North Pocono Head Start II closes

The 2010-11 PA State Budget, which was signed by Governor Ed Rendell on July 6, contained many cuts to various programs and organizations including the PA State Head Start programs.

As a result, a decision was made to close the North Pocono Head Start II facility on Rt. 435, Covington Twp., for the upcoming 2010-11 school year.

 Head Start is a comprehensive early childhood development program serving low-income pre-K children and their families with facilities throughout Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Pike and Wayne counties.

This decision came as a shock to many of the families affected by the closure of NP Head Start II. Even with another facility in the area — NP Head Start I — there is no guarantee that they can accommodate all of the students who were enrolled at NP Head Start II.

Several parents throughout the area were left with many questions but very few answers. Two families said they weren’t even notified that NP Head Start II was closing until July 28, while one parent said they still had not been notified as of Aug. 11.

According to Sam Ceccacci, Head Start Director, a community assessment is done each year to determine the number of eligible children in a particular area, as well as the number of applications received. He said, “Based on our community assessment, this was one of the situations that we could possibly still serve everyone with the least amount of disruption.”

Head Start facilities house 34 students divided into morning and afternoon classes. It was stated that returning four-year-old students at NP Head Start II will be given the first opportunity to enroll at NP Head Start I, but that number will be determined by how many students from NP Head Start I are already enrolled and whether or not they have a waiting list.

Ceccacci has also reached out to NP Preschool, and while nothing has been signed or confirmed yet, he hopes to reach an agreement in order to allow any child who may get turned away from NP Head Start I a place to go.

According to some of the concerned parents, there were 32 children enrolled for the upcoming school year at NP Head Start II, 17 morning and 15 afternoon, which is only two children shy of full enrollment.

In addition, they said that supplies had been purchased and though the facility will be vacant this year, there is still one year left on the lease which will continue to be paid.

Ceccacci said the major areas where money will be saved is in transportation, a bus aid, a teacher’s aid, a teacher and day-to-day operations.

Although the teachers at NP Head Start II will be relocated to different Head Start facilities throughout the area, they are taking vacant positions that would have to be filled regardless. So the money that is being saved is due to the absence of five salaries at NP. Head Start II that no longer have to be paid, three full-time and two part-time.

Ceccacci admitted this was a difficult decision to make, but one that was needed. He hopes that none of the children are left without a facility, but he also said there are many areas in which eligible children are not being served.

While he hopes to be able to reopen both classrooms at NP Head Start II for the 2011-12 school year, it will again depend on the budget.