MARSHALL — An inconvenience for us — devastating for them, is how Rob Falconer, Grace Life Church administrative pastor, said board members viewed agreeing to continue to rent space to the Head Start program for the 2018-2019 school year.

Grace Life Church gave notice to United Community Action Partnership last December informing the agency that it has plans for the classrooms the Head Start program has rented for the past 12 years. The program has been looking for new quarters for fall 2018, but has not been able to find space that meets strict Head Start licensing requirements.

After much discussion, it came to light that the Head Start program could accommodate Grace Life’s growing needs.

“We didn’t know they could get by with fewer (rooms),” Falconer said.

“This will be an inconvenience for Grace Life, therefore we are so extremely thankful for their offer as it will cause the least amount of disruption for our Head Start children and families,” said Nancy Syltie, Head Start education manager. “We will strive to be as flexible as possible throughout the next school year.”

Just two weeks ago, UCAP was still looking for a location for Head Start classes in the Marshall area after a six-month search.

“An article in the Marshall Independent led to some new location suggestions, but none of them met licensing requirements,” said Nancy Straw, UCAP director.

Head Start Director Mary Lockhart-Findling and Syltie met with Falconer after the story appeared and explained UCAP’s dilemma that it was still unable to find classroom space. He consulted with church leadership and then informed UCAP last week they would be able to accommodate five Head Start classrooms for the 2018-19 school year by modifying their own plans for construction and use of space.

“We are so grateful to everyone at Grace Life for their willingness to support the needs of the community for Head Start classrooms,” said Lockhart-Findling. “This gives us additional time to plan for a new home for Head Start so that all classrooms can be in the same facility and meet all requirements.”

Grace Life is in the process of expanding out from the part of the building where Head Start has had its classes.

“I told Mary for the start of the (upcoming) school year, just do it (run classes) as you’ve always done it, but as we get closer to completion we’re going to have to establish the nursery in this first room and then share it,” Falconer said.

Falconer pointed out that the church nursery currently shares a room with the True Light Christian School preschool, but it’s a better fit to have the nursery closer to where church services will take place.

Head Start has accommodated Grace Life’s needs in the past, Falconer said. For example, its youth groups have used the Head Start classrooms in the evenings to meet.

The reprieve gives Head Start an additional 12 months to find suitable classroom space.

“In the future these rooms will definitely be used for church-related activities,” said Falconer.