SPRINGFIELD -- Early Childhood Development Programs in Miami Valley will soon face five percent in reductions due to government cuts from the sequester.
Those affected will be Head Start and Early Head Start Programs across Montgomery, Clark and Madison counties.
Mary Burns, Executive Director of Miami Valley Child Development Center, the Head Start provider for all three counties says her board has been asked to cut $1 million dollars out of their budget.
Burns says they will look at furlough options first before cutting teachers and staff but those reductions are inevitable. She says she sent a letter this morning warning staff of the potential cuts.
The Head Start program is already $1,000 underfunded so having to cut a million out of the budget puts officials under difficult constraints.
This isn't the first time the program has had to cut. Head Start lost state funding back in 2009.
"At one point we were serving all of the eligible 4-year-olds in Ohio," said Barb Haxton, CEO of Ohio Head Start Association, "Now, because of funding cuts, we serve about 50 percent of eligible kids."
Annette Peagler will have parents reaction to the cuts coming up Tuesday on ABC 22 at 6:00 p.m. and Fox 45 at 6:30 p.m.
Follow her on Twitter @Annette2245.
Those affected will be Head Start and Early Head Start Programs across Montgomery, Clark and Madison counties.
Mary Burns, Executive Director of Miami Valley Child Development Center, the Head Start provider for all three counties says her board has been asked to cut $1 million dollars out of their budget.
Burns says they will look at furlough options first before cutting teachers and staff but those reductions are inevitable. She says she sent a letter this morning warning staff of the potential cuts.
The Head Start program is already $1,000 underfunded so having to cut a million out of the budget puts officials under difficult constraints.
This isn't the first time the program has had to cut. Head Start lost state funding back in 2009.
"At one point we were serving all of the eligible 4-year-olds in Ohio," said Barb Haxton, CEO of Ohio Head Start Association, "Now, because of funding cuts, we serve about 50 percent of eligible kids."
Annette Peagler will have parents reaction to the cuts coming up Tuesday on ABC 22 at 6:00 p.m. and Fox 45 at 6:30 p.m.
Follow her on Twitter @Annette2245.
