and First Aid certificates, as well as required annual training certificates. Corrective Action: By 4/6/2026, all staff with missing documentation in their BFIS Quality and Credential account must submit the missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV through Direct Send and Notify this Licensor once completed. Develop a plan and notify this Licensor on what the program will implement to maintain compliance with this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

Regulation 3.4.3: A system for taking attendance, including documentation of the time when each child arrives and departs each day he/she attends the CBCCPP, shall be established. The licensee shall save all daily attendance records identifying the hours of children's attendance for at least twelve (12) months from the date that care is provided.

“The attendance from 9/2025 to 3/2026 was reviewed and found that children were not signed out ninety-seven (97) days during this period. Corrective Action: Immediately sign all children out of the program at the time the child is picked up daily. By 4/3/2026, submit a program improvement plan on how staff will remember to sign children in and out of the program to accurately reflect the attendance.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

Regulation 6.2.1.2: The number of children served by the CBCCPP at any one (1) time shall not exceed the maximum capacity allowed written on the license certificate.

“During the licensing visit on 3/6/2026, there were twelve (12) children in care, but attendance reviewed between 9/9/2025 to 3/6/2026, showed the program documented sixty (60) days serving more than twelve (12) children, and up to seventeen (17) children on some days. The program director also verbally confirmed the program has been operating with fourteen (14) children since September. The number of children listed on the license certificate and the number of children allowed at the program is twelve (12). Corrective Action: Immediately reduce the number of children in care down to twelve (12) children at one (1) time. Then ensure that you never have more than twelve (12) children in care at one (1) time, as allowed on your programs license certificate. Submit a list of children that you will maintain as your current enrollment, along with a list of those children that will no longer attend. Include a plan of how compliance will be maintained.”

Correction date in the state record: May 4, 2026

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“A review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account, the program was unable to provide the certificate that shows completion of the Protecting Vermont's Children, Mandated Reporter training for one (1) staff listed on the associated parties list. Corrective Action: Ensure staff who are required to and have not completed the Protecting Vermont's Children Mandated Reporter Training do so, and submit the training certificate through Direct Send in Northern Lights, and advise Licensor [name] of the submissions.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

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.

“A review of the staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account, confirmation from Northern Lights for missing documentation and time given to the program to locate any missing documentation, it was confirmed one (1) staff member was missing fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development between 9/24/24 -9/24/25 and one (1) substitute was missing four (4) hours of professional development between 9/10/24 to 9/10/2025. Corrective Action: By 4/6/2026, have the staff complete the required fifteen (15) hours of professional development and the substitute complete the required four (4) hours of professional development. Submit all training certificates to Northern Lights through Direct Send and submit the confirmation of completion to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 2, 2026

Regulation 5.11.8.4: As long as appropriate documentation is provided, staff shall consistently accommodate special nutritional requests and restrictions from parents. Staff shall know and accommodate children's food allergies.

“A child was given a cupcake to eat while in care. This contained ingredients that did not follow the special nutritional requests by the family. Corrective Action: Ensure that all parents directives surrounding special nutritional requests and restrictions are accommodated.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 23, 2025

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 X has been present and working with children since September 2024 and had not submitted a record check authorization form as required. After this visit, Staff X did submit a record check form as required and now will need to submit to fingerprinting. Corrective Action: Provide confirmation of the fingerprinting appointment and ensure that Staff X is not left alone with children until fingerprint approval is received.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 23, 2025

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.

“Staff Y has not completed the Orientation training and has been employed for more than 30 days. Corrective Action: Complete an approved Vermont Orientation training and submit confirmation to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 23, 2025