For-profit firm weighs bid to run Head Start

A for-profit day-care operator based in Toledo will explore applying for about $13 million in federal funds to administer the Head Start program locally.

Young Services runs seven Toddlers School day-care centers in Toledo, Rossford, and Oregon. It formerly administered Ohio's Early Learning Initiative program locally and in 24 other Ohio counties until funding for the program was cut.

The company has just more than 100 employees, according to its president, Michael Tersigni. About 80 percent of the 1,000 children in its area centers come from low-income families, Mr. Tersigni said.

All seven local centers are ranked in the state's Step Up to Quality program as one or two stars, meaning they exceed state standards for day-care centers, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which oversees the centers.

"When we do things, we do them right," said Mr. Tersigni, who divides his time between Toledo and Florida.

He said his firm had a past dispute with the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, which operates Head Start, over Young Services' operation of the Early Learning Initiative program.

Young Services was incorporated in 1970 and has offices in East Toledo, according to documents on the Ohio Secretary of State's Web site.

For-profit firms are allowed to operate Head Start programs. The largest, Acelero Learning of New York City, runs programs in three states.

If Young Services applies, it will join a crowded field of agencies potentially interested in running the program in Lucas County.

The operator, Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, recently learned from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services it must compete to keep Head Start funds.

The Toledo Board of Education last month directed Superintendent Jerome Pecko to research the district's capacity to take over the program for low-income preschoolchildren. It's unclear what other nonprofit or for-profit groups could be interested.

Officials from TPS and the Economic Opportunity Planning Association met Friday morning along with Toledo Mayor Mike Bell, United Way of Greater Toledo President Bill Kitson, Toledo Community Foundation President Keith Burwell, University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs, and other community leaders. James Powell, the planning association's executive director, declined to comment after the meeting, which was held to discuss the Head Start operation and grant application issue.

"All we want to do is make sure we do the best for our kids," Mayor Bell said.

No firm commitment about any agency's role was agreed upon, participants said.

"We're not saying who is going to apply or how it is going to be done," TPS board member Brenda Hill said.

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