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Board hears update on Head Start application and DoDEA grant; summer STEM funding flagged as uncertain
Summary
Superintendent Eric Reed told the board on Feb. 19 that an Early Head Start transition request was denied at a higher review level and that DoDEA grant funds supporting military-family programming have been temporarily frozen, creating uncertainty for future summer STEM support.
Superintendent Eric Reed updated the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board on Feb. 19 about early learning grant work and a federal grant freeze affecting summer programs.
Reed said the district had sought to transition Early Head Start slots to regular Head Start classrooms. "That was approved by our regional office, but when it got bumped up to the next level, they denied that request and asked us to make an edit on that," Reed told the board. He said the early learning team is working with Mrs. Nelson on a rewrite and exploring budget options so the district may still open two classrooms, but the funding path will be different than originally planned.
Reed separately said the only federal funds his staff had seen frozen for USD 383 so far were DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) funds tied to a grant that supports staff positions and summer STEM programming for military families. "For the time being, we can continue on with summer STEM as planned. It's just gonna be a little tighter, down the line and maybe a shorter window unless things turn around and we get that money unfrozen," he said. He noted that DoDEA funds primarily support military families and that Title I and special education funds appeared, at the time of the meeting, to be more certain.
Reed said the district must still submit routine grant renewals on schedule; because of federal review timing, some written approvals and edits are being handled as part of the grant renewal and rewrite process. He said he and staff would keep the board updated.
No formal action was taken at the meeting on the grant issues; the board received the update and asked staff to report back with any changes.
