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Head Start presenters outline ERC rules, grant waivers and proposed van purchase
Summary
Head Start staff briefed trustees on eligibility and selection criteria (ERC), a draft FY26 grant application (flat-funded), two waivers including bus-monitor continuation, and a proposed budget revision to use unspent transportation funds (about $80,266) toward a program van.
Head Start presenters told the Pocatello District board about annual ERC (eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, attendance) training requirements and walked trustees through selection criteria, recruitment practices and program expectations.
Carlia Lopez, identified in the packet as the family services manager, explained eligibility rules: children must be 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1, live within district boundaries and meet income or categorical eligibility (homelessness, foster care or qualifying public assistance). "So why we train the board? It is in a Head Start Act and our current performance standards that we are required to train the board," she said. Lopez described the application and selection process, required documentation and a selection committee that prioritizes children with highest needs and ensures at least 10% of slots for children with disabilities.
Kathy Losmack presented a draft FY26 grant application and budget, saying the program is primarily flat-funded from FY25 with a small COLA and that health‑insurance increases (anticipated up to 14%) were reflected in the draft. She said parent survey results showed 75% support for adding a sixth full‑day classroom but flat funding makes conversion infeasible. Losmack described two waivers that will accompany the grant submission: a bus-monitor continuation waiver (seeking prior approval to continue transportation if monitors are unavailable) and a requested nonfederal-share waiver (proposing 60% of the nonfederal match; last year the program met a 70% target). She said unspent funds from four unfilled transportation positions total about $80,266 and could be reallocated to buy a program van if approved by the Office of Head Start.
Trustees asked about vehicle maintenance, ongoing insurance and whether replacement funds were sufficient; staff said licensing, insurance and fuel would come from Head Start operating funds and that the district covers ongoing maintenance costs. Staff will include the grant and associated waivers as action items at the next regular board meeting.
