MONROE - Head Start is back in Monroe after a one-year absence.
Head Start is a federally-funded program for preschool-age children from low-income households. Until last year, Head Start rented space from the Monroe School District to run its program at Parkside Elementary School. But the Monroe School District, citing a pattern of communication problems with Head Start administration, ended its agreement with Head Start for the 2008-2009 school year. Head Start employs its own staff; they are not school district employees.
"Communication really became a problem," Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said in April 2008 in explaining the decision to end the Head Start contract.
There wasn't a single incident that forced the decision; rather, he said, it was a "pattern of problems" that continued for several years.
One issue was the trouble the district had in receiving necessary information, such as enrollment and food service reports, from Head Start. The district tried to work with Head Start, but plans to solve problems weren't carried through, Brown said. Ultimately, the district decided to end the contract.
It was a tough decision to end the agreement, he said. "We never want to take away opportunities."
But the district left the door open to renew the agreement. Head Start was told the district would reconsider the contract "if we could get management issues straightened out," Brown said.
The district kept in contact with Head Start, and the agency worked with Tina Van Meer, principal at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, the school where Head Start is now located. Parkside Elementary School needed the room that formerly housed Head Start for other purposes, Brown said.
It appears things are on the right track. Both Brown and Van Meer said communication with Head Start is improved.
There are currently 10 children enrolled in Head Start's 4-year-old kindergarten program and an additional six children in its preschool program, Van Meer said.
Previously, some parents complained that Head Start operated on a different calendar than the school district. Van Meer said all 4K programs within the district are required to follow the calendar set by the district and adhere to state guidelines regarding the number of instructional minutes required. Head Start does at times have different professional development days, but Van Meer said that doesn't change the amount of instruction Head Start children receive. Head Start also provides its own bus transportation, so slight variations from the district calendar pose no transportation concerns.
"It's not been a problem," Van Meer said. "Things are running very smoothly."
Brown said the district is optimistic the relationship between the district and Head Start will remain positive.
"They are very much a viable part of the school community now," he said. "We're taking the approach they will be part of the educational community for a long time."
Head Start is a federally-funded program for preschool-age children from low-income households. Until last year, Head Start rented space from the Monroe School District to run its program at Parkside Elementary School. But the Monroe School District, citing a pattern of communication problems with Head Start administration, ended its agreement with Head Start for the 2008-2009 school year. Head Start employs its own staff; they are not school district employees.
"Communication really became a problem," Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said in April 2008 in explaining the decision to end the Head Start contract.
There wasn't a single incident that forced the decision; rather, he said, it was a "pattern of problems" that continued for several years.
One issue was the trouble the district had in receiving necessary information, such as enrollment and food service reports, from Head Start. The district tried to work with Head Start, but plans to solve problems weren't carried through, Brown said. Ultimately, the district decided to end the contract.
It was a tough decision to end the agreement, he said. "We never want to take away opportunities."
But the district left the door open to renew the agreement. Head Start was told the district would reconsider the contract "if we could get management issues straightened out," Brown said.
The district kept in contact with Head Start, and the agency worked with Tina Van Meer, principal at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, the school where Head Start is now located. Parkside Elementary School needed the room that formerly housed Head Start for other purposes, Brown said.
It appears things are on the right track. Both Brown and Van Meer said communication with Head Start is improved.
There are currently 10 children enrolled in Head Start's 4-year-old kindergarten program and an additional six children in its preschool program, Van Meer said.
Previously, some parents complained that Head Start operated on a different calendar than the school district. Van Meer said all 4K programs within the district are required to follow the calendar set by the district and adhere to state guidelines regarding the number of instructional minutes required. Head Start does at times have different professional development days, but Van Meer said that doesn't change the amount of instruction Head Start children receive. Head Start also provides its own bus transportation, so slight variations from the district calendar pose no transportation concerns.
"It's not been a problem," Van Meer said. "Things are running very smoothly."
Brown said the district is optimistic the relationship between the district and Head Start will remain positive.
"They are very much a viable part of the school community now," he said. "We're taking the approach they will be part of the educational community for a long time."