376700652-6-2-2026-51-CC-KLAE-DUWTHC-20260610144432

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 376700652
Report Date: 06/02/2026
Date Signed: 06/02/2026 09:49:34 AM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/25/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Evelyn Reyes

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 51-CC-20260225180852

FACILITY NAME:	LEARNING TREE, THE		FACILITY NUMBER:	376700652
ADMINISTRATOR:	AMANDA SMAZIK		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	240 BIRMINGHAM DRIVE		TELEPHONE:	(760) 943-0848
CITY:	CARDIFF BY THE SEA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92007
CAPACITY:	72	CENSUS: 19	DATE:	06/02/2026
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:50 AM
MET WITH:	Director, Cheryl Burns		TIME COMPLETED:	10:05 AM

ALLEGATION(S):

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Staff does not prevent the spread of head lice.
Staff does not ensure facility was free of mold.
Staff does not ensure facility is operating in ratio.
Staff did not inform day care children's responsible party regarding facility health hazards.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

On 06/02/26 at TIME am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Evelyn Reyes conducted an unannounced complaint visit for the complaint received on 2/25/26 for the purpose of delivering findings on the above referenced allegations. Upon arrival, LPA met with Gionna Kaster, identified self, stated the purpose of the visit, and was granted entry into the facility. LPA observed 19 children present in care with 4 staff members.

It was alleged that staff do not prevent the spread of head lice. Based on information obtained during interviews, observations and documentation reviewed it is determined that interviews with staff, parents and children do not support the allegations as the facility hired an outside agency to treat affected children if parents chose to participate. Although the staff may not have prevented the spread of head lice, LPA did not find evidence. During site inspections on 3/5/26, 4/22/26, 5/8/26 and 5/20/26, LPA did not observe children or staff with reported head lice outbreaks. The facility has an isolation space available in the Director’s office is an outbreak occurs. (continued on LIC9099-C…)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Evelyn Reyes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 06/02/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/02/2026

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 2

Control Number 51-CC-20260225180852

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SAN DIEGO N. CC RO, 7575 METROPOLITAN DR STE 110
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108

FACILITY NAME: LEARNING TREE, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 376700652
	VISIT DATE: 06/02/2026

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
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

It was alleged that staff do not ensure the facility was free of mold. Based on information obtained during interviews, observations and documentation reviewed it is determined that interviews with staff, parents and children do not support the allegations made. Although there could have been mold due to the flood that occurred on 02/16/26 LPA did not find evidence. During site inspections on 03/05/26, 04/22/26, 05/08/26, and 05/20/26, LPA observed the facility to not have visible mold. LPA did not find the facility to have odor to be identified as mold.

It was alleged that staff does not ensure facility is operating in ratio. Based on information obtained during interviews, observations and documentation reviewed it is determined that interviews with staff, parents and children do not support the allegations made. Although the staff may not have ensured that the facility was operating in ratio, LPA did not find evidence. During site inspections on 03/05/26, 04/22/26, 05/08/26, and 05/20/26, LPA observed the facility to be operating in ratio. The facility has staff available to provide at least a 1:8 adult-child ratio, 1:24 teacher-child ratio.

It was alleged that staff did not inform day care children’s responsible party regarding facility health hazards. Based on information obtained during interviews, observations and documentation reviewed it is determined that interviews with staff, parents and children do not support the allegations made. Although there may have been health hazards during construction going on during daycare hours that staff did not inform day care children’s responsible party of, LPA did not find evidence that children were present in areas of construction. During site inspections on 03/05/26, 04/22/26, 05/08/26, and 05/20/26, LPA observed the facility to not have health hazards. The facility has space available to separate the children during daycare hours.

Although the above allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violations occurred, therefore the above allegations are found to be UNSUBSTANTIATED. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with the facility representative Director, Cheryl Burns. A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Keturah Lane
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Evelyn Reyes
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 06/02/2026

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 06/02/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 2