TPS eyes Head Start takeover

Toledo Public Schools will explore the district's taking over the Head Start program locally, a move that could shift millions of dollars in federal funding and could mean changes in early childhood education for thousands of low-income children.

The agency that runs Head Start in Lucas County, the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, was recently notified by the federal government it must compete for the first time to retain the funding it receives to run the program. Tax records show in 2010 that EOPA received more than $13 million from the government to administer Head Start for more than 2,000 Lucas County children.

A resolution passed by TPS board members Wednesday directed Superintendent Jerome Pecko to research and determine the district's capacity to take over the program.

Mr. Pecko said district officials began informal conversations about Head Start and school readiness long before the matter of possibly bidding for the program arose. An in-house study by Assistant Superintendent Romules Durant had information that suggested there's not much difference between students who go through Head Start and those who don't.

"We've talked about, 'Wouldn't it be great if we ran our own Head Start program?' " Mr. Pecko said. In Barberton, Ohio, where Mr. Pecko previously was superintendent, he said the district operated its own Head Start and immediately saw benefits.

Currently, the district runs preschool programs for students who have been identified as special needs, which is required by law.

District officials have had many discussions about what would happen with the Head Start teachers. The officials' hope would be to use all certified early-childhood education licensed teachers.

"What happens to the employee force that is there? That is the question mark," Mr. Pecko said.

EOPA employs 300 Head Start workers -- teachers, assistants, custodians, bus drivers, family service workers, and medical staff -- who are represented by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

Andre Washington, the union representative for those workers, said he hopes EOPA prevails in keeping the Head Start program. However, he added, "Whoever ends up with the grant, I would hope that they retain the hard-working men and women at Head Start."

Mr. Pecko said district officials feel very strongly they will be able to do as good a job as anyone preparing children for kindergarten.

TPS is likely not the only institution interested in running Head Start. EOPA officials declined to comment Wednesday but have said they will vigorously compete to retain the program, arguing that they have the infrastructure in place and are the only organization in the county that is mission-driven for Head Start.

Other possible grant competitors could include YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, which runs childcare programs. Said a statement from the YMCA: "With the YMCA's 25-year history of providing child care in the region, and as a leader in partnerships in the community, the YMCA is always receptive to working with other organizations to enrich and improve the lives of children and families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan."

The YMCA serves about 1,800 kids locally through its childcare programs; about 650 of them are under 5, said Sarah Otis, vice president of child development.

Some other local agencies have said they're not interested in applying at this time, though they haven't ruled it out down the road.

"At this point, it is in [our] best interest for there to be a strong EOPA with a strong Head Start program," said Neil McCabe, president and chief executive officer of WSOS, the community action agency that administers Head Start and Early Head Start for 800 children in Wood, Sandusky, Seneca, and Ottawa counties. "We will do whatever is requested of us to make that happen."

University of Toledo spokesman Jon Strunk said that at this point, the school has no plans to apply to run the program. There are 556 undergraduate students and 46 graduate students studying early childhood education there, as well as at two on-campus child care centers, said Amy Allen, an assistant professor of early childhood education.

It isn't clear whether Acelero, a for-profit company that operates Head Starts in three states, would be interested in running a program in Toledo. A spokesman said the company's CEO wasn't available to answer questions Wednesday.

Staff writer Nolan Rosenkrans contributed to this report.

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