Humble ISD approves expanded Capturing Kids' Hearts rollout using federal grant carryover
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Trustees approved a districtwide expansion of the Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) program using Title II/IV carryover and reallocations; the motion increased a prior allocation of roughly $75,000 to a requested maximum authorization in the hundreds of thousands to cover up to eight campuses, drawing board questions about outcomes and urgency.
The Humble Independent School District board approved a multi-campus expansion of the Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) culture and relationship-building program after district staff told trustees extra federal carryover and reallocations made a larger rollout possible before the grant year ends.
Trustee Marcus Holmes asked for clarity after staff described a jump from a prior CKH allocation of roughly $75,000 to a requested authorization as high as $725,000 to cover seven or eight campuses. Cathy Eubanks, a district staff member, and other staff explained the increase reflected additional Title II and Title IV funds (carryover and reallocations) that must be obligated before the federal grant year ends Sept. 30. Eubanks said campuses had been piecemeal-adopting pieces of CKH but could not afford a full-package rollout; a districtwide purchase would allow the full two-day August training, fall and spring coaching visits and access to CKH curriculum suites.
Trustee Mike Holmes asked how the district would measure effectiveness given the tenfold spending increase. Staff said implementation fidelity measures (walk-throughs, coaching visits, rubrics and surveys) would be used and that many campuses reported lower discipline referrals and higher attendance after partial CKH adoption. Staff estimated training costs per campus vary by size (one middle school rollout estimated about $61,000; elementary campuses roughly $80,000 each) and said the current request represented a ceiling to allow late additions from campuses before the Sept. 30 grant deadline. Title 2 funds are targeted to professional development; Title 4 funds cover “safe and healthy” and “well-rounded” activities under ESSA.
Trustee Robert Scarfo said some funds could be offset by other near-term capital savings. Trustees asked for quarterly updates on implementation and outcomes; staff said they would provide data from CKH module assessments and district discipline/attendance metrics.
The motion to approve the vendor listing and estimated annual cost for contract awards and renewals, including the expanded CKH rollout, was moved by Trustee Robert Scarfo and passed 6-0 after the discussion.