School board approves Head Start financial report and one-time staff retention payout

The Scott County School Board unanimously approved the October 2025 Head Start Financial Report and adopted a one-time staff retention plan during its Dec. 2, 2025 regular meeting.

Superintendent John Ferguson presented Head Start items and delivered the November Head Start Director's Report on behalf of Director Cindy Raymond. The financial appendices (Appendix A) show federal-funded enrollment of 105 Head Start slots and 32 Early Head Start slots (137 total) and detail October revenues of $287,142.11. The consolidated, year-to-date financial statements for July–October report net shortfalls in the reporting tables (consolidated net figures in the appendices show negative net income for the period across program tables), notable equipment spending (a $53,144.59 vehicle-replacement line) and recorded in-kind donations of $90,151.71.

The board also approved Appendix B, the Head Start Staff Retention Plan for SY2025–2026. The plan, as presented in the packet, proposes a lump-sum retention payment structure for the first semester (July 1–Dec. 15, 2025): $1,000 for permanent contracted staff and $350 for non-permanent contracted staff. The document states second-semester payouts would be determined after a budget review and emphasizes that payments are contingent on funding availability and must comply with federal grant rules. The plan specifies that retention payments would be funded from Head Start/Early Head Start federal grant funds (personnel and fringe) and that each payout requires Policy Council and School Board approval; payments are taxable.

Board members recorded the approvals by motion: the Head Start financial report was approved "on a motion made by Mr. Rob Hood, seconded by Mr. Bill Houseright, all members voting aye," and related votes on the retention plan and payout were recorded in the minutes as approved as presented. The Superintendent's packet and appendices include detailed line-item revenues and expenditures, budget-vs.-actual variance tables and the credit-card reconciliation showing an ending Head Start credit-card balance of $9,702.40 for the period ending Oct. 25, 2025.

Why it matters: The one-time retention payments are intended to reduce turnover and bridge a wage gap between Head Start staff and comparable local positions while permanent funding increases remain uncertain. The financial reports show the program is tracking significant federal and in-kind support but also displays operating deficits on the July–October year-to-date tables, which is why the retention payouts are described as contingent on available grant funding and require separate approvals by Policy Council and the School Board.

The packet notes additional program metrics: current Head Start enrollment near program capacity (104 HS/32 EHS reported in November 2025), multiple family-engagement events through November and health screenings (about 60% of enrolled children received onsite dental screening during October's visit). The board recorded the Head Start approvals in the official minutes; staff will bring any second-semester retention payouts back to Policy Council and the School Board for approval if budget reviews allow.