White River School

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 staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that six (6) Auxiliary staff members that are left alone and/or counted in staff/child ratio have not completed an approved orientation training approved by the Division. Corrective Action: Immediately have all six (6) Auxiliary staff members complete the Vermont Orientation Training or an approved on-site orientation training. Identified staff members must not be left alone with children until completion of an approved orientation training. Develop and implement a system to ensure all new hires that may be left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio complete Orientation prior to being left alone with children. Email confirmation of completed trainings and a detailed description of the system developed to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Status: Appeal Period.”

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 evacuation drill records were missing the following required information: number of children, number of staff, notation of whether the children were asleep or rest at the time of the drill. Corrective Action: Create and implement an evacuation drill record that includes the number of children, the number of staff, notation of sleep or rest, and evacuation time. Please refer to the template available through the Child Development Division at https://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/providers/forms. Complete an evacuation drill using the new template. Email the recorded evacuation drill on the revised template to Licensing Field Specialist Stark.”

Correction date in the state record: May 29, 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.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that two (2) staff did not complete fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development activities. Staff A was short 3.5 hours between 11/30/24-11/30/25. Staff B was short 3.5 hours between 1/1/25-1/1/26. Corrective Action: Create and implement a plan to complete the overdue training hours in addition to the 15 hours required for the current year. Email the detailed plan to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Develop and implement a system for monitoring professional development requirements to ensure future compliance. Email Licensing Field Specialist Stark a detailed description of the system created and when it was implemented. Status: Appeal Period.”

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.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that three (3) Auxiliary staff members confirmed to be counted in staff/child ratio or alone with children that do not have current CPR certification. Corrective Action: Immediately have the identified individuals complete Pediatric First Aid and Infant Child CPR training and submit to Northern Lights at CCV. Send verification of the submissions to Licensing Field Specialist Stark. Develop and implement a system to ensure First Aid/CPR certifications remain current. Email Licensing Field Specialist Stark a detailed description of the plan and when it was implemented.”

Correction date in the state record: May 29, 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.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that two (2) staff members ended employment eleven (11) weeks prior to the site visit. Missing documentation of required trainings were also cited for regulations 7.1.2 (Pediatric First Aid & CPR), 7.1.3 (Health & Safety Orientation), and 7.4.4 (Annual Ongoing Professional Development). This is a repeat violation from the site visit in 2024. Corrective Action: Input an end date for employees no longer working in the preschool program in BFIS and remove them from the Associated Parties list. Create and implement a system for monitoring the accuracy of the Associated Parties list in BFIS. Email Licensor [name] Specialist Stark the detailed description of the system and when it was implemented. Status: Appeal Period.”

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.

“Required documentation to determine position qualifications for Staff E not present in BFIS. Staff E began their employment with the program on 1/1/23. Corrective Action: Submit education documentation for Staff E to Northern Lights at CCV using the cover sheet by the corrective action date given. Ensure a tracking system is in place to ensure staff BFIS accounts are up to date with all documentation within the time frame indicated in this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 4, 2024

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.

“Review of BFIS credential accounts, documents and post visit follow up with Staff A, indicates Staff B and Staff C have not yet had fingerprinting completed. Staff B began their employment with the program on 3/29/23, and received a letter advising of fingerpringting requirement was sent to them on 5/10/23. Staff C began their employment with the program on 7/1/23, and a letter advising of fingerprinting requirement was issued to them on 10/30/23. Staff D is also overdue for fingerprinting as they were due 6/9/23, however Staff D was not listed on the program's Annual Assurance letter printed 10/20/23, therefore Staff D's fingerprint status is not part of this violation. Corrective Action: Staff A has advised this Licensor that Staff B and Staff C are now scheduled for fingerprinting. Create a system for tracking when Record Check Authorizations and Fingerprinting are due for new and current staff.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 12, 2024

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.

“Review of BFIS Associated Parties list along with communication with Staff A revealed Staff C who started working with the program at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, Staff D who started with the program approximately two (2) months ago, and Staff E who started at the program the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year were not reflected on the list. Communication with Staff A and review of BFIS Associated Parties list also revealed Staff F, Staff G, and Staff H ended their employment with the program more than five (5) days required by this rule. Corrective Action: Create a system for ensuring any and all staff changes are made in the BFIS system within five (5) business days of their occurrance.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 19, 2023

Regulation 5.2.1.4: When hand washing is not practical due to outside activities or being off-site, and hands are not visibly soiled, hand sanitizer may be used by staff, other adults, and children in lieu of washing with soap and warm water. Staff shall ensure that children using a hand sanitizer rub their hands until the sanitizer has dried. Only non-alcohol hand sanitizer shall be used for children under twenty-four (24) months of age.

“A hand washing sink is located on the left wall of the classroom. This sink was observed to be working as both Staff A and Staff B were seen using it to wash their hands prior to serving lunch. Staff A advised the children it was time for lunch, grabbed a bottle of hand sanitizer, and proceeded to give each child a squirt before having them sit at their respective lunch table spots. No child was observed using the available soap and warm water to wash their hands. Corrective Action: Immediately ensure that children are using soap and warm water to wash their hands when available. Review this rule with all staff.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 19, 2023

Regulation 7.1.3: Orientation of Staff The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age 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 Credentialing accounts and staff files, reflected that 3 staff members had not yet completed an approved orientation training. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have all staff complete an approved orientation training. The Online Vermont Orientation Training can be found by going to the Child Development Division website, DCF.vermont.gov, then follwoing the prompts for; Our Division, Child Care for Providers, Professional Development, Required Trainings. Develop a system which will prompt all newly hired staff to complete an approved Orientation Training prior to being left alone with children.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2020

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 staff BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts reflected that 9 staff members had not submitted documentation of completing the required Mandated Reporter Training, 3 staff had not submitted documentation of completing an approved orientation training, 3 staff had not submitted documentation of annual professional development, 2 staff had not submitted current CPR and first aid certificates, and 2 staff had not submitted documents to verify their qualifications. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have all staff members submit all required documents with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV (NLCCV). If you have questions about submitting documents to Northern Lights at CCV, you may contact your Northern Lights at CCV resource advisor, [name], at (802) 885-8374 or amelia.struthers@ccv.edu. Develop a system which will prompt staff to send required documentation in a more timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2020

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.

“A review of staff BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts and staff files reflected that 3 staff members did not have documentation of completing 15 hours of annual professional development. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have each staff member complete at least 15 hours of annual professional development, based on her/his start date, and submit the training documents with a cover sheet to Northern Lights at CCV (NLCCV). Develop a system which will prompt staff to sign up for and complete at least 15 hours of professional development each year, and a system for tracking this.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2020