493006287-7-3-2025-01-CC-MAUN-DJEMDM-20250709093118

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 493006287
Report Date: 07/03/2025
Date Signed: 07/03/2025 12:24:29 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
04/11/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Yang Yang

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 01-CC-20250411115157

FACILITY NAME:	LA PETITE ACADEMY - PRESCHOOL/WINDSOR		FACILITY NUMBER:	493006287
ADMINISTRATOR:	TERHUNE,MELISSA		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	9451 SOUTH BROOKS ROAD		TELEPHONE:	(707) 838-0549
CITY:	WINDSOR	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	95492
CAPACITY:	92	CENSUS: 33	DATE:	07/03/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:55 AM
MET WITH:	Melissa "Mel" Terhune		TIME COMPLETED:	12:26 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Unqualified staff supervised day care children alone

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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An unannounced follow-up visit was conducted by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Y. Yang to deliver the findings of the complaint investigation. The LPA previously visited the facility on April 16, 2025, and May 6, 2025. The complaint alleged that unqualified staff supervised children alone. Specifically, it was alleged that staff member S1, who does not possess the required Early Childhood Education (ECE) units to serve as a teacher, had been left alone supervising awake children for up to ten minutes on multiple occasions during April 2025.

Today, LPA Yang met with Center Director Melissa “Mel” Terhune (staff S2) to review the complaint investigation findings. During the initial visit on April 16, 2025, the director denied the allegation and confirmed that she has never asked S1 to supervise awake children alone. The director stated that S1 works as the center’s cook and works until noon each day. The director stated that some of S1’s job duties include meal preparation, meal delivery, kitchen sanitation, and assisting fully qualified teachers in the classroom when necessary. The director clarified that S1 has never worked alone in the classroom with children. The director stated that both her and Assistant Director Maggie Peterson (S3) are fully qualified teachers and are responsible for covering the teacher’s ten-minute breaks. (Continued on LIC9099-C)

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 07/03/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/03/2025

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

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 01-CC-20250411115157

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
SANTA ROSA CC RO, 1450 NEOTOMAS AVENUE, STE. 100
SANTA ROSA, CA 95405

FACILITY NAME: LA PETITE ACADEMY - PRESCHOOL/WINDSOR	FACILITY NUMBER: 493006287
	VISIT DATE: 07/03/2025

NARRATIVE

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During the unannounced visits on April 16 and May 6, 2025, the LPA observed classroom environments and interviewed staff members S2 through S8. Interviewees included individuals with credentials ranging from teacher’s aides to fully credentialed teachers. All individuals interviewed—except one—reported they had never observed S1 or any other underqualified staff member supervising awake children alone. One staff member (staff S8) confirmed that S1 has, on multiple occasions, worked alone in their classroom. During those times, S8 stated that S1 supervised awake children while covering their ten minute break. However, S8 could not recall the specific dates of these incidents. Staff S1 was interviewed during the initial complaint investigation visit and stated that she has been asked by Director Terhune to cover several colleague’s ten minute breaks, despite knowing that S1 did not have the required ECE units to work alone in a classroom with awake children. The LPA was unable to independently verify this claim.

A personnel file review was conducted during the April 16 visit. Based on the LPA’s observations that day, there was no evidence of unqualified staff supervising children. Additionally, the LPA reviewed the center’s April 2025 staffing plan and confirmed that no unqualified staff were assigned to supervise awake children alone in any classroom. During a follow up interview with the director on May 6, the LPA was notified that staff S1 resigned and is no longer working at this facility.

Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur. Therefore, the allegation is determined to be unsubstantiated at this time. There were no Title 22 deficiencies cited. This report was reviewed and discussed with the center director, Mel Terhune. Appeal rights were provided. Notice of Site Visit shall be posted for 30 days from today's visit.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Melchisedeck Augustin
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Yang Yang
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 07/03/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/03/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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