Pre-licensing visit·December 20, 2023

On December 20, 2023, at 9:10 AM, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Elka Chavez and Crystal Green, conducted an announced follow-up to the Pre-Licensing inspection conducted on 12/19/2023. Upon arrival, LPAs met with Applicant Representative, Janice Balgemino. The applicant, Knoller Montessori LLC, is requesting to be licensed for 45 preschoolers ages 2 through 6 six years old in classrooms 16 and 17. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is a change of ownership application; the facility was observed operating under the license 198400525 (The Besa School). This facility is located on the premises of La Senda Antigua Church. There are two additional licenses which are for an Infant and Preschool for the existing licensee that the share the premises of La Senda Antigua Church. Each of the facilities has a separate license number due to the physical address of each building being different. License number 198020118 is for Preschool license and 198020117 is for Infants with a toddler component license. The applicant also has pending applications for both facilities. LPAs informed Janice Balgemino that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor activities. When medications are on site, Janice stated that they will be in a higher cabinet located in the main office. A fully equipped first aid kit is located in children cubbies area. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located near the kitchen area. All required licensing documents were observed posted on parent board located outside of classroom 17. Children will be signed in and out using the ProCare app. Parents are registered for ProCare app. during their child enrollment process. Page 2: LPA Green obtained measurements of the indoor and outdoor activity space during the inspection conducted on December 19, 2023. Total indoor activity space measured 1605.55 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 45 Children. LPAs observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping cots, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for the children. Drinking water is available in the classrooms via water container. LPAs observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance was granted on November 15, 2023. LPAs observed a total of 5 sinks, 4 toilets, and 5 urinals available for children’s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 45 children. There is a separate staff restroom equipped with 3 toilets and 2 sinks. The isolation area for children who are ill will be the Director office located near the main entrance to the facility. Ill children will use the staff restroom which is located near the Directors office. Facility will provide snacks and lunch will be provided by the parents. The facility currently has a fully fenced playground area. Fencing is made up of a white wooden fence which is at least four feet high. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space is 5069.53 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. Shade is provided via shade sails. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on the playground. There is a climbing structure on the playground for children ages 2 to 8 years which is properly anchored. Drinking water is available via filter water container. LPA observed all hazardous items on the playground to be inaccessible to children. LPAs observed a separate play yard surrounded by white fencing. The entrance gate to the yard was observed lock with a keypad lock on the gate to prevent access. The applicant is requesting to be able utilize the play area. Per the applicant, the existing facility did not utilize the separate yard space due to the climbing structure located within the play yard has a manufacture sticker listed ages 5- 12 years. LPAs were able to inspect the enclosed play area with the climbing structure after the applicant was able to unlock the entrance gate. LPA Green consulted with the applicant regarding modification that can be made in order to make the play structure age appropriate for children’s ages 2 to 6. The climbing play structure was observed to 3 slides down points that is accessible from a single enter area. Page 3: The structure was also observed to have 3 different unsecured jump areas that will need to be secured with additional bars to prevent children from jumping off of the structure and would allow for a single path that children could safely to access the 3 different slides of the climbing play structure. Per the applicant representative, she will have additional iron bars welded onto the play structure to make it age- appropriate. LPA informed the applicant that prior to using the off-limit outdoor play area that changes to the play structure will need to be completed and proof of the corrections will need to be submitted to the LPA. Access to the use the off-limit play area will not be granted until the Regional Office reviews the corrections of the climbing play structure submitted. Applicant, Janice Balgemino was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing. For child care center licenses issued after July 1, 2022, the licensee shall test their water for lead within 180 days of licensure pursuant to Written Directives section 101700 (PIN 21-21.1- CCP). Applicant, Janice Balgemino was reminded that all adults 18 and over responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff, persons who provides care and supervision to children, and staff who have contact with children, including employees and volunteers, except as specified in Health and Safety Code section 1596.871, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a Child Care Center. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day for a maximum of 5-days or, if the penalty is for a repeat violation, for a maximum of 30-days per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated. Incidental Medical Services (IMS) policy was discussed. For IMS information see PIN 22-02-CCP. When any IMS is provided, an updated Plan of Operation that includes IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm LPAs reviewed with applicant, Janice Balgemino the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child’s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted. Page 4: Applicant, Janice Balgemino was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org site, a consumer education website that helps families obtain child care by connecting them to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California. Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) regularly sends information to licensed facilities, providers, and stakeholders by way of Provider Information Notices (PIN), Program Quarterly Update Newsletters and other important information communication platforms. To receive important licensed related information to licensed facilities, visit the CCLD Important Information website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/subscribe and select the Child Care option to receive email communication. No corrections are needed. A license for 45 children will be granted upon a final file review. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the Applicant, Janice Balgemino.