Head Start director reports steady funding but enrollment and staffing gaps in Anaconda program

Heidi, the presenter for the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Head Start program, reported to the commission that the program’s annual budget stands at $859,114 this year, including a required local match of $214,778 — unchanged from the prior year — and that 48 children were served (16 early Head Start, including two pregnant women, and 32 preschoolers ages 3 to 5).

Heidi said per-child costs are approximately $22,300 for early Head Start and $15,800 for Head Start. She described program partnerships with Anaconda Public Schools and Family Outreach, dual application and screening processes, and regular developmental assessments. "Our children consistently reach readiness milestones for kindergarten," she told the commission and noted that approximately 10 percent of students have identified special needs and 100 percent received individualized services.

Commissioners pressed Heidi on bus-driver backup and enrollment. Heidi said the program currently does not have a backup bus driver and that some early Head Start positions (0–18 months) remain open; those positions had not been vacant for more than 30 days and staff expect to fill them through a waiting list as older children transition.

Heidi acknowledged continuing challenges: staffing shortages, rebuilding enrollment and advancing corrective-action goals. She thanked the commission for leadership and support and said the program will request the same funding level in the next grant year.

The presentation provided program-level budget figures, enrollment counts and per-child cost estimates; no formal funding changes were proposed at the meeting.