Change at Head Start startles some, Union questions recently negotiated agreement

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/a_la_carte/article/0,1426,MCA_496_5670456,00.html

By Alex Doniach
Contact
August 13, 2007

A return to private management for Shelby County Head Start is stirring opposition from labor leaders and elected county commissioners.

Four years after Mayor A C Wharton took control of the federally funded early childhood program from a troubled nonprofit agency, he's ready to turn it over to another nonprofit, this one with a sound reputation.

A contract has been drawn to give Porter-Leath Children's Center management of about half of Head Start's facilities.

Yet the contract, which would give Porter-Leath four Head Start centers in addition to the two it already manages, has angered the union representing the preschool's employees as well as some members of the County Commission.

Commissioners are concerned about privatizing the early childhood program -- and concerned that they weren't given proper notice on the deal.

Commissioners will take up the issue today when they vote on a resolution approving the contract that would place 1,120 of Shelby County Head Start's 3,186 children in Porter-Leath's care.

FULL story at link.