Board hears Early Head Start update and approves CACFP meal agreement for Head Start

The Burke County Board of Education on Aug. 19 received a monthly update on Early Head Start (EHS) operations and approved a Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal agreement so the district can provide meals for the Head Start program.

Program update: The EHS director reported July figures for the program and said centers were fully enrolled for August after outreach filled 10 previously vacant home-based slots. For July, funded and actual enrollment figures were 94; daily nutrition counts for July were zero because children were not in session. The report listed two parent-involvement activities and four staff training activities for the month; health incidents were zero. The EHS director said in-kind contributions totaled $99,622.

Meal agreement: The board approved a CACFP agreement between the Community Development Institute (CDI) Head Start and the Burke County School System to supply Head Start meals through the district’s CACFP participation. The director said the arrangement mirrors the district’s existing practice of providing meals for Early Head Start and will require a signed agreement.

Why it matters: CACFP participation affects nutrition, daily operations and state/federal reporting for Head Start; full enrollment and updated health records are material to program compliance. The EHS director said shot records and health checks are being updated in the system for children entering in August.

Board action: A motion to approve the CACFP meal agreement was made and seconded; board members approved it by a show-of-hands vote. The EHS program report was accepted as presented.