skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Kanawha Director Retired To Save Head Start Budget

play audio
Play

Friday, October 25, 2013   

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This week we learned that federal budget sequestration resulted in Tucker County ending its Head Start program.

Now the former director of Kanawha County Head Start says she actually accepted retirement to save that program the cost of her salary.

Karen Williams retired at the end of June after nearly 40 years in public education, nine years as the program's director.

Williams says that allowed Head Start to eliminate her position and combine it with another one. It was either that or cut teachers, or spaces for students.

"I don't want to be seen as a martyr,” she says, “but there were cuts that had to be made, and we didn't want to have to cut services to children, especially children who live in poverty."

Because of the automatic cuts from sequestration, Head Start is serving nearly 60,000 fewer children in the U.S. this year, 500 of them in West Virginia.

With Congress showing little sign of making progress, more cuts are expected.

Williams says Kanawha County Head Start lost more than $150,000, but managed to cover that gap without turning away students.

She says the county's early education program covered a lot of the gap.

But Williams says as tough as the first round of budget reductions were, she has no idea how West Virginia's Head Start program directors will deal with an expected second round.

"Not knowing how they were going to make cuts and not affect the quality of their programs,” she says. “With additional sequester cuts, I just don't know how they can make it."

Conservatives in Congress say programs such as Head Start can cut waste without the public losing out.

But Williams says Head Start is a lean, effective and important program. She says the recent shutdown should remind people how important it is.

"I don't think I slept the entire time, because there were 20,000 students across the country that did not receive Head Start services during that time," she adds.

Williams says one reason people are so devoted to Head Start is because it helps entire families. She says she's seen that approach work.

"Maybe their first child qualifies for Head Start, but maybe their baby doesn't qualify because they have a job now that is self-sustaining,” she explains. “And it gets in your blood."





get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021