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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 434400319
Report Date: 09/11/2025
Date Signed: 09/11/2025 11:59:45 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN JOSE CC RO, 2580 N FIRST STREET, STE. 300
SAN JOSE, CA 95131
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
06/23/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Linke Huang
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 07-CC-20250623213427
FACILITY NAME:MERRYHILL SCHOOL 1072FACILITY NUMBER:
434400319
ADMINISTRATOR:BILBRO, HEATHERFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:750 NORTH CAPITOL AVENUETELEPHONE:
(408) 254-1280
CITY:SAN JOSESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95133
CAPACITY:32CENSUS: 16DATE:
09/11/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:00 AM
MET WITH:Bilbro, Heather TIME COMPLETED:
12:15 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Lack of adequate care and supervision resulted in several biting incidents among children in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Kate Huang conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver investigation findings regarding the above allegation. LPA met with director, Heather Bilbro, and explained the purpose of the visit.

It was alleged that a lack of adequate care and supervision resulted in several biting incidents among children in care.

On 06/27/2025, LPA conducted an unannounced visit at the facility. During the visit, LPA observed classrooms, obtained the children's roster, sign-in and sign-out sheets and children's incident records and interviewed the director.

On 07/01/2025, LPA conducted a subsequent visit at the facility, during the visit, LPA interviewed staff.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Gladys Kuizon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Linke Huang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/11/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 3
Control Number 07-CC-20250623213427
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN JOSE CC RO, 2580 N FIRST STREET, STE. 300
SAN JOSE, CA 95131
FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL 1072
FACILITY NUMBER: 434400319
VISIT DATE: 09/11/2025
NARRATIVE
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Based on interviews, 4 out of 4 staff who were interviewed all acknowledged that repeated biting incidents were caused by one specific child (C1).

3 out of 3 teachers stated that they think the situation is preventable. They said that after an additional support teacher was assigned to assist in the toddler room in early June, following two months of repeated biting incidents, specifically to supervise C1, the situation improved significantly. Eventually, C1 no longer bit other children.

3 out of 3 teachers stated that most of these biting incidents involving C1 occurred during transition times, when teachers were the busiest.

Although the biting situation has already been addressed through the assignment of a support teacher in early June and C1 no longer bit other children, the center should intervene earlier. The incidents began in March or April, were caused primarily by one child, and frequently occurred during transition times. These factors made the situation reasonably preventable if the school intervened earlier.

Based on interview conducted and records review, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met and therefore the above allegation is Substantiated.

Exit interview was conducted, where the report was reviewed and discussed with director, Heather Bilbro. A notice of site visit has been issued and must remain posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Gladys Kuizon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Linke Huang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/10/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 07-CC-20250623213427
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN JOSE CC RO, 2580 N FIRST STREET, STE. 300
SAN JOSE, CA 95131

FACILITY NAME: MERRYHILL SCHOOL 1072
FACILITY NUMBER: 434400319
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/11/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
09/24/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(2)
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Personal Rights - The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following....
(2) To be accorded safe....to meet his/her needs. This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
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Licensee to submit a written statement ensuring compliance to CCR 101223(a)(2). Please send Plan of Correction (POC) to LPA by 09/24/2025.
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The requirement was not met as evidenced by: based on interviews and records review, there had been multiple biting incidents caused by one child (C1) that affected several children for a period of two months until licensee provided additional staff to address C1's behavior which posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Gladys Kuizon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Linke Huang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/11/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/11/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3