Gouge Primary Pre-K

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.

“There was hand sanitizer in the cafeteria window and hanging on a child’s backpack.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 8, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“In the cafeteria, there were outlets that were not covered.”

Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

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.

“Some children’s water bottles that were brought from home were not labeled with the child’s name.”

Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.

“Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection that was documented was 5/7/26 an was not sent to me.”

Rule Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 8, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.

“A returning bus driver had not completed the Health and Safety Trainings.”

Rule Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 14, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.

“The last fire drill documented on the emergency drill log was 11/5/25.”

Rule Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.. Corrected during the inspection.

Other surfacing materials not identified in rule were used that did not meet the ASTM standards, were not installed, maintained, and/or replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions.

“The ASTM certification information for the outdoor space was not available for review during the ERS assessment and today during the visit.”

Rule Other surfacing materials not identified in rule were used that did not meet the ASTM standards, were not installed, maintained, and/or replaced according to manufacturer's instructions.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 9, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A health assessment was not on file at the NC Pre-K site within 30 days after a child entered the NC Pre-K program or the health assessment was more than 12 months old at the time of program entry.

“A health assessment for one (1) child could not be located in the file. The child entered the program on 8/18/25.”

Rule A health assessment was not on file at the NC Pre-K site within 30 days after a child entered the NC Pre-K program or the health assessment was more than 12 months old at the time of program entry.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 13, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.

“Immunizations could not be located in the file for one (1) child. The child began enrollment on 8/18/25. Refer to the child record worksheet.”

Rule Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 13, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review.

“The off-site verification forms for transportation and staff files were not on-site to verify that transportation is maintained through Mitchell County Schools and certain records for staff, including bus drivers are kept off-site.”

Rule The center did not maintain records as required in rule, and/or were not made available to the Division for review.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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 child care operator has not notified the Division of the two (2) teaching staff, three (3) bus drivers, as well as the Administrator and Pre-K Coordinator, that are hired at the child care facility.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 24, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff did not review the center’s EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff.

“Documentation of the review was not maintained on file. Two (2) teaching staff and three (3) bus drivers did not have verification of reviewing the School Risk Management plan. Refer to the staff and training worksheets.”

Rule All staff did not review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each employee’s personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan.

“One (1) teaching staff that began employment on 8/10/23 did not have a documented date for the last completed staff development plans and annual evaluations. One (1) staff that began employment had a documented date for September 2023 as the last staff development plan and annual evaluation. The date listed on the staff and training worksheet for the last annual evaluation was 5/31/26. The staff development plan stated “ongoing” on the staff and training worksheet.”

Rule Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.

“The menu for lunch today was documented as eggs, sausage patty, pancakes, potato tots, baby carrots, fruit, and milk. The lunch served today was a cheeseburger, potato tots, baby carrots, a pear, and milk. The substitutions were not recorded on the menu prior to the meal being served.”

Rule Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.

“An incident report from 8/19/25 was not documented in the incident log.”

Rule Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 10, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months.

“A date that the three (3) bus drivers had a TB test or TB screening could not be located. Refer to the staff and training worksheets.”

Rule On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 3, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Personnel policies were not discussed with each staff at employment and a copy was not available to all staff.

“Two (2) teaching staff and three (3) bus drivers did not have verification that the personnel policies were discussed with them. Refer to the staff and training worksheets.”

Rule Personnel policies were not discussed with each staff at employment and a copy was not available to all staff.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.

“Two (2) teaching staff and three (3) bus drivers did not have verification of reviewing the EMC plan. Refer to the staff and training worksheets.”

Rule The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 24, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.