Clover Park board votes to temporarily fund Head Start amid federal shutdown uncertainty

The Clover Park School District Board of Directors voted to temporarily fund the district’s Head Start program for December and January after Superintendent Banner warned that a federal government shutdown threatened Head Start grant payments.

Superintendent Michael Banner told the board the program serves 95 children in the district and said losing federal payments would mean immediate losses of breakfasts and lunches, health screenings and early-intervention services tied to Head Start. Banner recommended three options: temporarily use district funds to bridge the gap, close the program and pay unemployment, or close and reassign staff. He urged Option 1 to avoid disrupting families and children.

"The impact of the government shutdown threatens our Head Start program because we are not getting funded for Head Start," Banner said. He stressed that any district spending would be documented carefully so that the district could pursue reimbursement if federal funding resumes.

Director Kim moved to adopt Option 1; Director Caldwell seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote: Directors Caldwell, Kim, Lowry and Vice President Thomas voted yes, and the motion carried. The board directed staff to track time and expenses related to the program so the district could provide documentation for possible federal reimbursement. Banner warned the board that the district had not budgeted for these expenditures in the 2025–26 budget and that, if reimbursement is not forthcoming, the cost would come from district reserves.

Banner also said the Puget Sound Educational Service District would provide funding through November and that some federal continuing-resolution options might not restore the specific grants that fund Head Start. He estimated that closing the program would still generate costs, including roughly $110,000 in unemployment benefits, and noted there are about 20 Head Start staff whose positions would be affected by a closure.

Board members who spoke in favor emphasized the program’s service to families at 100% of the federal poverty guideline and the district’s role in protecting vulnerable students during funding uncertainty. The board’s authorization is explicitly temporary: if the federal government resumes payments the district will cease its local fiscal contribution and revert to federal funding; if payments do not resume, the board will revisit the decision.

The district indicated it would return to the board for further guidance if the federal situation changes or if additional fiscal decisions are needed.