By Kristina Schnack Kotlus
Schools and Education Reporter
Stafford County, Va. –– In a report from Stafford County Head Start Director Kathryn Massie presented Tuesday night, an independent consulting firm suggested the county construct a new facility for Head Start students.
The Head Start is a program for preschoolers who come from low income households.
It’s currently housed in the Gari Melchers Museum complex in south Stafford. The complex also houses Early Head Start, which offers day care for teen parents, Fredericksburg.com reports.
Stafford currently funds Head Start for 339 children, turning away an additional 100 each year.
The proposed Head Start building would include 20 classrooms, seven special education classrooms, two Early Head Start rooms, parent training rooms, a gym-assembly area and a cafeteria.
It has been suggested that the building be added on to the back of an existing elementary school complex.
School board officials have suggested private funds and grants to pay for the expansion.
