Task force to examine successful Head Starts

The Toledo Community Foundation has assembled a 13-person task force to examine best practices at Head Start programs across the country.

More than 2,000 low-income children are enrolled in Head Start in Lucas County, which is run by the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo. The association was recently notified it must compete with other agencies if it wants to continue receiving nearly $13 million in federal funds to run the program locally. Other groups that could potentially apply to run the program include Toledo Public Schools and other nonprofit or for-profit agencies.

The task force had its first meeting Tuesday, said Keith Burwell, the community foundation's president.

Amy Allen, a task force member and assistant professor of early childhood education at the University of Toledo, said she anticipates the group will continue to meet weekly. "I think it is an exciting time to look at the needs of the kids in our community and put together a proposal and a plan that will make a big difference," she said.

Meetings will not be open to the public, but she said the group will strive for transparency and report to the public on its work. "This is not the community foundation's task force," said Mr. Burwell, emphasizing the direction will be driven by the members. The Toledo Community Foundation is a nonprofit that assists other organizations and individuals in the region with charity work, the grant process, education, and other community issues.

Mr. Burwell said the task force has received funding from the community foundation and several local businesses, though he declined to name the firms or say how much funding the group would have.

"It has all the funding it needs," he said.

Task force member Aaron Baker, assistant vice president for government relations at UT a board member for the opportunity planning association, said he doesn't see the role of the task force as to necessarily endorse the application of one institution in the Head Start grant application process, but rather to explore successful Head Start models.

Greg Hopkins, the planning association's chief operating officer, said he was not familiar with the task force and declined comment.

In addition to Ms. Allen and Mr. Baker, task force members are:

• Tom Brady, former dean, UT college of education;
• Romules Durant, assistant superintendent, Toledo Public Schools, former planning association board member;
• Shirley Green, safety director, City of Toledo;
• Rev. Otis Gordon, Warren AME Church;
• Kristi Hannan, Help Me Grow Project Director;
• Kathryn Hott, superintendent, Springfield Local Schools;
• Cherie Mourlam, assistant superintendent, Washington Local Schools;
• Rev. Donald Perryman, Center of Hope Community Baptist Church, planning association board member;
• Melissa Romero, instructor, early education program, Lourdes University;
• Dr. Elizabeth Ruppert, pediatrician;
• Rev. James Williams III, Tabernacle of Faith Worship Center.

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