Williamstown Elementary School Pre-K

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.

“A child was left alone in the classroom for 12 minutes without staff knowledge, while their classmate and teachers were outside on the playground. The staff realized the child was missing when another staff informed them that they entered the classroom and heard the child asking for assistance.This is a serious violation and requires a Parental Notification Letter. Corrective Action: Update your transition training plan to include internal training when onboarding new staff and add it to your staff handbook. A copy of the revamped staff handbook shall be submitted to your licensor, A Parental Notification Letter, which is a copy of the licensing report, must be provided to each parent of every child enrolled within ten (10) days of the report submission. Provide a list of parent's names, child's name and contact information for each enrolled child. Status: Appeal Period.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 8, 2026

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.

“Staff C was required to complete a fingerprint supported background check through the Child Development Division in April of 2023 and did not. Staff D was required to complete a fingerprint supported background check through the Child Development Division in October of 2023 and did not. Corrective Action: Send new record check authorization forms in for Staff C and D. Set up a fingerprinting appointment for Staff C and D. Confirm with this licensor when they have completed their fingerprinting. Email this licensor describing the system that the program will use ensure staff are completing a fingerprint supported background check when the Child Development Division sends the letter notifying the program that staff are required to do so. Staff C and D may not be alone with children until the Child Development Division sends a letter confirming that the results of the fingerprinting were received and they are cleared to be left alone with children.”

Correction date in the state record: May 2, 2024

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.

“Staff A was required to renew their fingerprint supported background check with the Child Development Division by 11/02/2023 and did not. Staff B was required to renew their fingerprint supported background check with the Child Development Division by 11/20/2022 and did not. Corrective Action: Send new record check authorization forms in for Staff A and Staff B. Schedule a fingerprint appointment for Staff A and Staff B.Confirm with this licensor once they have completed fingerprinting. Email this licensor with a system that will be used to track fingerprint expiration dates to ensure staff are renewing every five years.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2024

Regulation 7.1.2.1: The licensee shall ensure that at least one (1) staff who has successfully completed and is currently certified in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR is on the premises at all times children are present.

“Four staff members are missing FA/CPR certificates in BFIS and they were not sent to this licensor by the time this report was generated. Corrective Action: Please ensure that the four staff have current First Aid and CPR certification. Please submit their certificates to Nothern Lights at CCV and include this licensor on the email. Email this licensor with a system the program will use to ensure staff are completing First Aid and CPR and renewing their certification every year. Please maintain copies of the certificates on site or in electronic form.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 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.

“Eight staff members who have been with the program for more than six months do not have up to date BFIS Quality and Credential accounts. Corrective Action: After the visit this licensor requested that the missing documents be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV and that this licensor be included on the email. The program sent some of the missing documents directly to this licensor. By the due day submit the missing documents to Northern Lights at CCV and include this licensor. Please ensure that cover letters accompany the documents. Corrective action will not be met unil the eight staff members have up to date accounts.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2024

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 Quality and Credentialing accounts and on site staff documentation reflected that staff A, B, C, D, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, O, P, and Q had not yet completed the required mandated reporter training. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have all staff and auxiliary staff complete the required Mandated Reporter Training. The link to the training can be found on the Child Development Division website, dcf.vermont.gov, Our Division, Child Care for Providers, Professional Development, Required Trainings. Develop a system which will prompt all new staff and auxiliary staff to complete the required Mandated Reporter training in a more timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 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 a lack of the following: verification of qualifications for staff A, D, E, H, J, O, R and S, required annual professional development including but not limited to the required mandated reporter training and an orientation training, for staff D, H, and J, and CPR and first aid certificated for staff A, D, E, F, H, J, N, O, P, R, and S. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have all staff collect and submit the required documentation and submit it to Northern Lights at CCV (NLCCV) with a cover sheet. If you need assistance with submitting documents to NLCCV, you may reach out to your NLCCV resource Advisor, [name], at (802) 828-0621 or joanne.rouleau01@ccv.edu. Develop a system which will prompt you and/or your staff members to submit documentation in a more timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2020

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.

“Upon arrival, the children in the program were on the playground and utilizing the large slide structure, the large climbing structure and the four swings. All of these structures allowed children to reach a height higher than 30 inches and the ground beneath was covered with ice and packed snow. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to bar access to any playground equipment that allows for children to reach a height of 30 inches or higher, until such a time when the mulch beneath the equipment has thawed and regained its resiliency. Develop a system which will prompt you and/or other staff members to do routine checks of the cushioning materials, to report any issues to whomever would replenish and maintain those materials, and to bar access to any equipment that is assessed to not have proper cushioning under and around it until such a time when it does, moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2020

Regulation 7.1.2: First Aid and CPR Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR within six (6) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“A review of Staff BFIS Quality and Credentialing accounts and on site staff documentation reflected that staff A, D, E, H, J, O, P, and R did not have documentation of completed pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certification. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have A, D, E, H, J, O, P, and R complete pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certification. If you need assistance finding these trainings, 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 you and/or other staff members to become recertified in pediatric first aid and Infant and Child CPR prior to the expiry date of the ceritifcations moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2020

Regulation 5.10.3.2.1: All outdoor play equipment shall be sturdy, safe, clean and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts. * To prevent entrapment, no openings in equipment shall be between 3.5 and nine (9) inches. * Chains on swings shall have protective coverings and swing seats shall be made of soft materials with no sharp edges.

“The chains on four swings open for use by children, did not have protective coverings. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to place protective coverings on the chains of all swings used by the children in the program, or plan to bar access to those swings until such a time when protective coverings are placed on chains. Develop a system which will prompt you and/or your staff to do routine checks of the swings and all equipment available to children outside, to bar access to any equipment found to present a safety issue until such a time that the issue is remedied.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2020

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.

“Ten children's files were reviewed and 8 were found to lack General Health Examination forms. The school nurse stated that while they have sent all families an original request for this form, along with many reminders, the majority of families are not returning these forms. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have further discussions with families about the options for ensuring that a copy of the General Health Exam form is obtained for their child/ren's file. These options include families reaching out to their child/ren's pediatrician or filling out and signing an authorization for the school to have contact with the pediatrician's office and access medical information as needed. Develop a system which will prompt and support families in obtaining the required information for their children's files in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 28, 2020