SMSB Will Operate Parish Head Start
13 Oct 2021
The St. Martin School Board has been awarded a multi-million grant to operate the federal Head Start program in St. Martin Parish beginning in January.
Nicole Angelle, supervisor of the board’s Title I Family Involvement and Early Childhood programs, announced the grant award during last week’s monthly board meeting.
The award total for the first year of implementation is $4,568,352, which includes $831,180 for start up costs and $3,737,172 for program implementation.
“We are in the transition phase with the current grantee, Community Development Institute,” Angelle said. “This will continue to Dec. 31 and the St. Martin School Board will officially become the new grantee on Jan. 1, 2021.”
Current Head Start locations in St. Martinville and Breaux Bridge will continue to be used but the Huron site north of Cecilia will be phased out.
Angelle said she is currently negotiating for the purchase of a vacant facility on Bordelon Road to serve the Cecilia school zone. The grant includes funds for the acquisition of the site, which must meet criteria established by the Office of Head Start.