PleasantonWeekly.com : Four Kid's Country facilities cited with 'serious' violations

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Uploaded: Saturday, June 4, 2011, 7:50 AM
Updated: Monday, June 6, 2011, 7:51 AM

Four Kid's Country facilities cited with 'serious' violations
Three incidents of kids going missing last year, one in 2008

by Glenn Wohltmann

An after-school childcare program at San Ramon Valley elementary schools has acquired a recent history of serious "Type A" violations, according to state officials.

Four Kid's Country after school programs have been cited for violations that pose a direct and immediate risk to the health or safety of youngsters in their care – with three of those violations occurring in 2010.

"It is fairly serious," said Oscar Ramirez, spokesman for the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), which is tasked with overseeing day care centers. "A Type A violation is basically where there is an imminent danger."

Last September, two children were left outside of Kid's Club at San Ramon's Country Club Elementary School when the others were brought inside.

In August, at the center's Bollinger Canyon Elementary facility, two were left outside unsupervised.

In March 2010, two children who were left outside Kid's County's Green Valley location started walking home before being spotted. A similar case occurred in October 2008, when two children left unattended actually walked to one of their homes.

Ramirez was unable to confirm if Kid's Country is currently under investigation for violations.

"There have been several type A violations where children have walked away unsupervised," he said adding, collectively, "It raises a few eyebrows that these may be more than isolated incidents."

Contacted at his home, Kid's Country Executive Director Chris Erbe refused to comment outside business hours.

State rules require a plan of correction to be implemented within 24 hours and a $50 per-day civil penalty each day the plan isn't implemented, and a written citation is issued even if the violation occurred and is corrected during a CDSS visit.

Ramirez said parents are among CDSS's best resources.

"Anybody can file a complaint," he said. "Parents are great eyes and ears.

Ramirez said there's a great resource for parents looking into after-school care: the community care licensing division's website, which offers information on choosing a program, a link to resource and referral agency page that can point parents toward appropriate care providers and a list of responsibilities for both providers and parents.

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Comments

Posted by Tamara, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2011 at 2:21 pm

In Pleasanton, many of the after school programs are unlicensed and unregulated, which means their facilities don't even meet state minimum requirements and workers do not have to have background checks. The city has been allowing unlicensed child care facilities to be opened without a state license for several years. Make sure you check the web address listed in the article above to confirm that the child care facility you send your kids to is in fact licensed. Here are the licensed facilities in Pleasanton...if it is not here in this list, they have no state license to operate.

Facility No: 010205718 Capacity: 0100

License Status: Licensed

ADVENTURES IN LEARNING

3200 HOPYARD ROAD

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 462-7123

Contact: LAMPE, PEGGY

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013417600 Capacity: 0030

License Status: Licensed

BETH EMEK PRESCHOOL

3400 NEVADA CT.

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 931-1055

Contact: MELINDA MCDONALD

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013419478 Capacity: 0060

License Status: Licensed

BUSY BEES PRESCHOOL

4300 MIRADOR DRIVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 249-9000

Contact: HANSEN, KIRSTEN

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013412137 Capacity: 0030

License Status: Licensed

CAPE - HEAD START - HILL 'N DALE PRESCHOOL

4150 DORMAN ROAD

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 426-8341

Contact: NORMA CASTENADA

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013417682 Capacity: 0150

License Status: Licensed

CARDEN WEST SCHOOL

4576 WILLOW RD.

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 463-6060

Contact: ELIZABETH GIOVANETTI

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013419415 Capacity: 0120

License Status: Licensed

CENTERPOINTE CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL

3410 CORNERSTONE CT.

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 461-3011

Contact: HUCKABY, DIDI

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013420524 Capacity: 0080

License Status: Licensed

CHILD DAY SCHOOL, LLC - PLEASANTON

883 ROSE AVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 462-1867

Contact: CLOW, LINDSAY

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 010214653 Capacity: 0080

License Status: Licensed

EARLY YEARS CHILDREN'S CENTER

1251 HOPYARD ROAD

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 462-2202

Contact: VRANEK, SHERYL COMMON

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 010213410 Capacity: 0204

License Status: Licensed

HACIENDA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

4671 CHABOT DRIVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 463-2885

Contact: IMELDA ACOSTA

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013419466 Capacity: 0052

License Status: Licensed

KIDANGO BERNAL

4667 BERNAL AVE.

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 846-8043

Contact: KAUR, SURINDER

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013411645 Capacity: 0103

License Status: Probationary

KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER

7110 KOLL CENTER PARKWAY

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 462-2273

Contact: FISHER, KRISTINA

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013412605 Capacity: 0096

License Status: Licensed

KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER - BROCKTON

3760 BROCKTON DRIVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 846-1240

Contact: NARINDER BRAICH

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 010216514 Capacity: 0089

License Status: Licensed

LA PETITE ACADEMY - PLEASANTON

5725 VALLEY AVENUE

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 462-7844

Contact: SMITH, GERRY

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013418094 Capacity: 0032

License Status: Licensed

LOVE AND CARE PRESCHOOL

7106 JOHNSON DRIVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 225-0124

Contact: LAVELDA SINGLETON

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013411303 Capacity: 0122

License Status: Licensed

QUARRY LANE SCHOOL, THE

3750 BOULDER STREET

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 846-9400

Contact: SILVA, JENNIFER

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013417681 Capacity: 0180

License Status: Licensed

QUARRY LANE SCHOOL, THE

4444 BLACK AVE.

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 462-6300

Contact: KATHLEEN WARREN

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013413946 Capacity: 0076

License Status: Licensed

SHINING LIGHT PRESCHOOL

4455 DEL VALLE PARKWAY

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 846-2588

Contact: MCINTOSH, KELLY

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 010215881 Capacity: 0099

License Status: Licensed

SONSHINE ENRICHMENT CENTER PRESCHOOL

1225 HOPYARD ROAD

PLEASANTON, CA 94566

(925) 417-8411

Contact: STEELE, PENNA

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 010212344 Capacity: 0076

License Status: Licensed

ST. CLARE'S CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL

3350 HOPYARD ROAD

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 462-0938

Contact: BELL, MARGARET

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013420571 Capacity: 0024

License Status: Licensed

TRI-VALLEY YMCA KINDER-READINESS MOHR

3300 DENNIS DR.

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 484-9429

Contact: SIGG, MELLANEE

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Facility No: 013420572 Capacity: 0024

License Status: Licensed

TRI-VALLEY YMCA KINDER-READINESS FAIRLANDS

4151 W. LAS POSITAS BLVD

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 426-1992

Contact: VARRELMAN, VANESSA

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by Mike, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Jun 4, 2011 at 2:38 pm

This highlights the importance of policies and oversight as well as the issue of human error in such operations.

Where is your compliance officer, the individual whose responsibility it is to confirm that your people are following the policies?

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by Teacher, a resident of another community, on Jun 5, 2011 at 12:33 pm

I use to work at the KinderCare when it was Children's World Learning Center years ago. There were two teachers that left children outside on the playground and they were fire immediately. My nephew, who is in 2nd grade now, went to the "new" KinderCare when he was younger, and at one point, two children (I believe, may have been one), got out of the facility and managed to walk all the way to the intersection. From what I remember friends and my brother telling me, the teachers were fired immediately and the director was let go soon after.

I think these problems are more frequent than people realize. Partly this may be due to the fact that a "teacher" in these programs need a minimum of 13 early childhood units- not a whole lot education goes behind this. Also, the pay is very little, so it's not like people are jumping at these jobs that have a higher degree/teaching credential.

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by Tamara, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2011 at 11:25 pm

Teacher, thanks for posting what you had heard. If you look at the licensed list, the facility you are referring to (Kindercare on Koll Center Parkway) is listed as not being Licensed, but in Probationary status.

Perhaps the Pleasanton Weekly can report on what problems that facility is having that have landed it in Probationary status so that the parents in Pleasanton can be informed.

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by Cheryl McElhany, a member of the Walnut Grove Elementary School community, on Jun 6, 2011 at 9:58 am

Tamara listed all the licensed child care facilities in Pleasanton, but she missed one of the most popular and highest quality programs for school-age child care at Walnut Grove Elementary. The Extended Day Child Care (EDCC) has been at Walnut Grove since 1986. It serves approximatley 100 students in grades K-5. EDCC also serves all the Dublin elementary schools as well. EDCC is licensed by the State of California Department of Social Sevices and has never received a notice of deficiency.

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by MomO2, a member of the Lydiksen Elementary School community, on Jun 6, 2011 at 7:58 pm

Does Tamera's post suggest the Tri-Valley YMCA program at Lydiksen is unlicensed?

Report Objectionable Content

Posted by Tamara, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jun 7, 2011 at 1:43 am

It is licensed and on the CCLD website, but under the search criteria of 'school-age' (check the website)

Facility No: 013415570 Capacity: 0060

License Status: Licensed

YMCA OF THE EAST BAY Y-KIDS LYDIKSEN

7700 HIGHLAND OAKS DRIVE

PLEASANTON, CA 94588

(925) 426-9784

Contact: MONTARO, MEGAN

DO: BAY AREA-CC OAKLAND (02)

DO Phone: (510) 622-2602

Report Objectionable Content

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