Unnamed donor reopens Lincoln Head Start site
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008
An anonymous donor has stepped forward to provide $ 100, 000 to continue operating the Lincoln Head Start pre-school for 2008-09.
The Washington County Economic Opportunity Agency, which oversees county Head Start programs, announced last week the Lincoln facility would be closing after 34 years of operation. Agency Director Kathleen Randall cited a lack of significant funding increases for the federally funded program as the reason.
Thursday afternoon Randall issued a press release describing the donation as a conditional gift based on the continued operation of the facility.
"Our goal right now is to work as quickly as we can (to re-open Lincoln )," Randall said. "The quicker the better, as far as we are concerned."
The donation was facilitated through Boyce Davis, an attorney in Lincoln. In 2006, Davis also facilitated a $ 100, 000 donation to the school district on behalf of an anonymous donor.
The $ 100, 000 donation would fund the program for about 15 months. The operating cost of the center is about $ 80, 000 a year, according to Randall.
She hopes more funds come in through other donations or a federal funding increase. Randall didn't expect there to be a problem with the agency being able to accept the donation.
"Twenty percent of our funding comes from local donations," she said.
Last week, the Lincoln employees were re-assigned to other jobs at Head Start facilities in Fayetteville and Springdale. Randall said they have been offered the opportunity to go back to the Lincoln center.
School district Superintendent Frank Holman, who viewed the program as vital to helping Lincoln area toddlers prepare for kindergarten, was pleased with the news that donation would be coming forward.
"I really think that's great. I think it's a good short-term solution," he said.
Head Start is partially funded by the federal government and is designed for 3- and 4-year-old children from low-income families. Most of the families were not expected to transfer their children to other Head Start facilities due to the increased cost and time required to transport their children.
"We've got 19 children and families that are now going to have a place to go," Holman said.
Even before the Head Start closure announcement, the school district had a waiting list of 15 children for its pre-kindergarten program for 4-yearolds, Holman said.
"I was very pleased to know that somebody cared enough about the families and those kids out there to do that," Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton said.
Hunton has no control over the Economic Opportunity Agency, but he has taken a personal interest in the situation since the closure was announced.
Like Holman, Hunton said the donation is a good short-term solution but more funding is needed at the federal level to secure the program's future.
Hunton said he is meeting with U. S. Rep. John Boozman today at 10: 30 a.m. to discuss funding for Head Start.
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