Trinity Preschool
A child care center in Rutherfordton, North Carolina 28139
299 Deter St, Rutherfordton, North Carolina 28139. (828) 287-5544.
- administrative action in the last three years
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.
The short answer
- 48 violations in the last three years
- May 82026 the latest visit on record
- 99 children, its capacity in the state’s list
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Quality rating
- Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
10 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on May 8, 2026.
48 violations cited in the last three years, 48 of them marked corrected.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
48 violations in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited May 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each violation, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
May 8, 2026: unannounced3 violations
-
Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child’s file.
“An incident report dated 3/25/26 and an incident report dated 5/4/26 did not list the time that the parent was notified of the incident.”
-
Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.
“One staff member hired on 7/9/24 did not have verification of completion of a Health and Safety training on the topic of medication administration on file.”
-
The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.
“The verification of the annual review of the Emergency Preparedness and Response plan by the trained staff member was dated 2/22/25.”
Dec 8, 2025: unannounced1 violation
-
A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“Gena Carpenter did not have a valid qualification letter on file for her current qualification date of September 16,2025.”
Jul 15, 2025: unannounced2 violations
-
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 member employed 6/12/23 had CPR training on file that expired 6/2025.”
-
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 staff member employed 6/12/23 had First Aid training on file that expired 6/2025.”
Jun 10, 2025: unannounced2 violations
-
A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“The qualification letter on file for David Sanders expired 9/18/24.”
-
Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance).
“David Sanders had a qualification letter on file that expired 9/18/24 and the first step for submitting the application for the five year process did not begin until May 25, 2025”
May 22, 2025: unannounced15 violations
-
A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center.
“A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to the parents of one child 6 years of age and one child 7 years of age.”
-
A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“The qualification letter on file for David Sanders expired 9/18/24.”
-
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.
“In space #7, one aerosol can of Zep disinfectant and sanitizing spray was on the shelf above the sink accessible to children.”
-
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 member employed 8/15/21, had CPR certification that expired 1/2024. The new CPR certification on file was completed on 5/14/25. One staff member employed 7/9/24, had verification of on-line CPR training on file.”
-
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 member employed 8/15/21, had First Aid certifications that expired 1/2024. The new First Aid certification on file was completed on 5/14/25. One staff member employed 7/9/24, had verification of on-line First Aid training on file.”
-
Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.
“One staff member employed 7/9/24, had a medical report on file dated 7/16/24.”
-
Daily records of arrival and departure times for children at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.
“On 4/30/25, 5/1/25, 5/8/25, 5/13/25, and 5/14/25, one child did not have a specific time of arrival recorded. On 4/25/25, 4/28/25, 4/30/25, 5/1/25, 5/2/25, 5/6/25, 5/13/25, 5/14/25, and 5/16/25, one child did not have a specific time of departure recorded. On 5/8/25, two children did not have specific times of departure recorded.”
-
Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child’s file.
“On an incident report dated 3/3/25, there was no listed date/time that the parent was contacted. On the incident report dated 3/19/25 and an incident report dated 5/8/25, there was no listed date/time that the parent was contacted and no signature of the person who contacted the parent. There was an incident report for a 4 yr old child that did not have listed the date of the incident , the date/time the parent was contacted, or a signature for the person who contacted the parent.”
-
Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.
“One child four years of age that enrolled on 1/20/25, had a medical exam on file that was completed 2/24/25. One child three years of age that enrolled 4/21/25, did not have a medical exam on file.”
-
Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.
“At the bottom of the fence there were three areas where the fencing was pulled out of shape and torn apart causing protrusions and openings large enough for children to crawl under.”
-
Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes.
“Staff did not discuss operational policies with parents of one 6 year old child and two 7 year old children in afterschool care.”
-
Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center.
“The parent participation plan was not posted. Program staff did not discuss the parent participation plan with parent’s of one 6 year old child and two 7 year old children in afterschool care.”
-
Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance).
“David Sanders had a qualification letter on file that expired 9/18/24 and the first step for submitting the application for the five year process did not begin until May 25, 2025”
-
Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“A lockdown drill was completed 9/12/24. The next shelter-in-place drill was completed 5/9/25.”
-
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 staff member employed 1/15/22, one staff member employed 10/23/23, and one staff member employed 7/19/24 did not have verification of completed Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file.”
Jul 2, 2024: unannounced11 violations
-
A child’s file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information.
“One child, three years of age, enrolled on 6/5/25, did not have receipt of review of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy on file.”
-
A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center.
“One school age child that enrolled 6/5/24, did not have verification that the NC Child Care Law was given to the parent.”
-
Application for enrollment did not include all required information.
“One child, three years of age, did not have information about allergies, fears, or behaviors for the child listed on the application.”
-
Authorization for emergency medical care information was not signed by child’s parent.
“One child, three years of age and one school aged child did not have emergency medical care information that was signed by the child’s parent on file.”
-
Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.
“On 6/19/24, one child did not have a specific time of arrival or departure documented.”
-
Emergency information did not name childs health care professional.
“One school age child, enrolled 6/5/24, did not have the child’s health care professional listed in the file.”
-
Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.
“The last recorded incident log on file was dated 9/2023.”
-
Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes.
“One child, three years of age and one school aged child, that enrolled 6/5/24, did not have verification that operational policies were discussed with parents.”
-
Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“Lockdown drills were completed 6/13/23, 11/30/23, 3/25/24, and 6/26/24.”
-
Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child’s file.
“One child, three years of age and one school age child enrolled 6/5/24, did not have a signed and dated statement by the parent that the discipline policy was received.”
-
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 staff member employed 9/13/23, did not have verification of completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file.”
Jan 29, 2024: unannounced14 violations
-
A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“One staff member employed 8/7/23 did not have a qualification letter on file until 9/1/23.”
-
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.”
-
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 member employed 8/7/23, one staff member employed 9/13/23 and one staff member employed 10/23/23 did not have verification of completed First Aid training on file.”
-
All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean and in good repair.
“In the facility’s kitchen, multiple ceiling tiles were soiled with rainwater and one ceiling tile was missing.”
-
Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services.
“No medical action plan was on file for a child with allergies that has an Epi-pen at the facility.”
-
Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.
“One staff member employed 9/13/23 had verification of a medical report on file 9/14/23. One staff member employed 10/23/23 had a medical report on file dated 5/5/21, from a previous employment. No current medical report was on file.”
-
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.
“One staff member employed 9/13/23 and one staff member employed 10/23/23 did not have emergency information on file.”
-
Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.
“On 1/22/24, one child was not signed out. On 1/223/24, one child was not signed out. On 1/24/24 two children were not signed out. On 1/25/24, one child was not signed in and two children were not signed out. On 1/26/24, one child was not signed out of care.”
-
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.
“There was no permission to administer medication form completed with the required information for one Epi-pen stored in space #6.”
-
New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks.
“One staff member employed 9/13/23 and one staff member employed 10/23/23 did not have verification of completed new staff orientation.”
-
Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.
“One staff member employed 8/7/23 did not have a approved criminal background check until 9/1/23.”
-
The Center did not have a person on staff who completed the EPR in Child Care training within the required timeframe and/or documentation of completion of the training was not on file or in a file designated for emergency preparedness and response plan documents.
“There is not a currently employed staff member who has verification of EPR training on file. The previously trained individual left the facility in 8/2023.”
-
The EMC plan did not name the person responsible for taking the authorization for treatment, accompanying the ill or injured person, notifying contact persons and/or obtaining substitutes.
“The Emergency Medical Care Plan did not have a person and an alternate person on site listed to handle emergency needs.”
-
The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person’s file.
“One staff member employed 9/13/23 and one staff member employed 10/23/23 did not have verification of review of the Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy on file.”
All 10 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Sep 25, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Aug 25, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Jul 15, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 2 violations cited |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 2 violations cited |
| May 22, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 15 violations cited |
| Jul 2, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 11 violations cited |
| Jan 29, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 14 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a GS 110-106 since Feb 17, 2011.
- Capacity: 99 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 8159003.
- Restriction: Other - Uses Corporal Punishment.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Has North Carolina acted against it?
- DCDEE says it has issued one or more administrative actions for this facility in the past three years; North Carolina’s page doesn’t say what they were, and shows one only after its 30-day appeal period.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.
Who owns it?
- Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Trinity School, Inc..
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How is it rated?
- North Carolina’s licence for this facility is not star-rated: GS 110-106.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 23 child care providers in Rutherford County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 7; this one had 48.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Pinnacle Elementary More at Four Program | 6 |
| Rutherfordton Elementary Preschool | 5 |
| Ms. Bridget’s Bright Beginnings, LLC | 3 |
| Trinity Preschool This child care provider | 48 |
| Carver Head Start | 41 |
| Tiny Tots Day Care | 7 |
| Ellenboro Elementary Preschool | 33 |
| Sunshine Elementary Preschool | 7 |
| The Learning Tree | 3 |
| Spindale Elementary Preschool | 4 |
| Harris Elementary Preschool | 4 |
| Children’s Development Academy, Inc. | 21 |
What the record doesn’t say
- North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
- DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
- North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.
Sources
-
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations.
Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily. nc.gov terms: copying and distribution for non-commercial use, without alteration, citing the source. Shown free and never sold; DCDEE’s own words are quoted.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 3, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.