Fewer teachers in classrooms as a result of Head Start transition
Due to the transition of the Head Start early childhood program from Washtenaw County to the federal government, there will be fewer teachers in classrooms in the 2012-13 school year.
The program will now be funded through a $4 million federal grant rather than through the county, and more stringent budget restrictions had to be met.
As a part of the grant application the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved in a 10-1 vote during its regular meeting Wednesday night, a number of staff rearrangements for the program were also approved for the upcoming school year.
Last year, Head Start classrooms in the county had one teacher and two teaching assistants.
Next year, there will be one teacher and one teaching assistant - which is the Head Start program requirement.
All of the teachers who were employed in the 2011-12 term will keep their jobs, said Cassandra Sheriff, interim director for the program.
“With the transitions that are in place, these decisions seemed inevitable,” Sheriff said. “The services have not been compromised for the children.”
The county decided to keep Head Start under its administrative wing for the 2012-13 year while the federal government finds a permanent agency for the program in a request for proposals process. The decision was made to minimize the impact on the children and families being served by the program.
The board decided to cut the program out of the county budget in November.
During the Board of Commissioners meeting, the staff plans for the Head Start program drew strong reactions from several officials.
Temperatures rose quickly, as Commissioner Ronnie Peterson was fast to express his passion for education. The ensuing conversation required Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr to call the meeting to order.
Ronnie Peterson
“It seems like when we’re developing children’s programs, it seems like children’s experts would be here at the table,” Peterson said.
Peterson criticized the board for spending more of its time on generating animal control policies and on the creation of a countywide transit authority than poor children.
“We spend more money on tires in Washtenaw County,” Peterson said. “We want to breed achievers here, not children that just get by.”
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
antikvetch
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:21 p.m.
We need to give the schools more money. And then some more. And then maybe a bit more. Oh, bother, let's just give them ALL the money. Maybe that'll work -
snapshot
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 2:58 a.m.
Tom Todd, those "rich" businesses pay taxes, which probably pay your salary so why are begrudging them? That's like biting the hand that feeds you and coming across as arrogant and ignorant.
H.E. Pennypacker
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 6:10 a.m.
Hmm, yes those schools are deplorably greedy. What with their ruthless demands for books and chalk and such. Why do we continue to fund them at all? You know, I find people's views on education funding surprising. Sure, there is always some mismanagement and inefficiency, but if this is your main complaint I would assume you aren't too familiar with how military contractors operate. I'm not sure what you do for a living, but I believe that teachers get neither great pay nor much respect for doing a job few of us envy.
Pickforddick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
Now I see where you are coming from TT.....shame.
Tom Todd
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
or we could give it all to the rich business owners?
Dog Guy
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
The latest issue of time magazine suggests that Head Start is just another boondoggle: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2081778,00.html
Tom Todd
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.
Romney propaganda!
Epengar
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
That's not the latest issue, it's a year old. The article is a "column", not written by TIme's regular staff. The article ignores a whole collection of previous studies that looked at much longer-term impacts and did find significant positive impacts on things like school success and graduation rates from high school, and reductions in rates of arrest and criminal conviction. The DHHS study is important, but it only looked at short-term impacts.
Pickforddick
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 10:54 a.m.
"All of the teachers who were employed in the 2011-12 term will keep their jobs, said Cassandra Sheriff, interim director for the program." So what is the problem? "We spend more money on tires in Washtenaw County," Peterson said. "We want to breed achievers here, not children that just get by." Then start teaching family values.......having a Father and Mother that care about the children they bring into this world.......that is where you start.
jns131
Thu, Jul 12, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
I could not agree more.