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The Merit School of Doc Stone (#67)

Inspection · 2025-10-16

Date
2025-10-16
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Beth Velke
(804) 629-8302
SHSIA monitoring inspection of an approved subsidy vendor to determine compliance with current subsidy requirements regarding the health and safety of children and to promote quality standards for the children in their care.
No

Areas Reviewed

8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.

Inspector Notes

An unannounced investigation was initiated on 10/16/25 and completed on 11/14/25 in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 10/16/25 relating to allegations of care, protection and guidance. The inspector reviewed one child record and two staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, tour of the facility, interviews, and observations.

The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation does not support the allegations; therefore, the complaint is determined to be not valid. Though not a part of the original complaint, violations that were not reported were found related to parent involvement and program leader qualifications and are documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on 12/9/25. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations

3
Standard 8VAC20-780-210-A-4-a
Program leaders are required to be at least 18 years of age, have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent, and have six months of supervised programmatic experience and withing six months before being promoted or beginning work or one month after being promoted or beginning work, a minimum of 24 hours of training shall be received related to the care of children.

Evidence: The record for Staff #1 did not contain documentation of the training hours required to be lead qualified. The required training has not been started, and the teacher has been in the lead teacher position for five weeks.
Plan of Correction: Staff #1 was assigned required training to become a program leader. Staff was also scheduled to take the company's 24 hour Lead Mentor Training.
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-D
In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the
qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present.

Evidence: The Montessori C class, ages three and four-years-old, has not had a qualified program leader for one month.
Plan of Correction: Staff #1 was assigned required training to become a program leader. Staff was also schedule to take the company's 24 hour Lead Mentor Training.
Standard 8VAC20-780-420-B
Staff are required to promptly inform parents when persistent behavioral problems are identified; such notification shall include any disciplinary steps taken in response.

Evidence: On October 13, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Child #1, three-years-old, threw a chair in a group of ten children ages three and four-years-old when they were asked to move from their seat during breakfast. Management was called and the child was removed from the class. Staff #2 did not inform management of the behavior that caused the child to be removed and did not inform the parents of the behavior and the disciplinary steps taken in response.
Plan of Correction: School have retrained staff on proper documentation and notification of management/parents of behavioral problems. School will follow steps outline in the family handbook regarding behavioral problems.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services