There will be no collaboration on a Head Start grant application between Toledo Public Schools and the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, which currently administers the program locally.

"There will not be a formal partnership between the two organizations," states a letter from Jerome Pecko, Toledo Public Schools superintendent, to Jim Powell, EOPA chief executive officer, dated Tuesday.

Mr. Powell did not return calls seeking comment.

EOPA was notified in December that it must compete against other agencies if it wants to continue receiving nearly $13 million annually to run Head Start, a program for 3 to 5-year-olds from low-income families. The announcement has been followed by months of political acrimony and disputes about what organization would be best suited to run the program — EOPA, TPS, other agencies, or a community collaboration.

Mr. Pecko said Tuesday that the district still plans to collaborate with other agencies. The district felt it necessary that it be the grantee, he said, though that doesn't mean it will go it alone. He declined to name any other potential partners, however.

Many observers said Tuesday they were disappointed but not surprised by the move, which follows numerous meetings over several months between the leaders from the two groups.

Richard Jackson, chairman of EOPA's board and a former TPS administrator, said he was saddened an agreement could not be reached.

"We were really interested in working with TPS on collaboration," he said. "I'm disappointed that's not coming about."

Mr. Jackson said the sticking point on any agreement or partnership — which apparently could not be overcome — was which agency would ultimately retain financial control.

Board of Education President Lisa Sobecki also said that was the case.

"They were not willing to budge on [who would be the grantee]," she said, "nor was the school district."

Sylvester Gould, vice-chairman of EOPA's board, said he also wishes an agreement could have been reached.

"I thought that it would have been a better situation for the community if there could have been collaboration," Mr. Gould said.

He said TPS should have done more to assist EOPA, and the schools' actions "does damage to a 50-year-old organization, a predominantly African-American organization," he said.

"I think the community will respond to it in November at the ballot box," he added, referring to the 6.9-mill TPS levy voters will see on the Nov. 6 ballot.

However, more ultimately could be at stake for EOPA. The $13 million Head Start grant makes up the bulk of the agency's $19.5 million budget; many at the agency have said losing the grant would threaten the organization's very existence. EOPA also operates heating-assistance programs, home-repair assistance, a fatherhood program, and other social services.

Several observers believe if the community has multiple, competing grant applications, it could be more likely the federal government will award a grant to a for-profit Head Start operator or a grantee that is not locally based.

Keith Burwell, executive director of the Toledo Community Foundation, said that is a primary concern.

"Our fears are still there," he said. "That hasn't gone away."

Brightside Academy, a Pittsburgh-based for-profit early education and child care provider, has said it will consider applying for the grant, as has another for-profit firm, Toledo-based Young Services, which operates Toddlers School Day Care centers.

Mr. Pecko said he believes the district will present a strong grant application that has been months in the making.

"Our stake in it is very significant because we pick these kids up after they finish their Head Start program," he said. "And the gap between kids who are ready for kindergarten and those who aren't is so significant."

Aaron Baker, an EOPA board member who also headed a community task force to learn more about Head Start programs nationally, said it is hard for him to point fingers as to which side might be more to blame without knowing exactly what happened in negotiations, but he believes "Jerry [Pecko] and Jim [Powell] were working in earnest."

Applications for the grant are due to the federal government by Aug. 14.

Staff writer Nolan Rosenkrans contributed to this report.

Contact Kate Giammarise at: kgiammarise@theblade.com or 419-724-6091.

First Published July 11, 2012, 4:30 a.m.