Uncertainty at Thompson School caused a drop in enrollment this year at Adams County’s Head Start provider, school officials said.

This year, the school, which has long been plagued with roof problems, is educating 400 students, down from the average 500.

Lamar Braxton, executive director of AJFC Community&160;Action Agency — which operates Head Start — blames the drop on previous health concerns about the building and uncertainty at the school. For example, AJFC usually lets parents know in May or June if their children are eligible for the federally-funded program.

But this year, because of uncertainty over the school’s health license, AJFC could not notify parents until August, Braxton said.

By that time, parents may have made other decisions about their children’s’ care, he said.

AJFC receives more than $4 million federal funds each year to meet specified needs in southwest Mississippi. The needs correlate with the amount of funding the agency receives. Braxton said the enrollment drop at Thompson has not had an impact on funding this year. The drop is a temporary problem but if the problem becomes long term, it would have an effect, he said.

To put a new roof on the original section of the school, AJFC has allocated at least $357,000 in federal funds. Despite concerns about the roof, the school was allowed to open as scheduled this year Sept. 5. But teachers and students are not using the section of the building with the leaks in the roof.

School Principal Mamie Mazique also blames the drop on the roof problems and said she hopes the enrollment will return to 500. Students can still register to attend Thompson this year, she said.

Because of the roof, the school is still under a probational status with the Mississippi Department of Health, said Dr. Mary Armstrong, district health officer.

The health department originally told AJFC it must award bids to repair the roof by Aug. 31 or its license may be in jeopardy.

But Principal Mamie Mazique said the school has been in close contact with the health department and been given an extension to the deadline.

&uot;(The health department) knows what’s going on,&uot; she said.

The current restricted license will expire Oct. 31, Braxton said.

Braxton said he thinks the health department granted extensions because it wanted assurance the roof was going to fixed and that it would be fixed in a timely matter.

&uot;We think we’re meeting both those tests&uot; by advertising for bids in September and opening them next month, the said.

AJFC will open the bids at 1 p.m. Oct. 10, but officials do not have any cost estimates on the roof repair.

&uot;Once we get the bid we’ll determine if we can meet it,&uot; Braxton said. &uot;Let’s just hope we can.&uot;

To put a new roof on the original section of the school, AJFC has allocated at least $357,000 in federal funds. Despite the concerns about the roof, the school was permitted to open as scheduled this year Sept. 5. But teachers and students are not using the section of the building with the leaks in the roof.

&uot;(And) it hasn’t rained that much so we haven’t had any problems,&uot; Mazique said.

So far, it has been a good school year but &uot;it’s going to make it much better once that roof is repaired.&uot;

The school’s structural problems date back several years.

In early 1999, the health department placed the school on a provisional status.

And in 1998, the program was warned to fix the roof or it would not be allowed to hold classes during that fall session.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to deed the formerly county-owned school to AJFC this July. Owning the building helps the agency receive federal funding to repair the building, officials said.

AJFC also is seeking funding to do other work at the building, such as upgrading the wiring and plumbing, Braxton said.