Thompson School District Head Start report outlines 10 data-driven recommendations to improve health, nutrition and classroom environment

Thompson School District leaders presented the results of this year’s Head Start self-assessment to the school board, saying the annual review produced 10 recommendations aimed at strengthening health services, nutrition support, classroom environments and transportation for preschool families.

“Conducting this annual assessment gives us a chance to reflect on our strengths, identify areas of growth and ensure we’re effectively meeting the needs of children and families,” Sarah Rasmus, assistant superintendent for learning services, told the board. Lam Car (as introduced in the packet) further emphasized that recommendations are grounded in data collected during the year.

The report highlighted dental and health exam follow-up as an immediate priority. Staff told the board that low return rates for health forms are often driven by cost, lack of insurance or families not knowing where to seek care; the district’s family engagement specialists connect individual families with community dental providers and insurance resources.

Nutrition emerged as another priority. Early childhood leaders said the district will repeat an integrated nutritional education program that provides hands-on workshops, recipe cards and take-home groceries to help families cook healthy meals. “Parents told us in surveys, ‘I didn’t know I could do that,’” Amy Ghard, assistant administrator for early childhood, said.

Board members pressed program staff about practical barriers. Denise Chapman asked whether language, Medicaid acceptance or cost were the primary obstacles to dental care; staff replied that all three occur and that the program relies on targeted community partnerships to help families navigate options.

The self-assessment also recommends renewed emphasis on the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale and targeted training after COVID-era changes. Staff said the program purchased an ECERS book for every center and will continue classroom-level training to restore best practices, including reintroducing sensory materials removed in 2020.

Officials told the board the district tracks preschool student outcomes with Teaching Strategies Gold and has followed cohorts into later grades; one prior analysis noted four former preschool students became metro scholars, a sign of long-term impact. The district will provide a follow-up report next year documenting progress on the 10 recommendations.

Next steps: district staff said they will use the assessment to guide continuous quality improvement, report back on every recommendation at year-end, and continue family-centered interventions tied to Head Start performance standards.