WISD to administer Head Start for 2013-14 school year
The Washtenaw Intermediate School District will be taking the reins of the federally funded Head Start program from Washtenaw County in the 2013-14 school year.
The program has been seeking a new administrative agency for months after the county stopped funding its match -- a process that is up to the federal government to carry out through a request for proposals.
The federal government has chosen the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to be the new administrator of the Head Start preschool program in the 2013-14 school year.
AnnArbor.com file photo
“We’re under negotiations to turn over the assets of the program,” McDaniel said.
Head Start provides a comprehensive preschool program to children from low income families and serves more than 500 children in the county.
After the county cut its $528,000 general fund allocation for the program from its budget in November 2011, the program has been relying on the federal $4 million grant to operate since August 2012.
The decrease in funding meant there were fewer teachers in Head Start classrooms for the 2012-13 school year.
The program is also one that could be at risk for a cut in funding due to federal government budget sequestration. In Michigan, about $20.9 million of Head Start program funding could be on the chopping block.
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
jns131
Fri, Jun 7, 2013 : 9:33 p.m.
WISD serves specials needs and now head start. This is right up their alley. So at least busing will be needed in this direction since they fall under the heading of special interest and needs. As busing hi school? That is next week.
a2chrisp
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 5:11 p.m.
Seems like there might be a lot of employee turnover coming...
DonBee
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
thisisnutzz - If you are talking about the center on Boardwalk as the "AA Preschool and Family Center" that one is administered by AAPS, not the county or now WISD. That center was built with bond funds (the one on Boardwalk) and was supposed to breakeven for AAPS, but does not, the last public number showed a loss of about $500,000 annually for the center. So yes, AAPS will probably have to trim it. Ideally it should go back to WISD, with WISD's lower overhead numbers, so that more of the money allocated actually gets into the classrooms.
thisisnutzz
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
Thank you, great reply.
thisisnutzz
Thu, Jun 6, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
What does this mean for the daily implementation of the program? Will the locations change; thus lowering the amount of teachers/parapros needed at AA Preschool and Family Center? Or is this administration just that, administrating the program within each district?