The Head Start program in Geary USD 475 has been up in the air in recent days after employees learned the current federal grant supporting that program expires June 30th. The employees will lose their jobs.

The School District has been working in recent months for another five-year grant to support Head Start, but it is not yet known if that application will be successful.

More than 200 children, ages three to five, are served by Head Start. There are 43 staff members.

If the District is successful in obtaining a new grant the employees could reapply for their jobs, but because of new criteria some might not get rehired, or might be rehired in another capacity.

During a Board of Education meeting the president of the Board, Dr. Ferrell Miller noted officials do want to provide the current staff with positions in the district. And if a grant is not received it’s his thinking the District should assume the responsibility of providing the Head Start program. “There’s a really good staff that we can work with to build a program using the goals and curricula, and the plans that we already have in place with the regional office. And we could put it together and create a program of our own as a possibility. ”

Miller added the District will keep on working with the Regional Office. “Should we not get that grant we need to have a backup, and that’s what we’re thinking.”

It will be a few weeks before USD 475 officials know if the District will receive a new federal Head Start grant.