UPDATE: 7:31 p.m.
Upbring’s opening date for its Head Start program in Corpus Christi remains uncertain, as its regional director, Sandra Salinas-Deleon, provided no clear timeline during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Before the meeting, KRIS6 News met Deleon outside of city council chambers. The regional director declined to speak with KRIS 6 News, stating she was “too busy and not right now.” However, she later sat through at least two hours of public comment.
When District 3 Councilman, Eric Cantu, asked for a timeline, she responded, “Unfortunately at this time I am not able to give you an exact date. We are in the process of getting our licensing.”
Councilman Cantu pressed further, asking, “30, 60, 90, 120 days?” Deleon’s response only confirmed that 90 days was not an option, but she did not provide a definitive answer. She stated that Upbring could not take action until Jan. 1.
Councilman Gil Hernandez questioned why negotiations for leases had not begun sooner.
"You couldn’t start negotiating with the city for leases for the properties?" Hernandez asked.
City Manager Peter Zanoni stressed that the delays were due to Upbring, not the city.
“The lease has to come from the agency. We’re working on the behest of their timeline. If they wanted to bring this in November, we would have been here in November. We’re working at the pace that the Head Start agency wants us to work at. They wanted to be here in February, we’re here in February," Zanoni said.
The city council approved eight agreements related to the project. Upbring stated they have filed for three inspections at their locations.
ORIGINAL: 10:51 a.m.
City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement with Lutheran Social Services of the South Inc, or "Upbring"
Upbring took over the Head Start program from the Nueces County Community Action Agency on Jan. 1.
As KRIS 6 news has reported, Upbring has not set a definite date for when the Head Start program will resume operations.
If the ordinance being voted on is approved it would allow the city to lease city property to Upbring so they can operate preschools at eight existing locations.
According to Health and Human Services, as of Feb. 10. Upbring has only applied for one childcare inspection despite having 14 locations listed on its website.
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