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Head Start director presents 2023–24 self‑assessment; staff plan improvements in supervision, training and transportation
Summary
Heidi Andretti, the Head Start director, summarized the program's 2023–24 self‑assessment, noting four review components and action items including active‑supervision policies, chairlift repairs, bus‑utilization adjustments and training investments such as ChildPlus trainer costs estimated at $10,000–$15,000.
Heidi Andretti, introduced as the Head Start director, summarized the program's 2023–24 self‑assessment and said staff, policy‑council members, parents and community representatives participated in a review that produced a program improvement plan.
"The outcomes of this self assessment were used to create a program improvement plan that will support the program's quality improvement efforts," Andretti said, describing four review components: early childhood/disabilities/coaching/licensing; family and community partnerships/mental health/ERC (eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment and attendance); health, safety and transportation; and program design, management and fiscal.
Andretti identified active supervision as an area of concern raised in more than one component and said the chairlift is in the process of being fixed with the county's portion of the check sent and work expected to begin in August. She also told commissioners the program has two buses but currently needs only one, and that staff are examining better ways to utilize the fleet.
On staffing and records, Andretti said the program uses the ChildPlus database and plans additional training; she estimated bringing a trainer in for two days would cost about $10,000–$15,000. Commissioners thanked Andretti for the update and offered praise for program progress.
Next steps: Andretti said teams will implement the improvement plan, update service delivery plans and monitoring reports, and pursue training and technical assistance with the Montana Head Start Association.
