493009447-1-26-2023-01-CC-LLEI-CP238K-20230213170133

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493009447
Report Date: 01/26/2023
Date Signed: 01/26/2023 01:54:34 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/07/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Sebastian Phouthavong

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20220907154532

FACILITY NAME:	SONOMA PRESCHOOL ACADEMY		FACILITY NUMBER:	493009447
ADMINISTRATOR:	THOMAS, REV. JAMES MORRIS		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	275 EAST SPAIN STREET		TELEPHONE:	(707) 996-3755
CITY:	SONOMA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95476
CAPACITY:	45	CENSUS: 22	DATE:	01/26/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	10:31 AM
MET WITH:	Director, Jill Pressley		TIME COMPLETED:	02:00 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility staff lock their classrooms with children inside.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Sebastian Phouthavong, conducted a subsequent complaint-investigation visit and met with Director, Jill Pressley for the purpose of delivering a finding for the above allegation. LPA, Kevin O’Connell, previously met with Director on 09/14/2022 to initiate the investigation by discussing the allegations, conducting interview(s), making observations, and requesting documents. It was alleged that facility staff lock their classroom doors which would lock the children inside if there was an emergency.

LPA previously interviewed the Director (D1) and local fire inspector. D1 confirmed that classroom doors are locked from the outside, not the inside, but that there are door handle covers on the inside of the doors. Another door on the street side of each classroom remains locked or bolted. Upon arrival, LPA observed that two classroom doors were locked from the outside and the inside of each door had door handle covers, making them “childproof” and preventing a child from exiting. LPA further confirmed that the other doors located on the street side of each classroom were locked.

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sebastian Phouthavong	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5056
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/26/2023

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/26/2023

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20220907154532

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: SONOMA PRESCHOOL ACADEMY	FACILITY NUMBER: 493009447
	VISIT DATE: 01/26/2023

NARRATIVE

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According to a subsequent interview of the local fire marshal, classroom doors could be locked from the outside but not the inside and that door handle covers (the plastic spinning cover type) could not be used as it does not comply with the following fire code. The fire marshal provided the following sections:

The Exiting Requirement of the 2019 California Fire Code -
[BE] 1010.1.9 Door Operations
Except as specifically permitted by this section, egress doors shall be readily openable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
[BE] 1010.1.9.5 Bolt Locks
Manually operated flush bolts or surface bolts are not permitted.
[BE] 1010.1.9.6 Unlatching
The unlatching of any door or leaf shall not require more than one operation.

Based on this investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met and therefore, the above allegation is found to be substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, section 101171(a) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D and a civil penalty of $500 assessed for violation of the fire clearance.

Appeal Rights were provided and exit interview conducted. The Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 days. Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sebastian Phouthavong	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5056
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/26/2023

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/26/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20220907154532

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: SONOMA PRESCHOOL ACADEMY	FACILITY NUMBER: 493009447
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 01/26/2023

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A 01/27/2023 Section Cited CCR 101171	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	(a) All child care centers shall secure and maintain a fire clearance approved by the city or county fire department, the district providing fire protection services, or the State Fire Marshal. This requirement is not met as evidenced by:	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	Licensee has removed the door handles during the visit and will contact the local fire inspector to ensure compliance with fire code
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	Based on observation and interviews, The facility not complying with the approved fire clearance when it used inside door handle covers which prevented egress doors to be “readily openable” which posed an immediate health and safety risk to children in care, resulting in a civil penalty of $500 for fire clearance violation.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7
	1 2 3 4 5 6 7		1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Leslie Lepori	TELEPHONE: (707) 588-5060
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sebastian Phouthavong	TELEPHONE: 707-588-5056
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 01/26/2023

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 01/26/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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