Merry Oaks International Academy

All electrical appliances were not used in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction. Appliances with heating elements, such as bottle warmers, crock pots, curling irons, irons, coffee pots, and/or their cords were accessible to preschool-age children. Classroom E4 doors were open and equipment with heating elements were accessible to NC Pre-K children.

Violation corrected during visit

Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. Children's water bottles sent from home were not monitored dated in spaces #E1 and #E2.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/10/2025

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One substitute staff (T. Wilson) didn't obtain FA training within 90 days after working ten days in a licensed program within a twelve-month period.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/24/2025

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One substitute staff (T. Wilson) didn't obtain CPR training within 90 days after working ten days in a licensed program within a twelve-month period.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/24/2025

A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The ABCMS report was run prior to the visit. Only one NC Pre-K staff member was listed. (T. Edwards, C. Dana and T. Almendarez, T. Wilson) were not linked to their assigned site.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/7/2025

The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One substitute staff (T. Wilson) didn't obtain CMT training within 90 days after working ten days in a licensed program within a twelve-month period.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/24/2025

The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. DPI verification forms related to children's records were monitored not current for three classrooms.

Violation corrected during visit

Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible. Three trikes monitored in the indoor gross motor room were monitored with missing plastic foot petals. Tumble mats also maintained in the indoor gross motor classroom were monitored torn. A couch maintained in space E4 was monitored in poor repair.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/20/2025

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. Unused electrical outlets were monitored not covered or made inaccessible to children in space #E4.

Violation corrected during visit

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Two staff members did not have verifiable proof (card issued) showing completion of First Aid Training. The documentation presented both staff had BLS Provider (CPR only) without first aid training card.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/18/2025

The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review. A substitute staff person was not added to the DPI Staff Verification form prior to working.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/17/2024

The activity plan did not include a daily gross motor activity which may occur indoors and outdoors. The activity plan monitored in E4 didn't have a daily gross motor activity listed/identified on the activity plan.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/21/2024

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. A lead teacher didn't have a current annual health questionnaire on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/24/2024

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. A DPI substitute was placed at a licensed NC Pre-K site without a DCDEE CBC.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/16/2024

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff person's FA expired 10/7/2024. The staff person obtained the required training today, 10/16/2024.

Violation corrected during visit

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One staff person CPR expired 10/7/2024. The staff person obtained CPR training today, 10/16/24.

Violation corrected during visit

Documentation of staff's on-going training was not on file and/or was not current. Annual in-service training hours were not printed, and the required log was not filled in properly by each staff.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/18/2024

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. A substitute hired by CMS was placed at NC Pre-K licensed program and left alone with a group of children without a DCDEE CBC qualification.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/16/2024

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. Either drill was not completed at least once every three months. DPI sites are expected to complete either drill within the first couple of weeks of school.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/17/2024

A violation was found for which there is no item number. 15A NCAC 18A .2831(b)Pest shall be excluded from the child care. A live roach was monitored walking across the floor. Ms. Edwards stated, roaches have been an on-going and reported issue.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/11/2024

A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not posted in a prominent place in the center. The NC Summary of the Law was not posted in a prominent place in the center.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. The three operating NC Pre-K classrooms did not have the required staff/child ratio worksheets posted in each applicable classroom.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Two out of the three classrooms did not have an activity plan posted for each group of children.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information. A First Aid information sheet was not posted in the place for referral.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Several aerosol cans and cleaners were monitored stored on top of storage cabinets in spaces #E4 and E1.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. A staff person's purse with weekly medications were stored in the staff person's opened purse in a storage cabinet in space E4.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised. The lead designee stated the plan was reviewed with staff in August. The review was not documented on either the staff and training worksheets or any other developed tracking form.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. Five staff did not have a current annual health questionnaire on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. Four staff did not have current annual Emergency Information Forms on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. One staff member began working in the licensed program before their CBC was completed and on file. The staff person obtained their qualification October 10, 2023.

Violation corrected during visit

All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review. The DPI Verification Forms were not current and maintained on file for staff, children or transportation.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. The center was required to maintain staff/child ratios of 1:9. There were three different situations monitored where the staff did not maintain the required ratios by leaving an entire group of children in a classroom with one caregiver instead of taking nine children with them.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. A CBC qualification letter was not on file for one employee. The staff person printed the letter and placed it on file during the visit.

Violation corrected during visit

The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The lead designee stated CMS's EPR plan was reviewed with all staff in August but not documented on the Staff and Training Worksheets or any other developed tracking tool.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One staff member was past due to complete the five-year renewal for the health and safety training.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 10/30/2023