RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — The Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Head Start Program remained closed for a third day Friday as officials grappled with President Donald Trump’s “pause” in federal funding announced Monday.
That left about 200 children and their families in limbo as Headstart is still unable to access its funding, Head Start director Dani Amore told the Olean Star on Thursday.
When the local Head Start program was notified of the funding pause late Monday by the White House Office of Management and Budget, teachers and parents were told classes were canceled on Wednesday.
After a public outcry on the Head Start funding as well as a myriad of other federal programs including Medicaid, the Trump White House rescinded the funding pause late Wednesday.
Amore said that since the local Head Start program could not access its funds, the local sites remained closed on Thursday as well. She wasn’t sure at 2 p.m. Thursday whether Head Start would open on Friday or not. “We don’t know when we will reopen,” she added.
“We continue to be in communication with our parents,” Amore said. Parents will be notified once the classrooms reopen.
Teachers and other Head Start staff have not missed any paydays yet, Amore confirmed.
On Wednesday, Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start posted on its Facebook page: “The White House Administration has rescinded the pause on federal funds. We will be opening the Head Start programs soon. Please continue to watch for updates.”
Earlier on Wednesday they posted: “We received a clarification that Head Start will not be impacted by the pause on federal grant funds. We anticipate program operations to resume in the near future. We will continue to keep you posted.”
Head Start has Cattaraugus County classes at its Olean site, East View and Washington West elementary schools, Salamanca, Franklinville and Delevan.
On Tuesday, Head Start employees were told the doors would close at 5 p.m. They were told to take personal belongings home with them and to apply for unemployment immediately, according to one employee.
After getting an update on federal funding Wednesday, the employee, Tasha Shiffer, posted on the Head Start page: “For Now we are safe. We are unsure of the future of Head Start. All I want to say is that Head Start is such an important part of our country and more specifically, the Olean community. Our staff is so passionate about the children and families we work with and the services that we provide are invaluable.”
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
