Poultney Elementary School PreK Program

Regulation 2.3.9.3: The licensee shall ensure that all staff have met ongoing background check requirements by submitting at least once every five (5) years a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and as required shall submit to fingerprinting.

“One staff member did not have current fingerprints and had not submitted an updated record check authorization form. Staff indicated that fingerprints were completed but may have been done for school or with a school form rather than using the CDD authorization form. Corrective Action: Submit a new record check authorization form and schedule an appointment for fingerprinting by 3/27/2026. If fingerprinting can be completed by then, send a copy of the fingerprint receipt to sarah.crosier@vermont.gov as documentation. If the appointment cannot be scheduled prior to that date, email sarah.crosier@vermont.gov to confirm the date of the appointment. Follow up after the appointment by submitting the receipt to this licensor. Create a plan to ensure that all staff complete the record check and fingeprinting process prior to the current set expiring, and be sure to account for the potential that both school and CDD prints need to be completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 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.

“Upon review of the program's Staff Handbook, it was identified that eighteen (18) of the twenty-three (23) required components of this rule were missing. Corrective Action: An email was sent to the program on 03/31/2025 detailing the missing components. Review and revise the Staff Handbook to include all components required by this rule. Submit revisions to Licensor [name] via email by 04/28/2025. Continue to implement feedback from your Licensor until such a time when the Staff Handbook meets compliance.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 22, 2025

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.

“In a random sampling of four (4) children's files, two (2) were missing the documentation required by this rule. Corrective Action: Have the identified files complete. Review the files for all children in the preschool program and update the general health examination records as needed. Develop a system to ensure the that the required health examination documentation will be collected at the start of enrollment for each incoming 2024-2025 student.”

Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2024

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.

“A child's emergency medication was stored in a plastic bag with the child's name on the bag. Medication is required to be stored in the original container. Corrective Action: Have the original container for the child's medication. Review this requirement with all persons working with children in the preschool.”

Correction date in the state record: May 14, 2024

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.

“Staff person A has been serving as an assistant in the program since July 2023. The documentation confirming this person meets the qualifications for their position had not been submitted to Northern Lights at Community College of Vermont (NL@CCV formerly NLCDC) for uploading. Corrective Action: Send the required education documentation to NL@CCV. Include [name], Licensing Field Specialist, on that email submission.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 24, 2024

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

“The diaper chaning station is in the nurses office. Staff were observed changing diapers during the visit. The procedure was not posted as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Ensure the diaper changing procedure is posted as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: May 4, 2023

Regulation 7.2.4: The licensee shall ensure that no person shall be left alone with children without approval from the Division which shall be based on the results of the background check to include fingerprinting.

“Staff A was observed taking Child B from the classroom alone. Staff A has not been cleared through the fingerprint supported background clearance to be alone with children. Corrective Action: Ensure no staff are left alone with children unless cleared to do so through the fingerprint supported background clearance. Develop a system to know who has been cleared and who has not been cleared to be alone with children.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 19, 2022

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 Director indicated five (5) staff not reflected on the Associated Parties list. Of those, two (2) of them had not submitted a record check to the Division but were present working with children. Corrective Action: Ensure all new staff submit a record check to the Division prior to working in the program next. Develop a system to ensure only staff who have submitted a record check to the Division are permitted to work with children.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 19, 2022

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.

“Upon arrival at the program, a head count was conducted for children present. Licensor [name] determined that thirteen (13) children were present. The sign in sheet was reviewed, and it was found that fourteen (14) children were signed in. Staff A was asked how many children were attending; they replied fourteen (14). It was identified to Staff A that only thirteen (13) children were in the room, including the one (1) child in the bathroom, Staff A began looking for Child B. Staff A identified that it was Child B who wasn't accounted for, as all other children were sitting at their assigned desks. Staff A looked in the cubby units, the classroom bathroom, and the cubby unit again. Staff A asked Staff B who was in the bathroom with a child, if Child B had been in the bathroom; Staff B replied no. Staff A then found Child B hiding behind a curtain in the classroom. Corrective Action: Develop a system to ensure ongoing accounting for all children in care that meets compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 14, 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.

“Upon review of children's files in the classroom and in the nurses office, it was determined that of the five (5) files reviewed, none of them contained an annual health exam as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Ensure all children have an annual health exam on file. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 14, 2021

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.

“Four (4) staff have not submitted to fingerprinting as required by this rule. Their fingerprint authorization forms were generated in December 2019. Corrective Action: Ensure all staff required required to complete fingerprinting have done so.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 29, 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 staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts they were found to be incomplete. Confirmation was provided from Northern Lights at CCV that documentation required to be in BFIS accounts had not been received prior to the visit. Corrective Action: Submit all required documentation to Northern Lights at CCV as required by this rule. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 14, 2021