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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197750149
Report Date: 08/15/2023
Date Signed: 08/15/2023 03:13:54 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/24/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Pittman
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 12-CC-20230524140334
FACILITY NAME:ARK ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
197750149
ADMINISTRATOR:VONDA PERRYFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1146 COMMERCE CENTER DRIVETELEPHONE:
(661) 504-4034
CITY:LANCASTERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
93534
CAPACITY:15CENSUS: 10DATE:
08/15/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:33 AM
MET WITH:Director Vonda PerryTIME COMPLETED:
03:25 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Facility is operating out of ratio.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 8/15/2023 at 9:33am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Andrea Pittman and Donna Maddox conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver the findings at the facility and was met by Director Vonda Perry & Assistant Director Africa Jones who permitted entry to the facility. LPA toured the facility with the Director according to the facility sketch. Upon arrival, LPA observed 10 children with 1 staff member providing care and supervision.

On 8/2/2023, around 1:50pm, LPA Pittman toured the facility with the Director Vonda Perry. The LPA and Director walked from the infant room and observed one staff member providing care and supervision 12 preschoolers. The preschoolers were sitting at a table engaged in activities. There was one child from the preschool room who was sleeping in the infant room. The preschooler had been sleeping for some time on the infant room's floor. The preschooler was sleeping in the infant room for some time on the floor.

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Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
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 5
Control Number 12-CC-20230524140334
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
FACILITY NAME: ARK ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750149
VISIT DATE: 08/15/2023
NARRATIVE
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The Director had the preschooler escorted from the infant room back into the preschooler room to rejoin the preschooler classroom once it was determined there was a preschooler child that was allowed to sleep in the infant room. The Director was advised that the licensed capacity of the room is only 12 preschoolers and that there needed to be an aide or another teacher in the room with the Preschool Teacher for it to be within ratio. The Director stated that they were providing lunch breaks and that they did not have the second teacher as they were on break. The facility was out of ratio with 13 preschoolers to one staff providing care and supervision. This is a Type A violation, see the LIC 9099D for the details.

Based on information obtained, observations, and interviews with relevant complaint parties, the Allegation is deemed substantiated for exceeding the teacher-child ratio and a Type A citation will be issued. A finding of substantiated means that allegations were valid because the preponderance of the evidence standard has been met.

As a Type A deficiency has been cited, a copy of the citation and licensing report must be posted for 30 days.



The same report must be provided to Parents/Guardians and the Acknowledgment of Receipt of Licensing
Reports LIC 9224 must be signed by Parents/Guardians of all enrolled children and any newly enrolled
children in the next 12 months following the citation. If these requirements are not met, civil penalties per
violation will be assessed.

An exit interview was conducted, a copy of this report read and provided to the Director, and the Notice of Site Visit and Appeal Rights was explained and given to the Director.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 12-CC-20230524140334
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551

FACILITY NAME: ARK ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750149
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 08/15/2023
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
08/16/2023
Section Cited
CCR
101216.3(a)
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101216.3(a) Teacher - Child Ratio There shall be a ratio of one teacher supervising no more than 12 children in attendance...

This requirement is not met as evidenced by
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Based on observation, the Licensee did not comply with the section cited above as there were 13 preschoolers to one staff member while the assistant staff member was on break which poses an immediate 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: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
05/24/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Andrea Pittman
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 12-CC-20230524140334

FACILITY NAME:ARK ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
197750149
ADMINISTRATOR:VONDA PERRYFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:1146 COMMERCE CENTER DRIVETELEPHONE:
(661) 504-4034
CITY:LANCASTERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
93534
CAPACITY:15CENSUS: 10DATE:
08/15/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
09:33 AM
MET WITH:Director Vonda PerryTIME COMPLETED:
03:25 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Capacity
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 8/15/2023 at 9:33am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs) Andrea Pittman and Donna Maddox conducted an unannounced complaint visit to deliver the findings at the facility and was met by Director Vonda Perry & Assistant Director Africa Jones who permitted entry to the facility. LPA toured the facility with the Director according to the facility sketch. Upon arrival, LPAs observed 10 children with 1 staff member providing care and supervision.

LPA conducted an investigation into the allegation including observations, interviews, and record reviews. LPA interviewed the children, parents of the program, and any other relevant parties. As part of the investigation, LPA obtained the facility and children’s rosters, sign-in sheets, and other documents relevant to the investigation. The investigation revealed the following evidence:

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Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5
Control Number 12-CC-20230524140334
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
PALMDALE CHILD CARE, 39115 TRADE CENTER DR STE. 201
PALMDALE, CA 93551
FACILITY NAME: ARK ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197750149
VISIT DATE: 08/15/2023
NARRATIVE
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Allegation: On or around 5/24/2023, it was alleged that the facility was over capacity and removing preschoolers from the facility to appear to be in capacity. During the investigation, the observation, record review, and interview with relevant parties revealed the following information. On 8/2/2023, LPA Pittman visited the facility, there were 13 preschoolers present in the preschool classroom with one teacher providing care and supervision. Although the facility was out of ratio for the classroom, the preschool classroom was not over capacity. Additionally, record review supported that the facility was within capacity for the preschool license. After reviewing the relevant information obtained, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to support the allegation.

After observations, record reviews, and interviews, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence that the facility was operating over capacity. The allegations could not be corroborated with the evidence found during the investigation. Therefore, the allegations have been found unsubstantiated. Although, the allegations may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the facility operated in violation of policy in this circumstance.

An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was provided to Director along with the Notice of Site Visit and Appeal Rights.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Mariela Ramon
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Andrea Pittman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 08/15/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5