VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

The Merit School of Old Town Manassas
8757 Signal Hill Drive
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 361-5113

Current Inspector: Beth Velke (804) 629-8302

Inspection Date: May 22, 2023

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies. 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Technical Assistance:

8VAC20-780-340-A Discussed ensuring that all small objects and pieces created after a group activity are thoroughly cleaned up at the conclusion of the activity to remove choking or other hazards.

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted on 5/22/23 from 10:30 a.m. ? 1:30 p.m. There were forty-six children present with thirteen staff providing supervision. The ages of the children ranged from 1 month to 5 years. Five staff files and five children?s files were reviewed. Children were observed playing outside, practicing graduation songs and eating lunch. Lunch was spaghetti with meat sauce, pears and green beans. Handwashing was also observed. Attendance, menus, and emergency drills were reviewed. There was an adequate number of staff present with certification in Medication Administration Training (MAT), CPR, First Aid and Daily Health Observation (DHO) training. No medication was on site and there were no children currently enrolled with diagnosed food allergies. Required postings were observed. The last emergency drill was conducted on 4/24/23. The first aid kit, flashlight, and battery operated radio were observed. Areas of non-compliance are identified in the Violation Notice. Please complete the columns for ?Plan of Correction? and ?Date to be Corrected? for each violation cited on the Violation Notice and then return a signed and dated copy to the licensing office by 5 p.m. on June 2, 2023. Please email me at beth.velke@doe.virginia.gov or 804-629-8302 with any questions.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-770-60-C-2
Description:	Based on review five staff records, the center did not obtain documentation of the results of a central registry search within 30 days of employment for all staff members. Evidence: The record for Staff #4 with a start date of 1/10/23, the results of the Central registry search background check was dated 2/23/23
Plan of Correction:	Staff member's file had evidence of eligible fingerprint records and the central registry was sent within three days of hire. Documentation was not yet received from the state, but phone calls had been made to check on the results. Moving forward the calls will be documented in the staff records and emails will also be sent to document attempts as well.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-80-A
Description:	Based on review of the written attendance record, the center did not ensure they maintained a written record of daily attendance for each group of children documenting arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. 1. In the Older Junior Kindergarten class there were twelve children present in the classroom, the written record reflected there were nine. 2. In the Younger Junior Kindergarten class there were two children present on the playground, the written record reflected there were five.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected on site at the time of inspection. The teachers knew how many children were in their care groups. Two of the JK classrooms had combined for a short period of time for "graduation" practice. When they combined three children into the other classroom a transitional roll call sheet was not used. The staff will be retrained at the June staff meeting on attendance training and transitional and returning children roll call sheets will be reviewed, along with paper attendance, along with iPad attendance. Training will be documented.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-210-A
Description:	Based on review of five staff records, the facility did not ensure that all program leaders had documentation of high school program completion or equivalent on file. Evidence: 1. The record for Staff #1, with a title of teacher, did not contain documentation of education. 2. The administrator confirmed that documentation of education is not requested from staff.
Plan of Correction:	Educational records have been requested from all staff members and will be added to their file. Director's response was that she must have forgotten to request it for staff member #1, and not that it isn't required. Staff send on day of inspection. Is currently in file.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-280-B
Description:	Based on observation, hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides were not kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. In the older Junior Kindergarten room sanitizing spray was stored unlocked, on a shelf above the toilet in the children?s restroom.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected at the time of inspection, the cleaning solution (sanitizing spray) was put in a locked cabinet. During the inspection it was found in a classroom bathroom and was on a shelf that was more than five feet off the ground.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-280-G
Description:	Based on observation and interview, hazardous substances were not kept in original containers or in substitute containers that clearly indicate their contents. 1. In the toddler classroom, both the sanitizing solution and the cleaning solution were stored in spray bottles labeled ?sanitizer?. Staff identified the ?yellow? spray as cleaning solution and ?pink? spray as sanitizing solution; the ?pink? spray was a clear liquid 2. In the Older Two-Year classroom, a small plastic bottle with an orange substance was located on the children?s handwashing sink. Staff indicated that it was used to clean the sink, staff were unable to identify the contents of the substance.
Plan of Correction:	Labeling was corrected day of inspection. Labels were added to the commercial grade ECO lab cleaner and sanitizer. The unlabeled small plastic bottle was a bottle of liquid soap, and it was removed during the inspection.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-B
Description:	Based on interview with staff, the diapering surface was not always being cleaned with soap and water and sanitized after each use. Evidence: 1.In the infant classroom, staff stated that only one solution, the ?pink? solution, is used to clean the diapering surface. The spray bottle was labeled ?sanitizer?, soap and water was not used prior to sanitizing the diapering surface. 2. In the toddler classroom, staff stated that only one solution, the ?yellow? solution, is used to clean the diapering surface. The spray bottle was labeled ?sanitizer?, soap and water was not used prior to sanitizing the diapering surface.
Plan of Correction:	Staff were nervous and unable to articulate that soap and water is not used, but instead a commercial grade ECO lab cleaner and sanitizer are used. Retrain the staff on the cleaning and sanitizing procedures by 5/26/2023 to ensure that they can articulate and demonstrate the cleaning and sanitizing process
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-560-M
Description:	Based on observation a child was allowed to drink while walking around. Evidence: A child from the Three year class was observed walking on the playground drinking from a hard plastic cup with a hard plastic straw coming from the center of the cup.
Plan of Correction:	The children had taken their water bottles and cups outside to stay hydrated. The teacher will instruct the children to leave their water bottles at the picnic table and be reminded that they must be sitting at the table when they are drinking. Playground safety training will also be reviewed with the staff at the June staff meeting. Training will be documented.