COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – After being told by the regional office last February that grant funding could be reduced if Head Start enrollment did not increase, Branch Intermediate School District Early Education Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Hutson reported to the Board of Directors last week they were at 90 percent enrollment for this year.
The B.I.S.D. has to be at 97 percent enrollment by February 23, 2025 or else the Office of Head Start has the option of reducing grant funds.
Hutson told the board they were fully staffed at the end of July and set to open all classrooms. But since that time, three teachers resigned.
As of last Wednesday, one position had been filled but they were in need of two Head Start teachers, one at Lincoln and one at Girard.
Hutson said they had to delay the start of one of the Girard Head Start classrooms which meant 15 children from that classroom were placed into the two other classrooms at Girard, filling these rooms to capacity.
With delaying the start of the Girard classroom, Hutson says they are currently at 90 percent enrollment for Head Start and that they need 23 children to be fully enrolled.
With the Full Enrollment Initiative, Hutson said their goal is to be at least 97 percent enrolled by the end of September.
Hutson told the Board last March that their main issue at that time with not meeting the 97 percent enrollment requirement under the Head Start Act was a lack of qualified staff, mainly teachers which led to the frequent closing of classrooms.
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