TEB Challenges Proposed Head Start Reduction
The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board held their regular full board meeting June 8.
The Fort Peck Tribal Head Start Director and program administration were approved to initiate, prepare, submit and pursue any and all administrative appeals, responses, objections, requests for reconsideration, hearings, negotiations or related actions necessary to the challenge the Office of Head Starts proposed reduction of enrollment slots from 212 to 98.
The Tribal Executive Board reaffirmed its support for the enrollment reduction plan approved under resolution # 32-1388-2025-03, which reduced enrollment to 172 slots while maintaining current funding levels and directed that this approved change of scope request be presented as part of the Tribes’ appeal and advocacy efforts before the Office of Head Start and authorizes the Office of the Tribal Attorney and any designated in-house legal counsel to provide legal advice, representation, advocacy, document preparation, negotiations and other legal support to the Head Start Director and Program throughout the appeal process and any related proceedings and directs all reasonable efforts be made to present evidence demonstrating the tribes ongoing commitment to expanding services, developing and maintaining safe and health learning centers, addressing community needs, and serving children across the Fort Peck Reservation service area.
TEB found that a proposed reduction fails to fully recognize the geographic scope of the reservation that needs of tribal families the Tribe demonstrated efforts to expand access to early childhood educations services and the practical realities associated with providing services across multiple reservation communities.
The board voted to appoint Charles Knowlton to the Energy Board. They also voted to approve a requested budget modification to the Fort Peck Tribes FY 2026 Tribal Budget in the amount $552,600.
The board voted to recommend that the BNSF railroad submit grant application to the FRA to complete the railroad corridor study through the cities of Wolf Point and Poplar.
Jessica Kirn was approved for hire for assistant prosecutor at the Fort Peck Tribal Court. She has one year to do the Bar Exam.
A donation of $150,000 was accepted from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
The board authorized the submission of an application from the Red Bird Woman Center to the Office for Victims of Crime under the fiscal year 2026 services for victims of crime, funding opportunity number O-OVC-2026-17620 and directs where appropriate the Tribal Chairman (or his designee) and department of directors if necessary to endorse all official correspondence and documents related to the application and submission of the office for victims of Crime Fiscal Year 2026 services for victims of crime application and the chairman to endorse any reciprocal Offer of Grant/ Financial Assistance Award which may be tendered by the office of victims of crime.
The nomination of Dennis Four Bear to serve as the primary Billings Are Representative on the National Community Health Aide Program Board was approved.
Tristian Ward was approved for appointment to the position of Clerk of Court for the Fort Peck Tribal Court Prosecutors’ Office, effective upon completion of all required employment procedures, as was Sierra Barrera to the position of Clerk of Court for the Fort Peck Tribal Court.
