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Parents and union oppose Head Start staffing change; board approves caseload waiver
Summary
Parents and AFT representatives urged the board not to reduce Head Start family-service facilitator positions, warning of higher caseloads and noncompliance with 45 CFR 302.52. Administration argued funds should be reallocated to instructional coaching; trustees approved the caseload waiver and a related transportation waiver.
Community members and union representatives used the Feb. 3 "citizens to be heard" period to press trustees on a consent-item proposal to reduce Head Start Family Service Facilitator (FSF) positions and reallocate funding to an instructional coach for early grades.
Cheyenne Rendone, speaking as a parent and former South San Antonio graduate, urged trustees to reject the plan to cut FSF positions from eight to six. She referenced federal Head Start guidance (45 CFR 302.52) and argued that reducing the facilitator count would raise caseloads to roughly 44'48 families per facilitator, moving the program away from the Office of Head Start's intended movement toward manageable caseloads ahead of the 2027 compliance cycle. Alexa Lopez, another parent, described facilitators as "the invisible backbone" who connect families to social services, health care and stability that enable children to be classroom-ready.
Union representative Tom Cummings earlier told the board that a district teacher survey found 71% of respondents were considering leaving the profession and urged more planning time and protections for teachers.
District administration and a Head Start manager defended the proposed reallocation. Officials said the district's Head Start program recently passed an unannounced audit for compliance, cited workload comparisons with other local Head Start operators and argued that instructional coaches—who work alongside teachers in classrooms—would deliver greater instructional impact for early literacy. Administration described operational changes that consolidated sites (from eight to four) and said facilitators' caseloads would be managed within federal expectations; they also described local monitoring and child-plus documentation routines.
After discussion, trustee proponents moved to approve the Head Start caseload waiver. Roll call on the waiver recorded: Raymond Deharina ' yes; Carla Gomez Sanchez ' yes; Aralina Prado ' yes; Jesus Reno III ' abstain; Adrien Gera ' yes; Dr. Kelly Morgia ' no. The motion passed.
The board also considered and approved a related annual Head Start transportation waiver, intended to allow flexibility around part-time bus monitors when the district uses camera monitoring and sibling-routing to ensure safety. Trustees cited staffing difficulties in recruiting part-time bus monitors as the rationale; the transportation waiver passed by unanimous roll-call vote.
What the board decided: trustees approved both the caseload waiver and the transportation waiver, while acknowledging the expressed parental concerns. Administration said it will continue monitoring Head Start compliance, maintain child-plus documentation and evaluate whether the instructional-coach reallocation improves early literacy outcomes.
Next steps: District staff said they will monitor caseloads, continue audits and report outcomes to the board; some trustees asked staff to improve direct communication with Head Start families before final implementation.
