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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


FACILITY EVALUATION REPORT

Facility Number: 243810295
Report Date: 02/21/2025
Date Signed: 02/21/2025 12:09:56 PM

Document Has Been Signed on 02/21/2025 12:09 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 SCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
243810295
ADMINISTRATOR/
DIRECTOR:
ANN MACDONALDFACILITY TYPE:
860
ADDRESS:424 W 21ST STTELEPHONE:
(209) 722-9823
CITY:MERCEDSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
95340
CAPACITY: 44TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN: 44CENSUS: 19DATE:
02/21/2025
TYPE OF VISIT:PrelicensingANNOUNCEDTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION BEGAN:
08:30 AM
MET WITH:Murali Ramasami - Facility RepresentativeTIME VISIT/
INSPECTION COMPLETED:
11:00 AM
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On 2/21/25 at 8:30 am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA’s), 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 44 preschoolers ages 2-6. This facility will operate year round. Hours of operation will be Monday – Friday 7:15 am – 5:30 pm.
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 a locked box in the kitchen area. A fully equipped first aid kit is located in the kitchen above the refrigerator. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in the hallway. All required licensing documents were observed posted near the front entrance of the facility. Children will be signed in and out 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 1,048 square feet which will only accommodate a maximum capacity of 30 children based on Title 22 requirements of 35 square feet per child. LPA observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping equipment, 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’s observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance was granted on 1/14/25 by the City of Merced Fire Department.
LPA’s observed a total of 5 sinks and 4 toilets available for children’s use. These are sufficient to accommodate the newly requested overall capacity of 30 children. There is a separate staff restroom equipped with a toilet and a sink. The isolation area for children who are ill will be a little nook area off the front room that is next to the staff bathroom. Ill children will use the staff bathroom.
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: 243810295
VISIT DATE: 02/21/2025
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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 without a lunch. The kitchen area currently includes a refrigerator, freezer, toaster oven and microwave. 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.
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 4,021 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the newly requested capacity of 30 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 are two climbing structures on the playground which are properly anchored. Both structures appeared to be age appropriate. There is adequate cushioning in fall zones of climbers provided by wood chip cushioning. 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: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm
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: 243810295
VISIT DATE: 02/21/2025
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LPA 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.

No corrections are needed. A license for 30 preschool children will be granted upon a final file review.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Facility Representative, Murali Ramasami.
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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