Mission Montessori Academy At St. Apkar

AAC R9-5-605.B.16. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 16. The fire extinguisher required in subsection (A): a. Is serviced at least once every 12 months; and b. Has a tag attached to the fire extinguisher that specifies the date of the last servicing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, 3 of the fire extinguishers lacked an inspection tag.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.1. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. All designated exits, corridors, and passageways that provide escape from the building are unobstructed and unlocked during hours of operation;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the rear designated exit in Room 3 was obstructed by a child-sized table and chairs.”

AAC R9-5-603.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area: 1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the following was noted regarding the resilient surface: 1)The toddler activity area- the slide and climbing stairs structure was installed over artificial turf and lacked the 6 inches of resilient surfacing; and 2) Preschool playground-The wood chips measured only 3 of the required 6 inches at the base of the green slide, spiral slide and under the rope stairs.”

AAC R9-5-602.C.1. C. To provide activities that develop large muscles and an opportunity to participate in structured large muscle physical activities, a licensee shall: 1. Provide at least 75 square feet of outdoor or indoor activity area per child for at least 50% of the facility’s licensed capacity; or

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the licensed capacity of the outdoor patio area that is outside the toddler room is 4 children. When the Compliance Officer arrived, 12 children were on the patio area.”

AAC R9-5-516.G. G. A licensee shall return all unused prescription and nonprescription medications to a parent when the medication prescription date has expired or the medication is no longer being administered to the enrolled child or dispose of the medication if unable to locate the enrolled child's parent after the child's disenrollment.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of medication, Child #1's allergy medication had expired in May 2024.”

AAC R9-5-516.B.1. B. If prescription or nonprescription medications are administered, a licensee shall ensure that: 1. A facility director, or a staff member designated in writing by the facility director, is responsible for the administration of all medications in the facility, including storing, supervising an enrolled child’s ingestion of a medication, and documenting all medications administered to an enrolled child;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's discussion with the Director, the Director acknowledged there was no written medication chain of command.”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of the City of Scottsdale fire inspection, the inspection had expired in December 2025.”

AAC R9-5-305.A. A. A licensee shall not permit an enrolled child to attend a facility until the facility receives: 1. An immunization record for the enrolled child with the information required in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, documenting that the enrolled child has received all current, age-appropriate immunizations required under 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7: a. Provided by a healthcare provider, or b. Generated from the Arizona State Immunization Information System, which is the Department’s child immunization reporting system established in A.R.S. § 36-135; or 2. An exemption affidavit for the enrolled child provided by the enrolled child’s parent that contains a statement, signed by the enrolled child's: a. Health care provider, that the immunizations required by 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7 would endanger the enrolled child’s health or medical condition; or b. Parent, that the enrolled child is being raised in a religion whose teachings are in opposition to immunization.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of the children's files, the file for Child #1 had a personal immunization exemption. Per rule, only a religious or medical exemption is allowed.”

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 2.2, 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 Compliance Officer's review of the posting board, the board lacked the following information: 1) The Current license. The posted license had expired in March 2025; 2) Name of current director; 3) Name of Assistant Director; and 4) Fees and refund policy.”

AAC R9-5-301.I. I. At least once a month, and at different times of the day, a licensee shall ensure that: 1. An unannounced practice drill that includes evacuation, relocation, shelter-in place, and lock downs are conducted; 2. Each staff member, volunteer, and enrolled child at the facility participates in the practice drill; 3. If applicable, accommodations are made for an enrolled child with a special need or disability according to the enrolled child's individualized plan as specified in R9-5-507(A)(1); 4. If applicable, accommodations are made for an enrolled child or infant who is not yet walking; and 5. Document each practice drill and maintain the documentation on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the practice drill.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of the fire drill log and on a discussion with the Director, the fire drill log lacked documentation that a fire drill had been conducted in October 2025 and November 2025. The Director acknowledged that a fire drill was not conducted in either of those months”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of staff files, Staff #1's file (DOE 8/18/2006) and Staff#2's file (DOE 7/29/19) lacked documentation of a completed DCS clearance.”

AAC R9-5-301.A. A. A licensee shall: 1. Designate a facility director who acts on behalf of the licensee and is responsible for the daily on-site operation of a facility; 2. Submit the name of the designated facility director in a written notice to the Department before a license is issued; 3. Except as provided in subsection (A)(4), within 10 calendar days before changing a facility director, submit written notice of the change including the new designated facility director’s name and starting date; 4. If the licensee is not aware of a change in the facility director 10 calendar days before the effective date of the change, submit written notice of the change to the Department including the new designated facility director’s name and starting date within 72 hours after becoming aware of the change.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's discussion with the current Director, it was determined the licensee failed to submit the change of director when the previous director left this site in August 2025.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.4. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:4. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled clothing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the diapering area in the 2-year-old room lacked the soiled clothing container.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.9. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 9. Fans are mounted and inaccessible to an enrolled child;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, an unmounted fan was on a high shelf in Room 4. An unmounted fan on a low shelf, accessible to children was observed in Room 3.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area:1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the wood chips measured only 2 of the required 6 inches at the base of the 2 slides. The ground under the wood chips in these areas was hard and compacted and contained rocks. The wood chips measured 4 of the required 6 inches under the rope climber. *Repeat deficiency cited in March 2024.”

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release of the enrolled child. 1. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), a licensee shall ensure that the attendance form is signed with at least a first initial of an individual’s first name and the individual’s last name by each enrolled child’s parent or individual designated by the enrolled child’s parent, each time the enrolled child is admitted or released. 2. An electronic fingerprint verification or an electronic signature may be used in place of a signature of the enrolled child’s parent or designated individual to admit or release the enrolled child. 3. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, the licensee shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that the individual whose signature the electronic or digital method of identification represents is accountable for the use of the electronic or digital method; 4. A licensee shall develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that the identity of an individual is known to the staff member or is verified with picture identification before releasing an enrolled child to the individual. 5. A licensee shall not release the enrolled child to an individual other than the enrolled child’s parent or other individual designated in writing by the enrolled child’s parent except when the enrolled child’s parent is unable to collect the enrolled child and authorizes the licensee by telephone to release the enrolled child to an individual not so designated. a. The licensee shall verify the telephone authorization using a means of verification that has been agreed upon between the licensee and the enrolled child’s parent at the time of enrollment. b. The licensee shall document the means of verification in subsection (A)(5)(a) on the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card. 6. A licensee shall not permit the self-admission or self-release of an enrolled child unless the enrolled child is of school age and the licensee has obtained and verified written permission from the enrolled child’s parent. 7. A licensee shall maintain the attendance form on facility premises for 12 months after the date of attendance.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of 20 children attendance sheets, 5 of the sheets lacked the individual's signature: *Child 1 - Signed with the letter “B” on various days of the month of February 2025; *Child 2 - Signed with initials “MN” on various days of the month of February 2025; *Child 3 - Signed with initials "MHB" on various days of the month of February 2025; *Child 4 - Signed with the initials "AD" on various days of the month of February 2025; and *Child 5 - Signed with the letter “A” on various days of the month of February 2025.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.5. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 5. Electrical extension cords are not used;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, an electrical extension cord was observed plugged into a fan in Room 3.”

AAC R9-5-203.E. E. If a staff member possesses a fingerprint clearance card that was issued before the staff member became a staff member at the facility, a licensee shall:1. Contact the Department of Public Safety before the individual becomes a staff member to determine whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid; and 2. Document this determination, including the name of the staff member, the date of contact with the Department of Public Safety, and whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of staff files and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, it was determined that Staff #2 (DOE 4/11/22) and Staff#4 (DOE 9/6/23) were issued fingerprint clearance cards prior to employment with the licensee. The file for Staff #2 indicated the fingerprint clearance card was not verified as valid until 9/2022 and the fingerprint clearance card for Staff #4 was not verified as valid until 9/13/23, rather than before the staff's employment date.”

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 the Compliance Officer's review of the City of Scottsdale fire inspection that was conducted in October 2023 and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, it was determined that 2 fire code violation were cited and the licensee lacked documentation that fire approval was obtained for this inspection.”

AAC R9-5-403.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each staff member who provides child care services completes 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after the effective date of this Chapter or the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service in at least two topics listed in this subsection: a. Child growth and development, including: i. Infant growth and development, which may include sudden infant death syndrome prevention; ii. Developmental psychology; iii. Language development; iv. Observation and child assessment; v. Developmentally-appropriate activities; vi. Child guidance and methods of discipline which may include training on the appropriate techniques to prevent a child from harm or to prevent the child from harming others; and vii. Developmentally-appropriate activity areas; b. Health and safety issues, including: i. Accident and emergency procedures, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; ii. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; iii. Nutrition and developmentally-appropriate eating habits; iv. Child abuse detection, reporting, and prevention; v. Safety of indoor and outdoor activity areas; and vi. Sun safety policies and procedures; c. Program administration, planning, development, or management; and d. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs; and 2. As part of the required 18 hours of training in subsection (B)(1): a. A staff member who has less than 12 months of child care experience before the staff member’s starting date, completes at least 12 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) in the staff member’s first 12 months at the facility; b. A staff member who has 12 months or more of child care experience, completes at least 6 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; c. A staff member who provides child care services to an infant completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(a)(i) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; and d. A facility director completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(c) every 12 months after the facility director’s starting date.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of 4 staff files and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, the staff files lacked documentation of the required 18 hours of annual training for the following 3 staff: 1) Staff #1 (DOE 4/1/22)- file contained no hours of annual training for the period of 4/1/22 through 4/1/23; 2) Staff #2 (DOE 4/11/22)- file contained no hours of annual training for the period of 4/11/22 through 4/11/23; and 3) Staff #3 (DOE 4/7/22)- file contained no hours of annual training for the period of 4/7/22 through 4/7/23.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.5. C. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member:5. Except as provided in subsection (D), prepares and posts a dated lesson plan in each indoor activity area for each calendar week, which is maintained on facility premises for 12 months after the lesson plan date and provides opportunities for each child to: a. Gain a positive self-concept; b. Develop and practice social skills; c. Think, reason, question, and experiment; d. Acquire language skills; e. Develop physical coordination skills; f. Participate in structured large muscle physical activity; g. Develop habits that meet health, safety, and nutritional needs; h. Express creativity; i. Learn to respect cultural diversity of children and staff; j. Learn self-help skills; and k. Develop a sense of responsibility and independence;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, the lesson plan was dated 12/2023 in the one year old room and was not current. A lesson plan for the Preschool program was not posted in room #3. Instead, only the aftercare program's lesson plan was posted.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area:1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, the wood chips on the playground measured between 1-3 inches of the required 6 inches at the base of the green slide and under the rope ladder. Three toddler slides had been placed over a non resilient surface of artificial grass. The Program Manager stated that the school's landscapers had installed the artificial grass and she acknowledged that a resilient surface had not been added under the artificial grass.”

ARS § 36-883.02.C. C. Applicants, licensees and child care personnel shall attest on forms that are provided by the department that:1. They are not awaiting trial on or have never been convicted of or admitted in open court or pursuant to a plea agreement committing any of the offenses listed in section 41-1758.07, subsection B in this state or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction. 2. They are not parents or guardians of a child adjudicated to be a dependent child as defined in section 8-201. 3. They have not been denied or had revoked a certificate to operate a child care group home or a license to operate a child care facility in this or any other state or that they have not been denied or had revoked a certification to work in a child care facility or child care group home.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's review of staff files and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, the file for Staff #1 contained an incomplete criminal history affidavit. Question #2 was not answered. *Repeat deficiency- Staff #1's file was cited at the time of the March 2023 inspection.”

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 Compliance Officer's observation and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, it was determined that the Parent posting board lacked the following required information: 1) The lunch menu for the children who participate in the catered lunches; and 2) The current license. The license that was posted expired on 1/1/2024 and was for the previous licensee.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, the children from Rooms 3 and 4 were combined outside on the playground. Ten children were present but the roster had 17 marked as present on the roster.”

AAC R9-5-516.G. G. A licensee shall return all unused prescription and nonprescription medications to a parent when the medication prescription date has expired or the medication is no longer being administered to the enrolled child or dispose of the medication if unable to locate the enrolled child's parent after the child's disenrollment

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and on a discussion with the Director and the Program Manager, a child's twin pack of Epipens contained only 1 of the 2 injectors. The Director acknowledged she had not obtained written permission from the child's health care provider that would allow the injectors to be separated.”