Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Members Present: Carl Powe, Demetria Hall, Tomeika Bennett, Roxanne Patterson, Eric McCullough, Rosalind Moss, Cherish Walker, Carl Telford, Maisha Delph, Neco Hester, Rita Hunter, Donna Mansell
Members Absent: Harriett Hunt, Shequilla Chapman, Alicia Roach, Jordan Reynolds, Lexus Harrison, Janellys Cruz,
Excused Absences: Angela Brown, Cathy Breazeale
Mini Training: A mini training was presented to the council on Head Start Enrollment and Recruitment. The meeting focused on recruitment and enrollment challenges in our Head Start program, particularly in specific centers like Seneca, BHW, North Greenville, and Golden Strip. Shaylunn Tolbert, Social Services Facilitator, explained the importance of maintaining a waitlist and filling vacancies within 30 days, highlighting the need for increased community outreach. Patrice and Shannon discussed strategies to improve enrollment, including a Child Find Scavenger Hunt Initiative offering prizes for referrals and plans for mass recruitment efforts. Shannon emphasized the importance of meeting the 97% enrollment target to avoid potential funding cuts and praised the staff's efforts in improving enrollment from 60% to 93% over the past two years. Patrice and Carl Telford emphasized the importance of recruiting for Head Start, particularly in the Hispanic-Latino community, and highlighted the need to assure families that they are not required to provide extensive documents like Social Security numbers.
In the absence of Angela Brown, Chair, the meeting was called to order by Carl Telford, Vice Chairperson. A quorum was met.
Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from last month’s meeting were reviewed by the Policy Council (See Attachment). Demetria Hall made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Neco Hester seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Personnel Committee:
The Personnel Report was given by Tara Cannon, Director of Human Resources. Mrs. Cannon informed the council that all prospective new employees have been interviewed and are recommended for employment with our program. All applicants are subject to Background Investigation as mandated by the S.C. Department of Social Services. This includes State and Federal Background Investigations and the Child Registry Search to determine if any abuse or neglect has been made against a child and Pre-employment Drug Screenings. We will also conduct reference checks on all prospective new employees. Appointments are conditional upon receiving satisfactory references, state and federal background investigation, and Head Start Policy Council approval. Each full-time employee must serve a three-month introductory probationary period before obtaining regular appointment status. Substitutes are on an as-needed basis.
Head Start Program
Dejanique Ladson, Classroom Aide at Parker Center. She holds a High School Diploma and has three years of experience working with children with special needs in a home health setting.
Creaja Phelps, Classroom Aide at Rutherford Road. She holds a High School Diploma and has six years of experience in childcare.
Jessica Williams, Substitute at Rutherford Road. She holds a High School Diploma, is a former SHARE parent, and has six years of experience in various childcare facilities.
Lakisha Smith, Classroom Aide at North Franklin Road. She holds a High School Diploma, has five years of childcare experience, and is a former SHARE parent.
Eloisa Morel, Classroom Aide at North Franklin Road. She holds a High School Diploma and has one year of experience working with preschool-aged children with autism.
Early Head Start Program
Kadijah Bradley, Substitute at EBR. She holds a High School Diploma, is a current parent, and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree.
Britney McCartney, Classroom Aide at BHW. She holds a High School Diploma and has nine months of formal childcare experience.
Selena Waters, Classroom Aide at Watkins Road. She holds a High School Diploma, is a current parent, and plans to pursue a CDA credential.
Aniya Ashmore, Classroom Aide at Rutherford Road. She holds a High School Diploma and has one year of experience working in a summer camp and with special needs children.
D’Azhia Young, Classroom Aide at BHW. She holds a High School Diploma and has six years of childcare experience.
Jocelyn Collazo, Classroom Aide at Parker Center. She holds a High School Diploma, is enrolled in Early Childhood Development courses, and cares daily for her niece and nephew.
Maranda Blackwell, Classroom Aide at Crosby. She holds a High School Diploma, is a former parent, has completed ECD 10, and plans to pursue a CDA.
Christie Ambrose, Classroom Aide at Crosby. She holds a High School Diploma, is a current parent, and plans to pursue a CDA.
Wyneika Griffin, Classroom Aide at Rutherford Road. She holds a High School Diploma and is pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development, expected to complete in December 2025.
After discussion, Maisha Delph made a motion to accept the personnel report as presented. Tomeika Bennett seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approval of 20242025 Program Information Report (PIR):
Shannon Vaughn, Head Start Director, explained that the Program Information Report (PIR). She explained that this report is an annual requirement for Early Head Start and Head Start programs, providing demographics and service area data to the Office of Head Start. She noted concerns about low health follow-up numbers, particularly for 30-month well-baby checks, due to some local doctors not adhering to the EPSDT schedule. Shannon also discussed the reasons behind the higher enrollment of 2-year-olds in Early Head Start, citing a reduction in Head Start slots and facility constraints for younger children. Carl Telford inquired about age participation disparities, and Shannon clarified the reasons, including facility requirements and recruitment challenges for younger children. After discussion, Neco Hester made a motion to accept the PIR as information. Maisha Delph seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Director’s Report:
The Director’s Report was given by Shannon Vaughn, Director of Children & Family Development. Ms. Vaughn highlighted health screenings and family engagement initiatives. She discussed that Early Head Start and Head Start programs were currently below the 10% federal requirement for children with IEPs or IFSPs, and highlighted challenges with vision, hearing, and dental screenings, with plans to conduct more in-house screenings due to unreliable nursing student availability. Patrice presented family engagement opportunities, including financial literacy workshops and our male engagement initiative. Carl Telford emphasized the importance of recruiting 3-4 fathers/ father figures or male role models from each of the 21 centers for the 50 Father Challenge. The Male Engagement Kick-off will be held on October 24th at Darwin H. Wright Park (Anderson Beach) in Anderson. There will be educational resources, games and food. Patrice announced an upcoming orientation for new and returning Policy Council members on October 7th at the main office, followed by a regular meeting on October 9th. After discussion, Tomeika Bennett made a motion to accept the director’s report as information. Maisha Delph seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Budget Review:
Tammy Gore, Assistant Director of Finance, distributed copies of the Summary Expenditure, CACFP and the Credit Card Expenditure Reports (See Attachments). Ms. Gore stated that the Head Start and Early Head Start Year to Date percentages in the budget is on target with 16.67% expired. For Head Start, we have spent 11.74% and for Early Head Start we have spent 10.44%. We have spent a total of 11.24% of our budget. We have collected 2.49 % in-kind. After discussion, Demetria Hall accepted the financial reports as information. Maisha Delph seconded the motion. Motion Carried.
After discussion, Roxanne Patterson made a motion to close the meeting. Neco Hester seconded. Motion carried.
No further business, meeting adjourned.
Recorded by
Roxanne Patterson, Secretary
Carl Telford, Vice Chair
