(Shelby County, TN) Shelby County Schools may not be taking over Head Start.
The Shelby County Commission voted to give up control hoping the school system would run the program.
Today, Superintendent Dorsey Hopson spent part of his day reading to a group of kids to show how important early education is to our education system.
Hopson will not commit to taking over the program the county drops after this year.
“We don’t want to get in a situation where we jump into something particularly at a time where we have so many operational issues to address,” said Hopson.
County commissioners decided to drop the Head Start program last month.
When asked if it was a guarantee the school system would apply, Hopson said no.
“If the superintendent has determined through their research that it is what’s best for the district, to take on that challenge, then absolutely we want to support the superintendent,” said school board chairman Kevin Woods.
Woods said the board will let Hopson and his cabinet make the decision, which must be made by October 22nd.
“The cons are it is yet another program, a federal program, that is not adequately funded. It’s one of those things that we may have to absorb some of that cost associated that,” said Woods.
Woods said Hopson will let the board know the decision at their work session October 22nd.
If the school board chooses to apply, it does not mean it will take over. The federal government will make that decision.
