When Ridgeview News conducted a phone interview with the Directors of the Roane Stand Alone Head Start sight, unintentional “inaccuracies” were reported due to fast speech and not fast enough transcribing of what was being said. Below is the corrections request from Emily Spradling with my apologies for the errors.
Following the article running Ridgeview News also received a copy of a Civil Court Complaint in Roane County Circuit Court filed December 11th, 2024 by Jeremy and Holly Goff, plaintiffs against AFL/CIO Appalachian Council Inc. (Head Start), Defendants with an accusation that a child was inappropriately restrained by a member of the Head Start Staff in September of 2024.
I asked Emily Spradling if the Civil Suit was a part of their determination to close the Spencer Stand Alone Center for which her response was:
I obviously cannot speak about an ongoing lawsuit, but as already stated, the primary cause was due to cost. This is not the only center in the program that was closed as a result of the reduction in enrollment. We pulled services completely from three counties, including closing a stand alone in that county. These were all very difficult decisions and not a reflection of the level and quality of staff in these counties/centers.
Although certainly not tied in to the Roane County problems, on the federal level, head start program funding is under consideration of being cut. The Head Start Program serves eleven counties in West Virginia, for which 8,000 students receive services and 3,000 jobs are on the line if the funding is not provided. The effect would be even further reaching with 90% of the parents whose children attend the head start program are working parents who rely on the free child care provided by the Head Start program. Without it, their ability to work is also at risk.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE POSTED MAY 21ST, 2025
CORRECTION REQUEST
Hello Shari,
We viewed your piece in the newspaper titled “Roane County Head Start Closing – Calhoun Jobs Possibly Affected”. While we do appreciate you reaching out to us prior to publishing, we would be remiss not to contact you regarding some inaccuracies in the report.
We want to clarify that Roane County Head Start is not closing. The stand alone site is closing, but we will continue to provide Head Start services to Roane County through our collaboration with the Board of Education.
Additionally, we stated that as a program, we have been chronically under-enrolled since COVID (not the Roane County Stand Alone in particular). We provide services in multiple counties throughout WV. This is in relation to Section 642(g) of the Head Start Act which requires Head Start programs to maintain at least 97% total enrollment. Those that do not, stand to lose a significant portion of their funding.
To that effect, it is not a “hope” that reducing our enrollment will prevent us from losing significant federal funding; it is a surety. We are certain that this decision was necessary to protect the program as a whole. The decision to close the Spencer COA stand-alone site was based on several factors, one being the cost to operate that center.
Lastly, as we have told our staff, the union was aware of the Change in Scope application submission, and we have kept them updated on its status throughout the approval process. The election for staff to bid on other positions within the organization in the same or other counties based on seniority is not a company decision. It is as stipulated in the employees’ union contract.
Thank you for your prompt review and consideration of these statements. We want to ensure that the information being published to the community is accurate, as we are sure you do as well.
If you have any additional questions, please let us know.
Thank you,
Emily Spradling
