243810294-2-21-2025-04-CC-JPAO-DE4RWL-20250221122319

Community Care Licensing

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 243810294
Report Date: 02/21/2025
Date Signed: 02/21/2025 12:23:25 PM

Document Has Been Signed on 02/21/2025 12:23 PM - It Cannot Be Edited

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710

FACILITY NAME:	MERCED MONTESSORI SCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	243810294
ADMINISTRATOR/ DIRECTOR:	ANN MACDONALD		FACILITY TYPE:	860
ADDRESS:	436 W 21ST ST		TELEPHONE:	(209) 722-9823
CITY:	MERCED	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95340
CAPACITY: 21	TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN: 21	CENSUS: 10	DATE:	02/21/2025
TYPE OF VISIT:	Prelicensing	ANNOUNCED	TIME VISIT/ INSPECTION BEGAN:	11:00 AM
MET WITH:	Murali Ramasami - Facility Representative		TIME VISIT/ INSPECTION COMPLETED:	12:30 PM

NARRATIVE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25	On 2/21/25 at 11:00 am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs), Joseph Pacheco and Pa Kou Vue conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a change of ownership. Upon arrival, LPA’s met with Facility Representative, Murali Ramasami. Applicant is Merced Montessori School LLC and they are requesting to be licensed for 21 preschoolers ages 2-6. Hours of operation will be Monday – Friday 7:15 am – 5:30 pm. This facility will operate year round. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPA’s informed Representative that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor activities. When medications are on site, Representative stated that they will be in locked black box in the kitchen area. The first aid kit was missing several required items. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in the big classroom off the entry way. All required licensing documents were observed posted near the front entrance of the facility. Children will be signed in and out at near the front entrance of the facility. LPA’s continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. Total indoor activity space measured to an approximate 780 square feet which will accommodate a maximum of 22 children based on Title 22 regulations of 35 square feet per child. Applicant would now like to apply for a requested capacity of 22 preschool children. LPA observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping cots/mats, cribs, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for the children. Drinking water is available in the classrooms via filtered water faucets. This water is used to fill water bottles the children bring from home. Facility has paper cups on hand in case a parent forgets to send their child to the facility without a water bottle. LPA observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance for 21 preschool children was granted on 1/14/25 by the City of Merced Fire Department. An amended fire clearance for 22 preschool children will be needed before a license is issued. LPA’s observed a total of 2 sinks and 2 toilets available for children’s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the newly requested overall capacity of 22 children. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C

SUPERVISORS NAME: Deborah Lowe
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Joseph Pacheco
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/21/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/21/2025

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

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)

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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710

FACILITY NAME: MERCED MONTESSORI SCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 243810294
	VISIT DATE: 02/21/2025

NARRATIVE

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There is a separate staff restroom equipped with a toilet and a sink. The isolation area for children who are ill will be the corner of the rear classroom right before the kitchen.
Facility will provide AM and PM snacks. Parents provide lunches. Facility has a supply of food on hand in the event a parent forgets to send their child to school with a lunch. The kitchen area currently includes a refrigerator, microwave and oven. The kitchen area and food storage areas were observed to be free of rodents and/or vermin. Food was observed to be properly stored separate from cleaning materials. Hazardous items in kitchen are inaccessible to children via a gate.
The facility currently has a fully fenced playground area. Wrought iron fencing is at least four feet high. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the preschool measured to an approximate 3,933 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the newly requested capacity of 22 preschool children. Shade is provided via a covered eating and rest area. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on the playground. There is a climbing structure on the playground which is properly anchored. There is adequate cushioning in fall zones of climber provided by sand. Children bring their water bottles outside with them during outdoor activities. LPA observed all hazardous items on the playground to be inaccessible to children. Representative was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing.

For child care center licenses issued after July 1, 2022, the licensee shall test their water for lead within 180 days of licensure pursuant to Written Directives section 101700 (PIN 21-21.1- CCP).

Facility representative, Murali Ramasami was reminded that all adults 18 and over responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff, persons who provides care and supervision to children, and staff who have contact with children, including employees and volunteers, except as specified in Health and Safety Code section 1596.871, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a Child Care Center. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day for a maximum of 5-days or, if the penalty is for a repeat violation, for a maximum of 30-days per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated.

Incidental Medical Services (IMS) policy was discussed. For IMS information see PIN 22-02-CCP. When any IMS is provided, an updated Plan of Operation that includes IMS must be submitted to the Department. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication:
CONTINUED ON LIC809-C

SUPERVISORS NAME: Deborah Lowe
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Joseph Pacheco
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/21/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/21/2025

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)

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STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
FRESNO CC RO, 1310 E. SHAW AVE,
FRESNO, CA 93710

FACILITY NAME: MERCED MONTESSORI SCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 243810294
	VISIT DATE: 02/21/2025

NARRATIVE

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Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm

LPA’s reviewed with facility representative the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child’s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted.

Facility Representative was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org site, a consumer education website that helps families obtain child care by connecting them to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California.

Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) regularly sends information to licensed facilities, providers, and stakeholders by way of Provider Information Notices (PIN), Program Quarterly Update Newsletters and other important information communication platforms. To receive important licensed related information to licensed facilities, visit the CCLD Important Information website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/subscribe and select the Child Care option to receive email communication.

The following corrections are needed prior to the issuance of the license:

· Obtain a first aid kit that includes adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic solution and a first aid manual.
· Obtain an amended fire clearance for 22 preschool children ages 2-6.

Representative, Murali Ramasami understands that all proof of corrections must be provided to the Department within 30 days, or the application may be denied.

Upon final file review and completion of the above items a recommendation will be made to license this facility for 22 preschool children.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Facility Representative, Murali Ramasami. A copy of this report is to remain in the facility for public review.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Deborah Lowe
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Joseph Pacheco
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/21/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/21/2025

LIC809 (FAS) - (06/04)

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