Michael1942's Blog

After a many years of poor management the Springfield Urban League’s guidance of the Head Start program is getting some notice from the Regional Head Start office. The program has suffered through several building shutdowns over a course of 2 years. These shutdowns due to mold and lead problems (which were ignored for years and even after being brought forth). The community has suffered as many clients (the children and their families) have no other resource for the services provided by Head Start. With these issues there is the expensive fight against the Unionization of the Head Start workers. This fight involving highly paid legal entities (up to $200.00 per hour) has dragged on for 7 months while 8 to 15 experienced teachers have been dismissed for dubious reasons. The program enrollment is below what is required primarily due to the lack of qualified teachers (who the League dismissed, again with shadowy reasons). These events seemingly spearheaded by a small faction of managers who apparently do not have a clue as to how this programs runs and what it takes to do it. The current “hands on” (?) Head Start management are experienced in implementing what upper management wants while knowing what is asked of them is improper and incorrect. Expect that there will be other poor decisions made that will further weaken and decimate the Head Start program.