Rumney Memorial School Pre-Kindergarten

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.

“The Director and four staff members were missing various required documents from their BFIS account. The documents included First Aid/CPR certificates and completion certificates for Vermont Orienation and Mandated Reporter training. These same staff members were missing the same documents in their BFIS accounts last year, therefore the corrective action from last year was not met. Corrective Action: The program has submitted the missing documents to Northern Lights since the visit. This is a repeat violation, please email this licensor describing a system that will be created to ensure that required documents are submitted to Northern Lights within 6 months of employment for all staff.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 14, 2023

Regulation 7.2.3: The Division at its discretion, may use the results of a background check on file with the Division as long as it has been completed within the last five (5) years and instead of requiring a new background check.

“Staff A was required to submit to a renewal of their fingerprint supported background check in September of 2022. Staff B did not submit to a renewal of their fingerprint supported background check in July of 2022. The program failed to send new record check authorization forms for Staff A and B prior to the five year renewal date. Corrective Action: Staff A and B shall make an appointment to complete fingerprinting as soon as possible. Once the appointment is completed notify this licensor. Please ensure Staff A and B save their fingerprint receipts.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2023

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 staff BFIS quality and credential accounts reflected that the Director, Staff A, Staff B and Staff C had not yet submitted documentation of completion of an approved orientation training. Staff E confirmed that the program did not have documentation of completed approved orientation trainings for the staff listed and that there has been ongoing confusion about whether the district offered orientation training would meet this requirement. All staff listed are in positions which lend themselves to being left alone with children and/or counted in ratio. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, ensure that staff are not left alone with children until they have completed an approved orientation training. Immediately plan to have all listed staff complete an approved orientation training and submit documentation of completion with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner. One option for an approved orientation training is the Vermont Orientation Training offered by Penn State's Better Kid Care. The link to this training can be found on the Child Development Division's website: dcf.vermont.gov. Follow the path: Our Division> Child Care for Providers> Professional Development> Required Trainings. Develop a system which will prompt the Director or the BFIS account manager to ensure all new staff complete an approved Orientation training prior to being counted in rato or being left alone with children. Include in your system, details of who will be responsible for making staff aware of the requirement, how this will be communicated, how completion will be tracked, who will be responsible for the tracking system, and who will be responsible for ensuring documentation is submitted as required to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

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 staff BFIS quality and credential accounts reflects that documentation of staff qualifications, required trainings, professional development and CPR and first aid certifications has not been submitted as required. As a result, the following could not be assessed: 1. Qualifications for the Director, Staff A, Staff B and Staff H, 2. Orientation training for Staff F, 3. Mandated Reporter training for Staff G, CPR and first aid certifications for Staff A and Staff C. All listed staff have been employed by the program for at least 6 months. Corrective Action: Immediately submit all documentation required to be submitted with cover sheets to Northern Lights at CCV. Develop a system that will ensure that the Director or BFIS account manager track document submissions for all staff in a manner that will ensire compliance with this rule. Include details of whom will be responsible for submitting staff documents, how the Director will provide oversight of this process in a manner which ensures compliance, how staff will be made aware of their responsibilities for document submission, how document completion and submission will be tracked, who will track the submissions including ensuring documents are uploaded into accounts as expected and communcating with Northern Lights at CCV when issues arise.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“During the visit, the temperature was approximately 29 degrees F and there was snow and ice under and around all playground equipment. Staff B and Staff C stated that the children are allowed to utilize all playground equipment, including equipment which allows them to reach a height of 30 inches or higher, regardless of freezing temperatures and the condition of the cushioing materials. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to restricy access to any playground equipment which allows children to reach a height of 30 inches or higher when said materials are frozen and until said materials thaw and are once again resilient. Develop a system which will ensure that the Director and/or designated staff routinely assess the cushioning materials on the playground, restrict access to equipment as required, and report issues in regard to the maintenance of the cushioning materials to the proper personnel in a timely manner moving forward. Include details of who will be repsonsible for the maintenance and replacement of cushioning materials moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 10, 2023

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.

“A review of staff BFIS accounts reflected that the Director and Staff B had not yet submitted documentation of current pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certifications to Northern Lights at CCV. Staff E confirmed that the program did not have said documentation. Both staff listed have been employed by the program for at least 6 months. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have Staff B complete approved certifications in pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR and submit said documentation with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV. If you need assistance finding an approved certifications course, you may reach out to your Northern Lights at CCV resource advisor, [name], at 802-828-0621 or joanne.rouleau01@ccv.edu. Develop a system which will prompt the Director or BFIS coordinator to make all current and new staff aware of the requirement to complete approved CPR and first aid trainings within 3 months of hire and then in a manner which ensures ongoing current certification and the requirement to submit the documentation of completion to Northern Lights at CCV with a cover sheet in a timely manner moving forward. In include in your system details of who will be responsible for making staff aware of the requirement, how this will be communicated, how completion will be tracked, how ongoing current certifications will be tracked and maintained, who will be responsible for the tracing system, and who will be responsible for ensuring documentation is submitted as required to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

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 BFIS accounts reflected that the Director, Staff B and Staff D had not yet submitted documentation of completion of the required mandated reporter training, "Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse and Neglect" to Northern Lights at CCV with cover sheets. Two staff listed are in positions which lend themselves to being left alone with children and/or counted in ratio and all staff listed have been with the program for more than 6 months. Staff E confirmed that the program did not have said documentation and that there has been ongoing confusion about whether or not the district offered mandated reporter training met this requirement. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, ensure that staff are not left alone with children until they have completed the required mandated reporter training. Immediately plan to have the Director, Staff B and Staff D complete the required mandated reporter training and submit the documentation of completion with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV. The link to the required mandated reporter training can be found on the Divsion's website: dcf.vermont/gov. Follow the path: Our Divisions> Child Care for Providers> Professional Development> Required Trainings. The most recent copy of the Northern Lights at CCV verification cover sheet can be found at www.northernlightsccv.org. If you have questions about the process of submitting documentation to Northern Lights at CCV, you may reach out to your Northern Lights at CCV resource advisor, [name], at 802-828-0621 or joanne.rouleau01@ccv.edu. Develop a system which will prompt the Director or BFIS account manager to make all current and new staff aware of the requirement to complete the required mandated reporter training prior to working with children.and the requirement to submit the documentation of completion to Northern Lights at CCV with a cover sheet in a timely manner moving forward. Include in your system details of who will be responsible for making staff aware of the requirements, how this will be communicated to staff, how completion will be tracked, who will be reqponsible for the tracking system, and who will be responsible for ensuring docuemntation is submitted as required to Northern Lights at CCV in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“A review of the BFIS staff list reflected that 8 listed staff are no longer employed by the program. Staff E confirmed that all 8 staff have not worked for the program for more than 5 days, at least three have not worked for the program since the beginning of the school year which means at least 5 months. Additionally, Staff E confirmed that 3 current staff members were not listed under the proper position title. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to remove the 8 staff who are no longer employed by the program and to have position titles changed to accurately reflect each staff's position within the program. Position title changes can be addressed with your Child Care Business Technician, [name] at tiffany.le@vermont.gov or 802-241-0810. Develop a system which will ensure that staffing change within the program is reflected in the Program's BFIS account within 5 days of the change moving forward. Include details of who will be responsible for making these changes and how that person will be prompted to update the BFIS system within 5 days of any change as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

Regulation 6.2.6.6: The program director shall ensure that no person be left alone with children without approval from the Division based on the results of a background check that includes fingerprinting; with the exception of a parent may be left alone with his/her own child(ren).

“Staff Z has been regularly present in the classroom and worked in a capacity as a one on one with a child. Staff Z was observed exiting the classroom with the child and being gone for more than 10 minutes. Staff Z was not listed on the associated parties list and therefore has not had a background check through the Child Development Division. Corrective Action: Immediately submit a background check authorization form for Staff Z and submit a plan on how compliance for background checks and one on one access to children will be maintained going forward when new staff or individuals are present at the program.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 22, 2019