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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198019813
Report Date: 09/17/2021
Date Signed: 09/17/2021 01:49:18 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/07/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20210907153728
FACILITY NAME:PRIMANTI MONTESSORI ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
198019813
ADMINISTRATOR:HARSHINI GUNASEKARAFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:10947 VALLEY HOME AVETELEPHONE:
(562) 943-0246
CITY:WHITIERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90603
CAPACITY:54CENSUS: 6DATE:
09/17/2021
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:30 AM
MET WITH:Maribeth PeraltaTIME COMPLETED:
01:55 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Facility is short staffed.
Facility is operating out of ratio.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Maribeth Peralta.

During the course of this investigation, LPA conducted interviews, reviewed documents, and made observations in regards to the above allegations.

The complaint alleges that facility is operating out of ratio due to lack of staff members. The complaint stated that due to the lack of staff, there was an incident where Staff#1 who was working in the infant classroom with two infants had to leave one infant in the classroom briefly in order to bring the other infant to the front area for pick up. The Director stated in an interview that the incident in the complaint involving Staff#1 did happen and which resulted in the facility letting Staff#1 go afterwards. The Director stated that the facility was in ratio during the time of the incident and Staff#1 should have just stayed in the infant room with the two infants until another staff member was available to assist with the matter.

Report Continues.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
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 33-CC-20210907153728
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: PRIMANTI MONTESSORI ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 198019813
VISIT DATE: 09/17/2021
NARRATIVE
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During the investigation, LPA Lee was not able to get additional information from Staff#1, who is no longer employed at this facility, despite attempts to do so. The interviews conducted with the Director and Staff members at the facility did confirm that the incident described in the allegations did occur. Although the facility did have enough staff to remain in ratio during the time of the incident, when Staff#1 left the infant room briefly and left an infant in the classroom the facility was operating out of ratio for that moment until Staff#1 returned because no qualified staff was in the infant room providing care and supervision for the one infant in the room. Even if it was for a brief moment, an infant being left in a classroom without a qualified staff member is an immediate risk to the children in care.

Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations,(Title 22, Division 12 & Chapter Number 6), are being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

Upon receipt of this report, the licensee shall post ANY licensing report documenting a type “A” citation. This must remain posted for 30 days during hours of operation. In addition to posting this report, the licensee will also provide copies to the parents of the children in care for up to one year.

A copy of the LIC 9224 - Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Reports was provided.

Exit interview was conducted with Director Maribeth Peralta. Appeal rights and procedures were explained.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 33-CC-20210907153728
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: PRIMANTI MONTESSORI ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 198019813
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/17/2021
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Request Denied
Type A
09/20/2021
Section Cited
CCR
101416.5(b)
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Staff-Infant Ratio
There shall be a ratio of one teacher for every four infants in attendance.
This requirement was not met as evidenced by the facility confirming that an infant was left in a classroom without a qaulifed staff provding supervision. This is an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.
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Director stated that since the incident, she has ensured that two staff members are present in the infant classroom during closing time.
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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: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
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
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/07/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20210907153728

FACILITY NAME:PRIMANTI MONTESSORI ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
198019813
ADMINISTRATOR:HARSHINI GUNASEKARAFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:10947 VALLEY HOME AVETELEPHONE:
(562) 943-0246
CITY:WHITIERSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90603
CAPACITY:54CENSUS: DATE:
09/17/2021
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:30 AM
MET WITH:TIME COMPLETED:
01:55 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Children in care are forced to sit.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Maribeth Peralta.

During the course of this investigation, LPA conducted interviews, reviewed documents, and made observations in regards to the above allegation.

The complaint stated that children were forced to sit in chairs due to the facility not having enough staff. The complainant did not specify if these children were part of the infant or preschool program. It was also not specified if the children were forced to sit in a chair with a strap or belt, like a high chair, or if they were just told to sit by a staff member verbally. During interviews conducted with Staff members, LPA Lee did not obtain any additional information that supported this allegation. Whether it is through physical restraint or verbal request, forcing children to sit is a violation of personal rights.

Report Continues.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
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 33-CC-20210907153728
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: PRIMANTI MONTESSORI ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 198019813
VISIT DATE: 09/17/2021
NARRATIVE
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During the investigation LPA Lee was not able to obtain additional information from the Complainant despite attempts. Interviews were conducted with Staff members that worked with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Although it is possible that children's personal rights were violated by forcing them to sit in chairs, there was not enough evidence to prove that this did happen.

Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the allegations that children in care are forced to sit may be valid. However, there is not enough preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore at this time the above allegations is found to be unsubstantiated.

Exit interview conducted with Director Maribeth Peralta. Appeal rights discussed and explained. The Notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 days during hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Guangorena Claudia
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/17/2021
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5