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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020276
Report Date: 04/19/2023
Date Signed: 04/20/2023 03:36:22 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 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
02/21/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20230221150230
FACILITY NAME:LITTLE BUNNIES MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLCFACILITY NUMBER:
198020276
ADMINISTRATOR:SAKUNTALA ABEYASEKERAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:405 N. STONEMAN AVETELEPHONE:
(626) 456-3400
CITY:ALHAMBRASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91801
CAPACITY:39CENSUS: 24DATE:
04/19/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:00 AM
MET WITH:TIME COMPLETED:
04:45 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff not following facilities operating hours.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Sakuntala Abeyasekera.

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

The complaint alleges that the facility is not following its operating hours of 7AM-6PM. The complaint goes on to state that on 02/16/2022 a parent of Child#1 attempted to sign in the child to the facility prior to 7:30AM but was unable to due to facility not being open until 7:30AM. The Director stated during an interview that although the operating hours are 7AM-6PM, the earliest child that arrives in the morning, which was Child#1, did not start until 7:30AM. During a file review for Child#1, LPA Lee did observe that drop off time written down by the parent/representative was 7:30AM until 4:30PM.

Report continues to next page.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
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 33-CC-20230221150230
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: LITTLE BUNNIES MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLC
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020276
VISIT DATE: 04/19/2023
NARRATIVE
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The Director stated that on 02/21/2023, she took part in a meeting with the parents of Child#1, and Staff#1. During the meeting it was agreed upon that the start time for Child#1 will be changed from 7:30AM to 7:15AM. LPA Lee observed that the start time for Staff#1 did change from 7:30AM to 7:15AM after 02/17/2023 according to the sign in sheet for staff. The sign in sheet for Child#1 was also reviewed during the course of this investigation. LPA Lee observed that Child#1's start time varied between 7:28AM and 7:32AM from 02/17/23 until 02/23/23. Although the times in the sign in sheet for Child#1 does seem to indicate the Child was still being dropped off at the usual time of 7:30AM despite agreeing to an earlier time on 02/21/23, the reporting party did state that the parent of Child#1 had to wait to sign in the child despite arriving earlier in the initial details of the allegation. According to the Director on 02/28/2023, the parent of Child#1 arrived at the facility in the morning but there was no one available to open the door. The parent contacted the Director after about 15 minutes of waiting near the entrance. The Director stated that she contacted and asked Staff#1 why the parent of Child#1 was not being signed in. According to the Director the staff initially stated that it was due being busy watching another child and not hearing the doorbell.

The parent of Child#1 stated that Staff#1 refused to provide care and asked the parent to leave on 02/28/23. The Director stated that although she did not hear Staff#1 state this, Child#1 did not attend school on 02/28/23, and the parents of Child#1 chose to withdraw their child during in person meeting on 03/01/23. The Director stated she did verify that no child was present at the facility on 02/28/23 before Child#1 arrived at the entrance. The Director and another staff member stated that Staff#1 resigned from their position on 02/28/23.
Although the facility does advertise the hours of operation as starting at 7AM, Child#1's start time was 7:30AM as per the copy of the admission agreement, This start time was changed to 7:15AM on 02/21/23. On 02/28/23, staff#1 did not answer the doorbell of the facility for about 15 minutes before refusing to provide care for Child#1 and asking the parent to leave the facility. By not answering the door and refusing to provide care to a child that has already been enrolled, the facility staff is not following operating hours.

Based on the evidence collected during this investigation, the preponderance of evidence has been met. Therefore, the allegation stating the facility staff not following facilities operating hours has been substantiated. The deficiency listed on the attached LIC 9099D are being cited in accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 22. The notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 day during hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars. Exit interview conducted with DIrector Sakuntala Abeyasekera. Appeal rights discussed and explained.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 5
Control Number 33-CC-20230221150230
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

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

FACILITY NAME: LITTLE BUNNIES MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLC
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020276
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 04/19/2023
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
04/26/2023
Section Cited
CCR
101219(f)
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The licensee shall comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the admission agreement. This requirement was not met as evidenced by the fact that a staff member of the facility did not allow a parent of a child entry to sign in a child, and refused to provide care for a child without the Director's authorization on 02/28/23. This is a potential
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The Director stated that a meeting all staff members and topic will include how to deal with parents and morning sign in duties.
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risk to children 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: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 5
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 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
02/21/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Seung Lee
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20230221150230

FACILITY NAME:LITTLE BUNNIES MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLCFACILITY NUMBER:
198020276
ADMINISTRATOR:SAKUNTALA ABEYASEKERAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:405 N. STONEMAN AVETELEPHONE:
(626) 456-3400
CITY:ALHAMBRASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91801
CAPACITY:39CENSUS: 24DATE:
04/19/2023
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:00 AM
MET WITH:TIME COMPLETED:
04:45 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff exposed day-care child to chemicals.
Facility is not providing a sufficient amount of fluids to child in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Seung Lee conducted an unannounced complaint inspection. Upon arrival LPA Lee met with Director Sakuntala Abeyasekera.

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

The complaint alleges that the facility did not provide sufficient amount of fluids to Child#1 and exposed Child#1 to chemicals. The reporting party went on to state that facility had a strong odor that smelled like cleaning chemicals during morning drop off for Child#1. According to the reporting party, Child#1 was also observed to be very dehydrated during pick up time. The Director denied the allegations and made no disclosure. The cleaning materials used by staff members in the morning was observed. According to the facility, the tables and surfaces are cleaned with paper towels, water, and santizing wet wipes. The windows are opened and an air freshner is also used in the morning according to staff interviewed.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 5
Control Number 33-CC-20230221150230
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
L.A. DAY CARE-EAST, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754
FACILITY NAME: LITTLE BUNNIES MONTESSORI SCHOOL LLC
FACILITY NUMBER: 198020276
VISIT DATE: 04/19/2023
NARRATIVE
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Based on the information obtained during interviews, the facility staff that opens in the morning is also responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the facility before the first child arrives in the morning. Child#1 who is mentioned in the allegations used to be the first child to arrive to the facility around 7:30AM when the Child attended the facility until 02/28/2023. It is possible that the cleaning done prior to Child#1 arriving in the morning was completed with appropriate equipment and supplies that are acceptable to use in a child care setting. It is also possible that the cleaning was done in an improper manner or done using materials that are not appropriate in a child care center. The reporting party stated that the smells of the facility was strong enough to make Child#1 develop a cough during their time attending the facility. Although it is possible that cleaning done by facility did cause Child#1 to become ill, a child developing a cough does not automatically mean that it was due to improper cleaning or cleaning materials from the facility.

The complaint also stated that Child#1 would look quite dehydrated and would want to drink milk after being picked up from the facility. The facility denied this allegation and made no disclosure. During an interview, the staff members that provided care for Child#1 in the classroom stated that Child#1 did not like to drink water. The staff member stated that Child#1 preferred to drink milk instead of water. The staff member stated that although Child#1 was always offered water from the facility to drink, the child refused and the staff member could not force a child to drink more water due to children's personal rights.

Therefore, based on the evidence collected during the investigation, the allegation Staff exposed day-care child to chemicals and facility is not providing a sufficient amount of fluids to child in care may be valid. However, there is not enough preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore at this time the above allegations are found to be unsubstantiated.

The notice of site inspection must remain posted for a period of 30 day during hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting will result in a civil penalty of $100.00 dollars.

Exit interview conducted with DIrector Sakuntala Abeyasekera. Appeal rights discussed and explained.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Claudia Guangorena
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Seung Lee
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/19/2023
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 5