AMERICAN FALLS — Tiny footsteps will soon fill the halls of Power County’s new Head Start building as the community’s youngest students prepare to begin the 2025-26 school year.
The College of Southern Idaho’s Head Start program located at 1220 Hillcrest Ave in American Falls celebrated the completion of its new home with an open house in June.
“I am very excited about the safety and the beauty of the building,” said Debbie Skaar, Center Supervisor of CSI Head Start/Early Head Start Power County. “It’s such a clean facility and an exciting new opportunity for the community.”
A classroom inside the new building for the College of Southern Idaho's Head Start program at 1220 Hillcrest Ave. in American Falls.
Power County’s Head Start/Early Head Start program was previously located in the basement of Trinity Classical Christian Church. The new state-of-the-art facility’s 6,300 square feet allows educators to provide three classes for 24 local children.
The Head Start program offers one class for eight children between the ages of 18 months and three and two classes for eight children ages 3 to 5.
The playground at the new building for the College of Southern Idaho's Head Start program at 1220 Hillcrest Ave. in American Falls.
Each classroom was designed with the children’s safety in mind and comes with direct access to both a fenced-in playground and bathroom, which reduces the amount of times a child has to leave the classroom during the day.
In addition, there are supply closets also attached to the classrooms and staff offices have windows that look out into the classrooms, allowing staff to supervise the children even when they step momentarily out of the room.
A classroom inside the new building for the College of Southern Idaho's Head Start program at 1220 Hillcrest Ave. in American Falls.
“I am so excited to move,” Trista Schmitt, a teacher with Power County’s Head Start program said at the open house. “Especially because the (old) playground is L shaped which makes it hard to keep track of the kiddos, especially if a staff member is out sick. So this is going to make it so much easier to take care of (them) and keep it clean and organized.”
Head Start/Early Head Start is a federally funded program that provides preschool and family services to low-income families, with CSI being the grantee of the Power County Center. The cost is free to families who qualify and all materials for schooling is provided.
For parents interested in learning more about the program or pre-applying, visit csiheadstart.com.
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