Montessori School of Central Vermont

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 12/11/2025 five(5) year old Child X was observed standing alone outside by the rear entrance door used to go in and out to the playground. Based on interviews with staff the child was unaccounted for two(2) to three(3) minutes before a staff member in the toddler room noticed Child X from their classroom window. It appears that when Staff A was entering the building with seven(7) Pre-K children, Staff A did not notice that once inside they only had six(6) children in their group. Child X was returned to their classroom and their parents were notified and a report was submitted to the Child Development Division. Corrective Action: After the incident the director met with staff to review supervision protocols. Moving forward staff will ensure they conduct a head count once they are inside the building. When a staff person is alone and transitioning a group outside or coming back inside that they are frequently checking the front and back of the group to ensure they stay together during the transition. In addition to the steps the program has already taken, licensing will require that the director conduct a spot check during outside time, in which she will ask staff to tell her how many children are in their groups. The director will also observe at least two playground transtions to ensure staff are following supervision protocols, please ensure Staff A is part of those transitions . By the corrective action date email this licensor confirming that these additional requirements have been met.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 8, 2026

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.

“Several staff members did not renew their First Aid and CPR certification by the expiration date. There were several staff who did not have First Aid and CPR certificates in BFIS or on site. The program was given time to submit the missing documents after the visit. At the time this report was generated, those documents had not yet been received. Corrective Action: By the corrective action due date submit any missing documents to Northern Lights at CCV and include this licensor. For those who have not completed or have expired First Aid and CPR, have them complete the training by the corrective action due date. Once complete, submit those certificates to Northern Lights at CCV and include this licensor. Please create a system that identifies how the program will track CPR and First Aid expiration dates and maintain compliance with this regulation. Please email this licensor a summary of that system.”

Correction date in the state record: May 30, 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.

“The program had three (3) staff of the program, all employed for longer than six (6) months, that did not complete the required fingerprint supported background clearance as required. Corrective Action: Ensure staff that have not completed a fingerprint supported background clearance are not left alone with children. The staff are required to complete the fingerprint supported background clearance therefore shall make an appointment to be fingerprinted and submit any additional pieces of the fingerprint supported background clearance by 6/30/2022. It is required to develop a system to track progress of staff and their fingerprint supported background clearances.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 18, 2022

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.

“Eight (8) staff are missing documentation of completing Orientation training. It is not documented in BFIS and was not available in staff files at the time of this visit. Corrective Action: By 6/30/2021 ensure that all staff members complete the Orientation training. Submit the training certificates to Northern Lights for entry into BFIS with a cover sheet, and maintain a copy of the certificate on-site. Develop a program improvement plan identifying how the program will maintain on-going compliance to this regulation.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 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.

“A review of the BFIS Quality and Credential accounts of staff who have been with the program more that 6 months reflected that several staff accounts do not have the following required documentation; verification of qualifications, professional development, Orientation, Mandated Reporter training, and current first aid and CPR certification. The director confirmed that some of the documents had been submitted to Northern Lights, but not all. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 10/30/2019. Corrective Action: Ensure that documentation of missing items is sent to Northern Lights for entry into BFIS Quality and Credential accounts. Create a program improvement plan detailing how you will ensure that required documentation including qualification documentation, First Aid/CPR certification, Orientation Training, Protecting Vermont's Children/Mandated Reporter training, and ongoing professional development are sent to Northern Lights for entry into BFIS Quality and Credential accounts.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2021

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.

“A review of 8 randomly selected files for children who have been enrolled more than 45 days showed they did not include documentation of a General Health Exam signed by a pediatrician. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 10/30/2019. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to collect a general health exam document which has been signed by a pediatrician for each currently enrolled child. Create a program plan that will ensure that general health exam documentation is obtained within 45 days of enrollment for each newly enrolled child.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2021

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.

“Three (3) staff members who have been employed longer than 3 months and who were present and working with children at the time of this visit do not have current first aid and CPR certification. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have the staff members complete CPR and first aid training. Create program improvement plan which will prompt you to have each newly hired staff complete CPR and first aid training as required and have each current employee attend trainings as necessary in order to remain currently certified.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2021

Regulation 3.4.6.5: Staffing Schedule: A licensee shall maintain a written record of the daily schedule for at least 365 days of all staff including exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned.

“The director stated that the program does not have a written record of the daily schedule for all staff, including exact days and hours worked. Corrective Action: Effective immediately program will create daily staff schedules that reflect exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned. They will have a system for updating the schedule for days when staff are absent and will record who filled in for that person. Daily schedules will be kept for 365 days. By 6/30/2021, submit a description of the staff schedule system, and how you will ensure these schedules are accurate and kept on file for the required amount of time by Kelly.lyford@vermont.gov.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 3, 2021

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

“Six (6) staff are missing documentation of completing the Protecting Vermont's Children mandated reporter training. It is not documented in BFIS and was not available in staff files at the time of this visit. Corrective Action: By 6/30/2021 ensure that all staff members complete the Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse & Neglect training. Submit the training certificates to Northern Lights for entry into BFIS with a cover sheet, and maintain a copy of the certificate on-site. Develop a program improvement plan identifying how the program will maintain on-going compliance to this regulation.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 2021

Regulation 5.2.3.12: The licensee shall post the diaper changing procedure at each diaper changing area.

“A diaper changing procedure was not posted at the diaper changing area in the bathroom of the toddler room. Corrective Action: Post a diaper changing procedure at the diaper changing area in the toddler room bathroom.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 30, 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.

“A review of the BFIS Quality and Credential accounts of staff who have been with the program more that 6 months reflected that several staff accounts do not have the following required documentation; verification of qualifications, professional development, and current first aid and CPR certification. Corrective Action: By 11/15/2019, send all qualifying documents, professional development documents, and current first aid and CPR certificates to Northern Lights at CCV. Create a system to ensure all staff members submit all required documentation to Northern Lights at CCV to be entered into their BFIS Quality and Credential accounts in a timely manner.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 14, 2019

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.

“A review of 10 randomly selected files for children who have been enrolled more than 45 days showed that 9 files did not include documentation of a General Health Exam signed by a pediatrician. Corrective Action: Review all children's records and obtain documentation of children's most recent up-to-date well care exam. Develop a program improvement plan on how you will comply with this rule within 45 days of new children enrolling and submit plan to this licensor by 11/15/2019. .”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 14, 2019

Regulation 3.4.4.2: Each child's file shall be complete with all required information within the first week that the child begins to attend care. The required annual physical shall be obtained within forty-five (45) days of enrollment as required in rule 5.1.2 of these regulations.

“Of the twenty-five percent of children's immunization records reviewed, two children attending the program since January and March of this year do not have immunization information onsite at the program. Corrective Action: Obtain immunization information. Ensure this information is gathered within the first week that a child begins to attend care.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 26, 2017